LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3149, 22 July 1914, Page 80

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE NEW APPOINTMENTS. fFuo u Oun Owx CoeuksimNduxt ) WELLINGTON, July 14. The following arc, I understand, the names of the men appointed by his Excellency the Governor as member's of the Legislative Council: Mr W. MORGAN, Gisborne. Mr J. FISHER, Waikato. Mr R. K. SIMPSON, Marton. Mr.*). G. W. AITKEN, Wellington. Mr G. CARSON, Wanganui. Mr J. MACGREGOR, Dunedin. Mr T MACGIBBON, Southland.. Mr A. T. MAGINNITY, Nelson. Mr R. MOORE, Kaiapoi. Mr 0. SAMUEL, New Plymouth. . Dr COLLINS, Wellington. The two last-named have boon reappointed. BIOGRAPHIES OF NEW APPOINTEES. Mr R. K. Simpson, of Bonnie Glen, near Marton, is a very well known farmer, who has taken an active in public affairs for many years. He has been in the district for about 60 years. He is chairman of the Kan.gitikei County Council, of which body ho has been a meniber for over 40 years. He Jin.s also represented the county on the W angantii Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for many years. Ho has been identified with practically every movement that hao been started for the advancement of this large and important district, and has always taken a particularly keen interest ih the local agriculural and pastoral organisations on the west coast of- the island. As a breeder of purebred shorthorn cattle his name is wed and favourably known, even beyond New Zealand, and lie has taken many prizes with his stock at shows at various parts of the North Island. For some years he acted as a Government stock inspector, and but for this official connection with the Government there is no doubt that be would years ago have found his way into Parliament, for which ho was on more than one occasion asked to stand. _ „ . Mr John Fisher is a farmer in the Waikato district. In the early days ho was one of the pioneers in Mangere, near Auckland. Later both he and his brother settled on the land at Pukerimu, near Cambridge. He has always taken a very keen interest in local government and public matters generally, and has held quite a number of positions on local bodies He has been chairman of the Waip.a County Council, and for many years has served on the local farmers’ clubs. He is at present president of the Waikato Central Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and a member of the /Auckland Harbour Board. He is looked upon as one of the loading farmers of his district. He has also served on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. He is one of the most popular and highly respected residents of tiie Waikato district. Ho has a largo family, the majority of whom are settled in various parts of the Waikato. Mr Gilbert £.'arson, J.P., was born at sea, on board the ship Jane Gifford, on her way to Auckland in 1842. His parents were then emigrating from Scotland to New Zealand. Mr Carson was educated at Auckland, where he spent his youth. He learned his \business with Messrs Williamson and Wilson, of the old New Zealander office, Auckland, completed his term in 1863, and shortly afterwards became manager. He served with the Auckland volunteers at the time of the Maori war, and assisted in the building of the Wairou redoubt, under Colonel Lyon. Ho was* . in active engagements at "Wairou, and was a recipient of the war medal. About 1867 he wont to Wellington, where for seven years he held a position as a compositor on Hansard in the Government Printing Office. In 1874 Mr Carson purchased the Wanganui Chronicle, and he has been associated with the management of that journal ever since. He has been a prominent worker in the cause of temperance reform. In 1896 Mr Carson was elected to represent Wanganui in the House of Representatives. Previously -he had contested the Wanganui seat on four successive occasions. In his second attempt ho was only 27 .votes behind his opponent, the late Mr Ballance. In addition to His political experience, Mr Carson has been an indefatigable worker upon local public bodies, and has a remarkable record of service to his 'credit. His services as a town councillor extended over a term of 20 years, "and he was Mayor of Wanganui for throe consecutive years in the eighties. He was chairman of‘- the Wanganui Harbour Board for some years, and has also been charman of the following bodies; —Hospital Board, Education Board, Board of Governors Girls’ College, Licensing Committee, School Committee, Chamber of Commerce, Public Library Committee, and Public Museum Committee. Mr John MacGregor is a native of Perthshire and a graduate of Edinburgh University. He is a member of the legal firm of