HONOURS FOR NEW ZEALANDERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 4 June 1930, Page 5

HONOURS FOR NEW ZEALANDERS

SIR THOMAS WILFORD Sir Thomas Wilford has had a long and distinguished career in public life: Sir Thomas was born at Lower Hutt in 1870, and after receiving his early education at a private school near his home he attended Wellington College and Christ's College. He matriculated at the age of seventeen years, and joined the legal firm of Brandon and Son in Wellington. One year later he passed his final examinations as a solicitor; hut he had to wait for three years before he was able to practise. His first partner was Mr W. T. L. Travers, but after three years' association with that gentleman he entered into practice on his own account, and was later joined by Mr P. Levi and Mr P. W. Jackson, with whom he was associated until he received his appointment as , K.C. in October of last year. Sir Thomas's career in the field of politics extended over a long period. He was 23 years of ago when he first offered his services to the electors of Hutt, and he was only defeated by the late Dr. Newman by the narrowest of margins. ' In 1896 ho achieved his goal, and from that year until the end of last year, when he resigned his seat in order to become High Commissioner, he retained the confidence of the Hutt electors. In 1909 he was

appointed Chairman of Committees of the House of Representatives, but he resigned this position when he. was elect-; ed Mayor of Wellington. On 14th November, 1917,. Sir'Thomas joined the National Government as Minister of Justice and. Marine. Later Sir Thomas succeeded the late Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald as Leader of the Opposition, and hoi led the Liberal forces at the 1922 election. He resigned from this position in 1925-owing to ill-health.. When the United Party took office after the 1928 election Sir''Thomas became Minister-of Justice, Defence, and War Pensions. In local'politics Sir Thomas also played a big part. For twelve years he was a member of the Wellington, Harbour Board, being chairman for two years, and he was Mayor of Wellington in 1910 , and-1911. He also took a keen interest .'in all forms of sport.

SIR ALFRED BANKART Sir Alfred Seymour Bankart has been a resident of Auckland for forty-; three' years. He was born at Briton Ferry, Glamorganshire, in 1870, and educated privately and at. Hargrave College, London. • ■ He obtained a first-class diploma in - electrical engineering from the City and Guilds of London Institute in 1887. - He came to New Zealand with his parents, and practised his profession until 1889, when he joined the firm of , Brown, Campbell, and Co., and became closely associated with Dr. (afterwards . - Sir John) Logan Campbell, an associa-., tion which lasted until Sir Johns death ~i r in 1912. During the last fifteen years . of Sir John Logan Campbells life. Sir ; Alfred Bankart co-operated with ,him, in many benefactions which he red upon the city as one ?£ Sir Jphns • trustees.. He became chairman ot the Cornwall Park Trust, and in that capacity iifte has been largely, responsible for the'; development of the magnificent estate which Sir John Logan Campbell. . presented to the public at the beginmng , of the present century. In 1897 he was instrumental in forming the Campbell and Ehrenfried Company, and upon the death of Sir ArthUi-Myers in 1926 be- , came its chairman. He lias occupied-for--many years... a prominent; position in the business com--inunity of Auckland. He was president of the Chamber of Commerce for two terms, and -is a trustee of the Auckland Savings- Bank and a director of the New Zealand Insurance Company, the Auckland Gas Company, New. Zealand ... Breweries,-Ltd., and New Zealand Newspapers, Ltd. He is a Sinking . Fund Commissioner for the Auckland City Council, the Auckland Harbour Board the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board, and the Auckland Transport ~ On the formation of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Belief Association soon after the outbreak of tn Great War, Sir Alfred actively associa- • ated himself with its work, and eventu- ,- f all Vi with Mr E. A. Craig, became joint honorary treasurer. , Fo ‘; ]i ls „ serv T lce T Q ™ was later awarded the M.8.E.. In 1920 lie was appointed to the committee of the Auckland Citizens’ War Memorial Committee, upon its foundation in that year, and had much to do with initiating the project of erecting the War Me- . morial Museum. In 1927, upon the resignation of Sir Janies Gunson, he became chairman, and held that office until the project was completed and tne committee ceased to function at the end of November, when the Museum was formally opened by the Governor-Gene-ral. *. , ■; . MR R. A. ANDERSON, C.M.tf. Mr It A. Anderson; C.M.G., is manager of J. G. Ward and Co., Ltd.; Invercargill. He has taken a prominent part r in local body affairs, liavipg held the positions of chairman of- the Southland High School Board of Governors and chairman of the Bluff Harbour Board. MR P. VERSCHAFFELT, C.M.G. Mr P. Verschaffelt, has held the office of Public Service Commissioner since June. 1923, and was re-appointed last week for a second term of seven years. He joined the Public Service - ; as a cadet in the Lands and Survey Department at Gisborne in January, 1904, and three years later was transferred ’• to a clerkship in the head office at Wellington. On the coming into operation /ot the Public Service Act, 1912, he was associated with the late Mr Robert Triggs, Assistant Public Service Commissioner, as inspector, and in May, 1915, was promoted to the position ot Secretary to the Public Service Commissioner. In May, .1919, lie was appointed to Controller of Wills, 1 lusts, and Agencies' Division, Public Irusfc Office , and in the following year to. the position of chief accountant in that office. On the appointment of his Honour Mr Justice Frazer to the Presidency of the Arbitration Court, Mr Versdhaffelt succeeded him as Assistant i Public Service Commissioner, in which | position he was associated with Mr W. R. Morris, C.M.G., 1.5.0., until the latIter’s retirement at the end of February, 11923. when Mr Verschaffelt was appointed Acting-Public Service Commisi sioner. He was confirmed in the rank of Public Service Commissioner in the following June. Mr Verschaffelt received bis primary education at the Marist Bro- , there* School, Napier, and later attended the Victoria University College, Wellington. He is a Fellow of the Incorporated Society of Accountants (by examination) and a member of the New Zealand Society of Accountants. He has. also graduated as a Bachelor of Laws at the New Zealand University, and has been admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court!