SIR WILLIAM HALL-JONES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15788, 12 June 1913, Page 4

SIR WILLIAM HALL-JONES

RETURN TO WELLINGTON. NOT EE-ENTERING PUBLIC LIFE. (Fkom Our Own Cokbespoxdent.) WELLINGTON, June 11. Sir William Hall Jones, late High Commissioner for New Zcalandin London, returned to Wellington by tho Ulimaroa from Sydney to-day, having been absent from Now Zealand for four, years and a-half. Ho -was accompanied by Lady Hall-Jones and the two Misses Hail-Jones.

"No, I have no intention wliatever of re-entering public life in New Zealand. I •have had a long time of it, and now 1 think I should let othere have a turn," said Sir William in reply to a question— the question to which most people interested in politics have been' awaiting his answer ■with some curiosity. He had been much grieved, he said, to learn on his arrival of tho death of his old friend Sir Arthur Guinness, with whom he had been associated as a member of the House of Representatives for eo many years. Further than this he would have nothing to say to your correspondent, who. met him on the ship. He would not even speak of his experience in London as High Commissioner or the work of the office or anything connected with it. "There's lots of time for that," was all that he could.be induced to say in reply to any queries. " I have no more to say at all except that we have had an excellent voyage and that we aro all very well/', he said in conclusion. Indeed, Sir William HallJones looked to-day a much more robust man than "ivhen he left New Zealand at tho end of 1908. His voice was resonant, his manner cheerful and hearty, and his appearance betokened excellent health and spirits] He will remain in Wellington for a time, but for how long or how short a time he has not decided, He has, in short, no definite plans as to his future, or where his. residence will be in New Zealand.