AN EX-POKURU FARMER

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7094, 15 August 1949, Page 4

AN EX-POKURU FARMER

MAYOR OF TAURANGA MR L. R. WILKINSON’S VARIED CAREER The Auckland Observer writes as follows: When investing the Mayor of Tauranga (Mr L. R.‘ Wilkinson) with mayoral robes and insignia recently, the Mayor of Wellington (Mr W|U Appleton), who is also president of the New Zealand Mjunicip a l Association, paid tribute to the Bay of Plenty man’s work as Mayor of Tauranga for 14 years and as member of several local bodies. He said that Mr Wilkinson’s long record of public service well merited the distinction being bestowed upon him. Born in England in 1889, Mr Wilkinson was educated at Leeds Higher Grade School. He played Rugby for the school’ first fifteen, and also won some distinction at swimming. From 1915 until 1917 he served with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade in Egypt and France, and returned with the rank of lieutenant.

For some years Mr Wilkinson was farming at Pokuru, and while there was chairman of the Kakepuku Dairy Company and chairman of the School Committee. In 1922 he became a Justice of the Peace. Shortly afterwards he moved to Tauranga, where, before going into business on his own account, he was in charge of the Borough Council’s housing department. In 1935 he was elected Mayor. Other positions which Mr Wilkinson occupies include membership of the Tauranga Fire Board and deputy chairmanship of the Hospital Board; he has been a member of that Board since 1935. He has been a member of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council, and was president of the Bay of Plenty Returned Services’ Association from 1925 until 1932, when he was elected an honorary life member in recognition of his valued services. Messrs R. L. and W. R. Wilkinson, of Mangapiko, are sons of MY L. R. Wilkinson, and Mr C. S. Alexander, of Pokuru, is a brother-in-law.