Wellington’s Most Energetic Estate Agent

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12008, 10 December 1924, Page 9 (Supplement)

Wellington’s Most Energetic Estate Agent

BRIEF REVIEW OF R. LESLIE . JONES’ CAREER.

Bom in Christchurch, N.Z., Tune 'l9th, 18&4. Mr Jones has lived in Wellington for about twenty : years. During the last twelve.or fourteen years he has taken a deep interest in Municipal affairs. Positions held by Mr 'Jones include past secretaryship of the Lyall Bay Municipal Electors’ Association. Mr Jones has been a ;Vice-President of the Lyall Bay Association for several years, has also been delegate representing that Association on the Eastern Suburbs League since the latter’s formation several years, ago. Mr . Jones until recently acted as one: of the delegates from the Lyall Bay District on the ivic League of which he is still a member, taking a deep interest in its affairs. He has also been connected with the Wellington Show Association since its inception, and was re-elected as a member of the Executive at the Annual- Meeting of that Association. At one time, Mr Jones, who is, by the way, very musical, took a great interest in social affairs, more especially in Canterbury, his home district. He successfully published a song during the: war period—this song was well-known to the “Diggers” as “The Soldier.” Mr Jones was wellknown to the commercial men “on the

Commenced in the Estate business 5 years ago. Since then he has grown rapidly into prominence.

road f ” having spent about eighteen years of his life “getting business" throhgbout New Zealand. A good joke was once, “put across” “Les,” as he was best known in those days. Once in Hawera, when motoring hack to the hotel after having spent a good day and with an order book weighted with substantial orders, his leather attache' case which was lying on the hood-of the. car,- Bumped out. (It was eventually found several days later). Within a week or so “Les” Jones had reached the South Island and was making, his usual quick trip through. “Collect” wires by the dozens'began to reach Jones and, as these wires were delivered to him he paid the “collect" fees before reading the contents.' Each telegram was worded similarly, namely: “Have you found your bag. Sorry to hear the news.” Mr Jones is a membei of the Chamber of Commerce, Wellington Automobile Club and the Wellington Land Agents’ Association. Among the largest business transactions carried through by Mr Jones during his life as an Estate Agent was the big’ deal at Courtenay Place, when he negotiated the sale of that very fine block of land to the Proprietors of the De Luxe Theatre. 'Apart from a busy business life he enjoya mountain climb, Egmont and several of the harder climbs on the Southern Alps having been added to his list of successes