NEW UNDER-SECRETARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23619, 1 April 1940, Page 10

NEW UNDER-SECRETARY

* MIMES DEPARTMENT MR. C. H. BENNEY'S ACTING POST [BY TKI/EGKAPH OWN CORKKSPONDSKT] ;; WELLINGTON, Sunday Appointed actirig-Under-Secrctary for Mines, Mr. C. H. Bewney, who is 38 years of age, becomes perhaps the youngest man to hold the position of head of a department cf State ig New Zealii,nd. His family lias been 'associated with mining from the pioneering days! Mr. Benney -was born at Komata, in the Hauraki district, his father, Mr. J. El. Benney, then-being manager of the Komata Reef Gold Mining Company. He is now manager of.the Golden Daw ii Company , which mines at Awharoa, betAveen Paeroa and Waihi. His grandfather was also in charge of mines on the Hauraki goldfields, having come from Cornwall in the early days, and his son succeeded him at Ivomata. The new under-secretary was educated at the Komata school- and the Thames High School, where lie won a junior university scholarship. In. 1919 he joined the Civil Service, entering the 'Mines Department at. Wellington, He continued hi&studies at the Well-" ingtcn Technical College and in 1921} \ completed his professional accountancy; examinations. Serving in all branches " hfi remained with the Mines Department until 1930/ by which time he had travelled over all the mining fields in the iDominioii. • , ;. . Mr. Benney then joined tne Justice Department and was appointed to take • charge of accounts at the institutional farm'at Waikeri'a, near Te Awamutu. H,; N returned to the Mines Department in 1837 as accountant.