HALL-JONES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 22 June 1936, Page 3

HALL-JONES

A NOTABLE CAREER SESDOKIAK DAYS RECALLED The late Sir William Hall-Jones, whose death was reported on Saturday. was born at Folkestone, England, in 1351, and was the son of'Mr William Hall-Jones. In 1376 he married Miss Rosalind Lucy Purss, of Surrey. He was educated at public schools in England and arrived in New Zealand in 1375, settling in Timaru, where he was engaged as a builder and contractor. For several years he was a member of the Timaru Borough Council, and also of what is 'now known as the Levels County Council. He was elected to Parliament in August, 1890, on the death of Mr Richard Turnbull, and occupied the Timaru seat continuously until December, 1908. At the General Election of 1890 the Atkinson Government was defeated and in January, 1891, the Ballance Government was formed, Sir William Hall-Jones and Sir (then Mr) Westby Percival becoming Government Whips. Sir William resigned his position as Government Whip in 1893. and in February of 3 896 he was invited to join the Seddon Ministry as Minister of Justice This portfolio, however, he gave up for Public Works and Marine, which he held for record periods. On the death of Mr Seddon in 1906 he became Premier, with the additional portfolios of Colonial Treasurer, Education, and Labour. On the return of the late Sir Joseph Ward from the Rome Postal Conference he resigned the Premiership in favour of Sir Joseph and took over the portfolios of Public Works and Railways. A serious illness in 1907 necessitated his taking a holiday for six months, and in December, 1908, he was appointed High Commissioner in London. He resigned from that position on 31st May, 1912. While High Commissioner he represented New Zealand at the Imperial Copyright Conference, the Imperial Wireless Committee, the Pacific Cable Board, the Board of Trade Advisory Committee, and the great Inter-

national Refrigeration Congress at Vienna in 1910. At the last-named conference, in the face of much opposition, his resolution protesting against European restrictions on the importation of frozen meats was unanimously agreed to. He returned to New Zealand in 1913 and on the recommendation of the Massey Government was appointed to the Legislative Council, where he served until the time of his death. Few men have had such a notable career in public life as the late Sir William Hall-Jones. He had the distinction of never being beaten in any election which he contested. Although he rose to occupy the position of Premier of New Zealand and leader of one of the greatest political parties in the history of the Dominion, Sir William was never a strong party man; he believed in advancing the interests of his country before those of his party. When he accepted a whipship under Mr Ballance he found that one of his duties was to support his party right or wrong, and induce' others to do the same, and this led to his resignation from the position. It was with some hesitancy that Sir William accepted Ministerial rank under Mr Seddon, and the story is told of the night when he received a telegram from Wellington asking his acceptance. The message was delivered to Sir William in person by a trusted postal official, and for some hours Sir William paced the floor of his room, balancing the issue. Strong reasons advanced by the postal official finally induced him to agree to take office. When Mr Seddon visited Australia just prior to his death —Sir Joseph Ward was at that time abroad —Sir William was invited to assume the duties of Acting-Premier. With his customary modesty, he suggested that Sir James Carroll, as senior member of the Executive Council, should have that honour, but Mr Seddon pressed the point and Sir William agreed. On the sudden death of Mr Seddon, Sir William was pressed by Lord Plunlret to form a new Ministry, but he asked permission to wait until the remains of his chief had been laid to rest. Lord Plunket agreed with some reluctance, but as the procedure was unprecedented he addressed a memorandum to the Colonial Secretary on the subject. As a member oT tire Legislative Council the late Sir William HallJones was noted for the breadth of vision which he brought to all his utterances. His speeches always won the respect gnd attention of his colleagues, all of whom regarded him as a close and valued friend.

Sir William is survived by his wife, two sons, Mr F. G. Hall-Jones, Invercargill, Mr W. Hall-Jones, Hamilton, and three daughters, Mrs E. A. Christie, Mrs William Brown and Miss H. Hall-Jones, all of Wellington.