Sir Thomas Wilford

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21379, 23 June 1939, Page 8

Sir Thomas Wilford

political career in which all honours were

obtained except that of leadership of a Government was ended by the death yesterday of Sir Thomas Wilford. He held Cabinet rank in two Governments; he was Leader of the Opposition for six years and from 1930 until 1934 he represented the Dominion in London as High Commissioner. In many ways he was the most successful representative New Zealand has had in Great Britain, his charming manner and fine talent as a speaker making him extremely popular in high places. He was the first of the Dominion’s High Commissioners to take an active part in international affairs, and as New Zealand’s representative to the League of Nations he had the opportunity of exercising considerable influence upon the deliberations in Geneva.

Although at the time of his appointment as High Commissioner Sir Thomas Wilford had been in Parliament long enough to be “father of the House,” he had found time to devote to the service of the people outside politics. For one term he was Mayor of Wellington and for 10 years he served on the Wellington Harbour Board. As a barrister he was one of the outstanding advocates of the day. He was associated with several remarkable criminal trials which were made the more memorable because of his remarkable forensic ability. Being a man of wide interests, exceptional strength of character, and diversified talents, Sir Thomas Wilford must be counted among the great New Zealanders of his day. He was born and educated in this country and although he might have been tempted to stay abroad where richer prizes, perhaps, awaited him, be chose to return to the place which his loyal heart regarded as home.