THE CABINET VACANCY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16697, 15 November 1917, Page 4

THE CABINET VACANCY

MR. T. M. WILFORD APPOINTED \ JUSTICE AM) MARINE. I [BY TELEGBAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The Prime Minister stated to-day that >] Mr. T. M. Wilford, MP. for Hutt, had ] been appointed to the Ministry, to fill the - vacancy caused by the death of Dr. Mc- { Nab. He is to hold the portfolios of ( Justice and Marine, formerly held by Dr. . McNab. . The Hon. T. M. Wilford, M.P. for 1 Hutt, was born at the Lower Hutt in ' 1870. He is the only son of the late Dr. \ J. G. F. Wilford, who practised for many • years at Hutt and Petone. He was edu-. 1 cated in Wellington, and afterwards at { Canterbury College, and on leaving the' latter institution he studied for the Bar, and was admitted in 1891. At first with , !Mr. W. L. Travers, he subsequently | started to practice on his own account, j and made rapid progress as a pleader in criminal cases. Some 24 years ago Mr. . Wilford became active in politics. and in 189-3 contested the Wellington Suburbs seat unsuccessfully against Dr. A. K. Newman. Three years later Mr. Wilford contested' the same seat with the Hon. T. W. His-; lop, whom he defeated, but was sub-' sequently unseated. He won the seat in 1900. At the following election Mr. Wilford stood for the Hutt seat, and, gaining it, has represented that constituency ever since. During the session of 1899 he was ' Chairman of Committees in the House of Representatives. In 1910, when he had just completed two years chairmanship of the Wellington Harbour Board, he was elected Mayor of Wellington. Early in 1912 Mi*. Wilford's health became so affected that he resolved to seek advice in London, and left, some weeks before the short session. Though advised that no operation was necesary, Mr. Wilford proceeded to undergo a special treatment in France. He returned to the Dominion at the end of the year, and since that time has enjoyed good health. j