Messrs Duncan and MacGregor, Dunedin, and was for many years one of the most active members of the Otago Education Board. It is over 20 years since Mr MacGregor was appointed a member of the Legislative Council, on the nomination oi the°Ballance Government, and it is probably owing to his own action that ho has not been "twice reappointed since then. Few private members can show such a record of results in the wav of legal reform as Mr MacGregor has to his credit. His first achievement in this line was the Legitimation Act, which enables fathers of illegitimate children to give such children all the status and rights of children born in lawful wedlock on their marrying the mother after the birth of such children. The next was the Divorce Act, by which both spouses were for the first time placed on an equal footing as regards dissolution of the marriage, 0 and desertion and habitual drunkenness (coupled with failure to maintain) were made grounds of dissolution. It took Mr MacGregor four years to secure this reform. Ho also introduced, towards the end of his term, a Bill making provision for enabling persons charged with indictable offences to plead guilty in the lower court and to be sent to the Supremo Court simply to be sentenced. The Bill did not pass, however, and before the next session Mr MacGregor’s term of office had expired; but in the following session the provisions of the Bill were included in a Government measure, and became law. The change must have saved a large amount of money to the country, for formerly in all cases of indictable offences, even where the accused admitted his guilt, all the evidence had to be taken down in’ writing, and the witnesses had to be bound over to appear at the trial, and often to travel long distances at the public expense, simply to find that they were not required, as the accused had pleaded guilty 1

it is almost incredible that such a system could have been allowed to continue so long. Another important Bill introduced by Mr .MacGregor was the Law Amendment Bid, intended to remedy some well-known defects and absurdities in our law, as, for example, the rule that if a crcd tor agreed to accept in satisfaction any amount less than the whole of his debt, and the agreed amount was paid and a receipt given, the creditor could still sue for the balance! This Bill also failed to pass before the expiration of Mr MacGregor’s term, but it was / afterwards taken up by the Government, end then became law. Mr MacGregor is also responsible for several important changes in the law of evidence, as. for example- "the provision that allows admissions made to policemen to bo given in evidence, subject to certain conditions. The crcumstances of Mr MacGregor’s retirement from the Council in 1869 were of an unusual character. He served the full term of seven years, but shortly before the end of it he intimated to-the" Prime Minister that he could not accept reappointment, giving as his reason the fact that a member of the Seddon Government,' who had been' a member of the Ministry that had nominated him, had animadverted upon his action in opposing certain Government measures. , Mr MacGregor evidently regarded the doctrine implied by such criticism as incompatible with his conception of the duty of a member of an Upper House, and he decided not to compromise his independence by acceptinn- a reappointment subject to any such implied condition. Mr MacGregor’s views on tbs reform of the constitution of the Council must be well known to the Government. for towards the end -of bis time he moved a resolution in favour of the Council bD.r.g made elective, and in his speech advocated large constituences and the application of the principle of proportional represontation —the two leading* features of the Government’s Bill. In addition to his qualifications- as a lawyer Mr MacGregor is a recognised authority upon educational, economic, social, and industrial subjects. Mr J. G. W. Aitken was born at Park Kilchcrzie, Kintyre, Argyllshire, on February 6, 1849, and was educated at the Grammar School, Campbolltown, Argyllshire. He began his commercial career as a youth in the offices of Messrs Jas. Templeton and Co., Glasgow, and afterwards went to the London establishment of that firm, remaining with it for 12 years. In 1832 Mr Aitken came to New Zealand, and in company with Mr Geo. Wilson started business as a general merchant in Wellington. Mr Aitken was Mayor of Wellington from November, 1899, until May, 1905. He was elected to represent the city of Wellington in the House of Representatives in 1902, and was re-elected for Wellington East. in 1905, but did not stand at the next election. Mr Aitken