RAILWAY BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1931, Page 4

RAILWAY BOARD

PERSONNEL ANNOUNCED MR. STERLING AS CHAIRMAN yjK’ r-t ■' -'I COL. ESSON TEMPORARILY POSITION OF THE MANAGER By Telegraph.—Tress Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Prime Minister, Mr. G. W. Forbe«, announces that the following have been appointed the Railway Board k’ Colonel J. J. Esson (Wellington), chairman. x Sir James Gunson (Auckland). Hon. E. Newman (Rangitikei) Kr. D. Reese (Christchurch). Mr. G. W. Reid (Dunedin). In announcing the personnel the Prime Minister stated that so far a« the chairmanship was concerned there was to be an important development in due course, which would involve the retirement of Mr. H. H. Sterling from the position of general manager to enable him to ultimately become chairman of the board. Under the terms of the Finance Act, Mr. Sterling is not eligible for retirement until September 4. Therefore Colonel Eeson had been appointed temporarily to the position of chairman. In September he would be succeeded by Mr. Sterling. Under normal circumstances Mr. Sterling would have been entitled to retire on a pension of £2041 per annum, but he will now receive a greatly reduced pension calculated on an actuarial basis, and £lOOO per annum as chairman of the board instead of his present salary of £3150. CAREERS GF THE MEMBERS. EXPERIENCE IN NEW ZEALAND Colonel Esson,' C.M;G.,' recently retired from the Treasury, to which he had been secretary since 1922. For many years he was associated with the volunteer and territorial forces, and he served in the Great War in Egypt, Gallipoli, and France 1914-16, being mentioned in, dispatches. Born at Picton in 1860, he‘joined the Post and Telegraph Department in 1881, and in 1906 was transferred to the Treasury, eventually becoming its head. ■Sir James Gunson, C.M.G., is a native of Auckland, where he was horn in 1877. In 1892 he entered the office of his father, whose business was later acquired by Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Company. He has held many public positions in Auckland, including that of Mayor. The Hon. Edward Newman, G.M.G., MJL.C., is an old and well-known Rangitikei settler. He was member for the Ranritikei district from 1908-22, and was appointed to the Legislative Council in 1923. He was the originator of the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund, and is chairman of the Flock House trustees. (Sir. Daniel Reese is a well known Christchurch merchant. He was born in Christchurch in 1879, where he was educated. He served his apprenticeship to engineering at Andersons foundry from 1890 to 1900, and was at sea for some years. On returning to Christchurch in 1907 he became a partner in the firm of Reese Bros., shipping agents, etc. He was one of New Zealand’s best cricketers of his day, and also a Canterbury representative footballer. Mr. Reid is a well known business man of Dunedin.