THE NEW MINISTERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 11 July 1912, Page 5

THE NEW MINISTERS.

BRIEF SKETCHES. -A TRIBUTE TO MR. MASSEY. The Christchurch "'Press" sa'vs: There is no doubt that the victory of the Reform Party has been . practically the work of one man, namely, its leader. He has able lieutenants, and perhaps the most loyal and united party that has ever been seen in the New Zealand Parliament, but it is the sterling straightforward character of 'Mr. Massey, his unbending sense of duty, his consistent adherence to principles, and his dogged determination to reach the ideals he had set before him which have created that party and gathered those lieutenants around, him. It is about 18 years since Mr (Massey first entered Parliament. No one can ever say of him he has ever shown himself an opportunist, least ot" all that he has either betrayed a princinle or a friend. .No one but those intiassociated with him will ever know the full extent of the discouragement and difficulties against which he has had to contend. We are ashamed to say that oftentimes he must have had reason to complain of apathy and- indifference on the part of those who professed to be alarmed at the manner in. which the country was being misgoverned but did not conceive it to be their duty to stretch out a hand to help the 'man.'who was fighting with all his might and main to bring • about a change and we cannot doubt that the same qualities of probity, endurance, and inflexible attention to duty which have stood him in such good stead in attaining his present position will enable him to do good and lasting • service to the country now that at last he, is to be permitted an opportunity of showing what he can do in the work of administration.

C\IR JAS. ALLEN. Mr Jas. Allen M.P. for Bruce, was born in South Australia, and came to this country some 54 years ago. His father prospered as one of the early Otago settlers, and, young Allen was sent to school in England. He attended 'Clifton 'College, and St. John's College, Cambridge, where lie succeeded' in winning a scholarship. He specialised in mineralogy, and won the Bessemer and De' La Beche medals. He represented his 'Varsity in Rugby footfball. Mr Allen entered politics in 1887, _when he defeated the then Prime Minister, Sir Robert Stout. Since then he has held an unbeaten record in Parliament. Mr Allen is vice-chancellor of the New Zealand University. His work in connection with the advancement of the Otago Medical Schoql and.-the Otago School oC Mines will not soon be forgotten. MR W. H. HERRIES. Mr William Herbert Herries is the 6ame age as Mr Massey, being born in London in 1856. Mr Herries bas made a special study of Native affairs, and of railway finance. He is an excellent debater in the House, has a keen faculty for analysis, a succinct and logical way of putting facts and. arguments, and a. keen sense humour. Mr Herries is the son of a barristei'-at-law, and was ed.ucated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he took his B.A. degree in 1880. He has been for 32 years a settler in New Zealand,:and has been in Parliament for 16 years. He has not once been defeated at the polls. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London, and. takes an interest in New Zealand mining. MR A. L. HERDMAN". [Mr A. L. Herdman was born at Dunedin on July 17, 1869, and was educated at the Otago Boys' High School, _ and at Oamaru. Serving for a time in the National 'Bank, he studied law, and was admitted to the Bar in 1894. .Mr Herd-, man practised his profession at Palmerston South and at N-aseby. In 1898 he became Mayor of the latter borough, having previously served as a member for 'Mount Ida in 1902. and at the next election, having meantime shifted his residence to- Wellington, was defeated. In 1908 he was returned as member for Wellington North, which seat he again carried by an overwhelming majority, at the last general election. In the House 'Mr Herdman is recognised as an able debater and an effective critic.

MR W. FRASER. Mr W. Fraser is an able debater and a wise counsellor. He is an experienced politician, with a remarkable knowledge of the country's wants, and is particularly sound on matters of finance. Mr Fraser is the son of a captain -.of the Madras Light Cavalry, and was born in India. He -came to New Zealand jtn 1858, and engaged in pastoral pursuits in 'Central Otago. He has been a member of the House for many years. ' MR R. H. RHODES. Jill- R. Trr Rhodes, the member for Ellesmere, was borli at Purau, Lyttelton, on 'February 27, 1861. He was educated in New Zealand and m England, and is a graduate of Brasenose College, Oxford. Mr Rhodes unsuccessfully contested the Heathcote seat against Mr W. W. Tanner m 1890. He married in 1891, and eight years later successfully contested the Ellesmere seat, which ho has since held. The member for Ellesmere has done splendid service in the past as Whip to the paity. He has devoted a great deal of time to the defence movement. For some years he wag.'captain of that crack corps, the •Canterbury Yeomanry Cavaliy. xi© &rved the New Zealand troops in the South African war, and received the Queen's Medal and four clasps.

■MR F. M. B. FISHER. ■Air F. M- B. Fisher is only years old. He is the son of the lateMr George Fisher, who represented ton City for many years, and on his death was succeeded by the piesen member for Wellington Central. Mi Fisher was educated at various schools in Wellington and at Victoria • He took an active part m the volpnteer forces, and was appointed . ua P t £ in '" 1900 In 1901 he accompanied the New Zealand contingent, m the rank o:E t P tain at the celebration m connection with' the federation of the Australian States Holding the rank of seoond in command of th e< second Ua " 1 " ' Mr Fisher went to South Afiicd._wit the Tenth Contingent. He first enteied p\rl : anient in 1905. He has also been a member of the Wellington City Coun-

cil, having been elected to that body in 1907. Mr Fisher is one of the- best platform speakers in New Zealand.

MR H. D. BELL.

'Mr H. D. Bell is the 'son of a man whose name i 6 well audi honourably known in connection with New Zealand history—Sir Francis Willon Bellj who was a figure iil Now Zealand and was for several years Agent-General for New Zealand in London. Mr H. D. Bell is a New Zealarider, having been bom in Nelson in 1851. He has had a distinguished career from the time when ■ 1864-68) he was dux of the Dune din Boys' High School. Subsequently, he studied at Cambridge, where he took his B.A. degree ini 1872. He is a barrister of the Middle Temple and a .K.C. He sat in the House of Rejk ; esi3nta.tiv<3§. member for . Wellington City i'br . thire'e years, and the old Parliamentary hands still talk of . the celerity and lucidity with, which he was wont to draft an amendment of an involved clause in Bills that' were being put through their committee stage. His influence upon the Acts of those years must have been considerable, and, his valuable services were recognised and acknowledged by friend and foe alike. Mr Bell is a leading authority on Native land* legislation. and his knowledge in this respect will also be a valuable asset to the Cabinet and to the country.