is at present chairman of, the Wellington Education Board. Mr Richard Moore, of Kaiapoi, ranks among the pioneer settlers of Canterbury. He was bom in London in 1849, and arrived in New Zealand by the ship Steadfast a few months after the pilgrims had landed from the historic first four ships. He entered into business on his own account, and later took up the grain trade in the Kaiapoi district. It was his ambition to assist in the public affairs of the country, and he became a member of the Kaiapoi Borough Council and of the Waimakariri Harbour Board. Mr Moore served for four years as Mayor of Kaiapoi, and for eight or nine years as chairman of the -school committee, besides filling various other local offices. He first contested the Kaiapoi constituency in 1883, and in 1890 was elected. At the following election Mr D. Buddo won the seat, but in 1896 Mr Moore _ defeated Mr Buddo and had a second term in Parliament. Mr Moore is at present chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board. ) Dr W. E. Collins was born in India, and educated at Cheltenham College, London University (of which ho is a graduate), and St. George’s Hospital, London. He holds the. degrees of M.R.C.S. (England), and M.B. (London). After being attached to the Brompton Hospital for Consumptives, Dr Collins emigrated to Nelson. He subsequently practised in Wellington, and came honorary surgeon to the Wellington District Hospital. He was Dae of the promoters of the Volunteer Bearer Corps, and in 1896 attained the rank of surgeon lieutenant-colonel (Field Artillery). Subsequently ho became principal military officer in the Wellington Military District. Another office filled by Dr Collins was that of president of the Military Pensions Board. Ho was first called to the Legislative Council in January, 1907, and his term of appointment expired in January last. Mr Andrew Thomas Maginnity is an old colonist. He was born in the city of Wellington on March 11, 1849, and was educated at the military scohol of the 65th Regiment (his father having arrived in the colony on the hospital staff of the headquarters of that regiment), and at Toomath's Commercial and Grammar School. In 1868 Mr Magirinity passed the civil service examination, and was shortly afterwards appointed to the Treasury. In 1873 ho was appointed Chief Clerk of Telegraphs, and subsequently promoted to be assistant secretary, and finally secretary, to the department. In 1880 he was appointed to the charge of the Government offices in Collingwcod, embracing the offices of clerk to the Resident Magistrate’s and Warden’s Courts, and Receiver of Gold Revenue, wlvch offices he hold until 1887, when he retired from the Government service to commence the practice of his profession as a solicitor, having qualified while resident in Colliugwood. Mr Maginnity established h's home in Nelson, in 1890, and is now one of the leading barristers and solicitors in that city. For many years Mr Maginniny has been closely identified with educational matters, and ho was for about 20 years a member of the Nelson Education Board, and for several consecutive years chairman of that body. He was also for many years chairman of the Board of School Commissioners, having the administration of the educational reserves within the provincial district of Nelson, until the . control was transferred to the various land boards. Mr Maginnity has boon for some years, and still is, a member of the Victoria College Council, representing' the Education Boards of the middle district, and has also been a member of the Nelson Harbour Board. Ho has had considerable military experience, having been a volunteer officer for many years, and was appointed captain of the first torpedo corps formed in New Zealand. He also commanded for a time the Nelson (H) Battery of Artillery. Mr Maginnity holds the office of Chancellor of the diocese of Nel6°Mr W. Morgan is one of the best known and most highly respected residents of Gisborne. He was born in County Kildare Ireland, in 1851, and arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship Dunfillan in 1874. Ho remained in Dunedin for two years, and ' f*

