CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1778, 3 July 1926, Page 5

CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES

MR F. F. HOCKLY HONOURED.

A POPULAR APPOINTiMENT.

Definite intimation Avas received in Te Awamutu on Thursday evening that Mr F. F. Hockly, M.P., for Rotorua. and so well knoAvn in the Te AAvamutu district by reason of the fact that he resided at Parawera for over a dozen years until the beginning of 1925, had been chosen by the Reform Party for nomination to the position of Chairman of Committees in the House of Representatives. Of his ap-. pointment there is no doubt. That the choice is an admirable one is generally agreed, for he has qualifications that eminently fit him for the position. Mr Hockly has been Rotorua’s representative in Parliament since 1919. A keen sportsman, a practical agriculturist, and a man with longexperience of local body Avork, Mr Hockly is genial and Avell liked. He has been chairman of the Lands Committee of the last Parliament, and in that capacity widened his knoAVledge of the requirements of the more important position of Chairman of Com-mittees—-a position that is no sinecure, a fact recognised by Parliamentarians. so much so that it carried Avith it an honorarium increasing his Parliamentary salary to £675 per annum. A former occupant of the chairmanship some time ago averred .that the salary Avas Avell earned, as few realised the important and exacting duties. Mr Hockly is an enthusiastic Parliamentarian, and we have no doubt he Avill fill the position with credit to himself and Avith honour to Parliament and his party. Mr Hockly, it may be of interest to note, was born in Orrell (near Liverpool), England, in 1865, and came to New Zealand in 1884 to engage in Avork on the land. In the early days of settlement in the Forty Mile Bush; he took up a rough section at Makuri, some twenty miles east of Pahiafua, and after some years there Avent to Hunterville, on the Main Trunk line, where he farmed a considerable holding until about 14 years ago, coming to the Te AAvamutu district and taking up a large unimproved property at ParaAvera. He has disposed of each of the three places mentioned in turn, and presumably will noAV make his home in the Empire City, Avith of course frequent visits to parts of the electorate he represents to keep in close touch Avith the development and requirements of that extensive territory. For many years he Avas a member of the Ki -vitea County Council, of Avhich he Avas chairman for some time,, and has been a keen supporter of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union ever since its inception, being one of the earliest members of that organisation, and a staunch supporter of Sir James Wilson, the Union’s first president. On several occasions he represented his branch at the Wellington provincial conference, and the Wellington province at the Dominion conferences. He Avas also a member of the Advisory Committee of the Union for two years, besides being the first chairman of a sub-provincial district in the Dominion. Mr Hockly it may be recalled, was the chairman of the fir&t Reform conference, held in • Wellington shortly after the late Hon. W. F. Blassey became Prime Minister of New Zealand. During the Avar years Mr Hockly was resident at Parawera, and he threw his energies into the problems confronting the Dominion. Good Avork Avas performed by him as deputy-chairman (and on Mr F. E ! arl’s retirement through illness) chairman of the Second Auckland District Military Service Board. In that capacity He‘showed an ability and determination that frequently confounded- appellants or their counsel, Avho were putting up more or less flimsy excuses to delay taking up arms for the defence of the Empire. Those feAV people who regularly attended the sittings of the Military Service Board Avere quick to realise that it needed to be a genuine hardship to Avarrant the Board in granting exemption, temporary or of longer duration, Avhile Mr Hockly Avas chairman. Of his political activities, it may be mentioned that Mr Hockly first sought Parliamentary honours at the Rangitikei bY-election in September, 1909. He headed the first ballot on that occasion, with a majority over his nearest opponent of 493, but not having a straight out majority he had to face a second ballot, at Avhich he Avas defeated. After coming to ParaAvera he Avas induced to seek the suffrages of the people in Rotorua electorate in 1919, and he was elected. Contrary to the prognostications of many, Mr Hockly Avent back to Parliament in 1922 Avitdi a larger majority, Avhile last December that majority Avas increased to Avell over 2000 votes—a majority that feAV members of the <■ present House exceeded. As president of the Waipa Racing Club and of numerous sporting and other public bodies Mr Hockly is Avell knoAvn, and he Avill receiA'e the hearty congratulations of many Avell-Avishers in this part of the Dominion especially.