subsequently started in business on his own account as a saddler in Roxburgh. For reasons of health he removed to Gisborne in 1863. During his residence in Roxburgh Mr Morgan was a member of the Borough Council for some years, and was also chairman of the local school committee. In Gisborne Mr Morgan has taken a keen interest in local affairs. For many years he was connected with the Gisborne School Committee, being chairman for some eight years. He also served for some yeai-s as a member of the North Ward on the Hawke’s Bay Education Board. At the present time he is secretary of the Gisborne High Schools Board. Among other local bodies 'on which Mr ' Morgan has served is the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce, of which he was president in 1900-01. Mr Morgan has always evinced a keen interest in political matters, and he is president of the Gisborne branch of the Reform League. , Mr Samuel is a well-known barrister and who for mai y years has been closely identified'with the interests of the Taranaki district, and in particular with New Plymouth, whore he resides. Mr T. Mac Gibbon came to New Zealand as a young lad with his father and mother, arriving by the ship Blundell in 1848. He worked with his father, and, as he grew up did his share of pioneering. In the very early days ho drove teams of Korscs and bullocks through from the Taieri to Dunedin, before there were,, any roads. In the early fifties Mr Mac Gibbon wont with his father to Mataura, where Mr Mac Gibbon, sen., established an accommodation house at the falls, which was a well-known hostelry m the early days. Later Mr Mac Gibbon took up a small run with his father and brother, and subsequently he was a mail contractor. Eventually he settled down as a storekeeper, and carried on a firm in partnership with his brother, Mr John MacGibbon, at the Falls, and afterwards at Gore. Mr Mac Gibbon has continued his connection with this business ever since. He entered public life as a member of the Lyndhurst Road Board in the early sixties, and was one of the first county councillors in the Southland County. Later he became chairman of the County Council, He was one of the earliest members of the Southland Education Board, and served upon it for 25 years, filling the office of chairman on various occasions. Mr Mac Gibbon was also a member of the District Hospital Board. He was for nearly 20 years one of the Otago and Southland School Commissioners, representing the Southland Education Board, and he was Mayor of Mataura on several occasions. He is now a member of the Otago University Council, representing the Southland- Education Board. In 1905 ho stood for Parliament in the Reform interest against Mr M‘Nab. but was defeated. For many years Mr Mac Gibbon has been closely ident : fied with the public life of Mataura. He has a long record of service as a member of the Gore High School Board, and has been one of the loading office-bearers on the Mataura Presbyterian Church, and since its foundation he has conducted the Sunday school for fully 40 years. Mr Mac Gibbon was one of the founders of the Southland Frozen Meat Company. RETIRING MEMBERS. The members whose seats became void through effluxion of time in January were Messrs Anstey (Canterbury), Barr (Canterbury), CalLan (Otago), Collins (Wellington), Gilmer (Wellington), Luke (Wellington), MUardle (Auckland). Paul (Otago). Pere (Hawke’s Bay), Samuel (Taranaki), Sinclair (Otago). Smith (Canterbury), Tucker (Auckland). The members whose scats have become void in May and July of this year arc Messrs Loughnan (Wellington), Jonkmson (Canterbury), and Rigg (Wellington). THE PRESENT COUNCIL. The Council will now consist of the following 39 members: LIFE MEMBERS. The Hon. Mr Baillie (Marlborough), The Hon. Sir Ohas. Bowen (Canterbury). The Hon. Mr Johnston (Wellington). The Hon. Sir George M'Lean (Otago). The Hon, Sir Henry Miller (Otago). The Hon Mr Ormond (Hawke’s Bay). The Hon. Mr Stevens (Canterbury). NOMINATED MEMBERS. The following are the nominated members, with the date of the expiry of their terms of appointment: — Mr Aitkon, Wellington, July, 1921. Mr Baldoy, Wellington, March, 1917. Mr Barr/ Canterbury, January. 1921. Mr Beohan, Auckland. June, 1917. Mr Bell, Wellington, July. 1919. Mr Carncross, Taranaki, March, 1917. Mr Carson, Wellington, July, 1921. Dr Collins, Wellington, July, 1921. Mr Duncan, Otago, June, 1919. Mr Duthie, Wellington, June, 1920. Mr Earnshaw, Wellington, June, 1920. Mr Fisher, Poverty Bay, July, 1921. Mr George, Auckland. June, 1917. Sir William Hall-Jones, Wellington, October, 1920. Mr Hardy, Canterbury, June, 1920. Mr Harris. Auckland, February. 1918. Mr Jones, Otago, December, 1916. Mr Louisson, Canterbury, January, 1915. Mr MacGregor, Otago, July. 1921. Mr Mac Gibbon, Otago, July, 1922. Mr MaoGinnitv. Nelson, July, 1921. Mr Mills, Wellington, March, ,1916. Mr Morgan, Poverty Bay. July. 1921. Mr Moore, Canterbury, July, 1921. Mr Nikora, -Auckland, Juno, 1920. Sir C. O’Rourke. Juno. 1918. Mr Parata. Otago, June, 1919 Mr Paul. Ot»go, January. 1921 . Mr Samuel, Taranaki. July 1921. Mr Simpson. Wellington. July 1921. Mr Thompson, Auckland, March. 1917. Mr Wigram, Auckland, Juno, 1917.