WHO’S WHO.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18163, 27 April 1921, Page 5

WHO’S WHO.

THE MUNICIPAL CANDIDATES. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES. “Who will I vote for?” This is the question which will confront and , perhaps perplex some of the burgesses to-day. To a great extent the candidates themselves assist. In a solution as they have taken every opportunity of placing their views before the ratepayers.' At the present juncture, however, it is of interest to bring before the ratepayers a few details of a biograplucal nature concerning various candidates, which are as follows: JIB. OAKLEY BROWNE. Mr H. Oakley Browne, who was born in Wellington 39 years ago, comes from an old journalistic family. His father is still in journalism and his grandfather was editor of the Auckland Herald over a quarter of a century ago. Mr Browne has had an interesting career and has been privileged to see the world under exceptional circumstances. He grew up from early youth on the New Zealand Times, in Wellington, where he had first a commercial and subsequently a literary career. He , s for y ears the reporter of the Wellihfei?" City Council proceedings and was so intimate with. „aIU. the Council’s operations that he gardud by councillors and head officials as practically an honorary member of the staff. Afterwards he was in the press gallery, where he became intimate with Ministers of the Crown and members of Parliament, and when Sir Joseph Ward resigned from the Government after the 1911 elections he selected Mr Browne as his private secretary when he became Leader of the Opposition. When Sir Joseph joined the National Government Mr Browne was appointed to the official post of private secretary to the Minister of Finance, and in that capacity attended the Imperial Conferences with Sir Joseph when Mr Massey and he went to England during the war. Mr Browne was officially attached to the British War Cabinet Sectariat and his name appears in that capacity in the War Cabinet’s publications. He accompanied Sir Joseph four times across.lhe Atlantic Ocean when the submarine campaign was in operation, and was in France with the Ministers on both occasions when tl;ey visited the front during active operations. From the social and entertaining point of view Mr Browne has had a wide experience. He was presented to the King in 1916 his official capacity while in England, and attended all the many official social functions with his Minister, arranged during the sittings of the Imperial Conferences and Imper- ] ’ a! War Cabinets in 1916. 1917, and 1918. When Sir Joseph Ward resigned from the National Government Mr Browne resigned his official position in the Government and took the field with his chief for- the last general election campaign, and although carrying out the duties of general secretary for New Zealand for the Liberal Party was at the last ' minute at the urgent request of Sir ' Joseph nominated for Wellington North. He had only three weeks ' for the campaign against Mr J. P. Luke, the sitting member and Mayor of Wellington, and put up the bfg- ' gest Liberal vote recorded for years in that Conservative constituency. Had it not been for the split vote ■ by the Official Labour candidate Mr : Luke might not now be the sitting members. Mr Browne has taken 1 up his permanent residence in Wan- ' ganui, and has assumed big responsibilities as a payer of rates. He consented to contest the mayoralty ' at the invitation of a very large and representative deputation of prominent residents and business people of the town, including councillors and ex-councillors.

MR. T. BOSWALL WILLIAMS. Mr T. Boswell Williams was born at Newport, Monmouthshire, and came to New Zealand in 1862, landing at Auckland. After residing at Nelson and Picton for some years, he arrived in Wanganui as a young man of 25, and has been here ever since. He was first elected to the Borough Council in 1835, and has ever since been a servant of the public, having also served on the Hospital ‘ Board, Harbour Board, River Trust, and other public bodies. He has been chairman of the Patriotic Association since the beginning of the war, and is chairman of the Repatriation Committee at the present time. Mr Williams has been president of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce on two different-occasions, and is at present chairman of the executive of the Hydro-Electric League. Few men in New Zealand have served the people so long and faithfully as has the Mayor of Wanganui. MR. E. W. F. GOHNS. Mr E. W. F. Gohns was horn at Oxford, England, in 1869, and he arrived in New Zealand 45 years ago as a boy of 6. He was educated at the Sydenham Public School, Christchurch. On leaving school, he served his appernticeship as a tailor, and follotved that occupation for several yea S-s. As a young man, he look a keen interest in music, and was connected with the Sydenham Band, Christchurch, for 14 years. He was a member of the executive of the first Band’s Association ever formed in New Zealand. Mr Gohns . was elected president of the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council in 1900, and was secretary of twelve trades unions from 1897 to 1907. He was also advocate for a number of unions both in the North and South Islands before the Arbitration Court for ten years. For the past 14 years, he has been connected with the Department of Labour as an inspector of fa.ctories, being stationed In turn at Wellington, Gisborne, Napier, and Auckland, and for the past seven years in Wanganui as officer In charge of the local office. Mr Gohns was a member of the Wanganui East School Committee last year, and was one of the secretaries who brought the recent carnival in aid of the School baths to such a successful issue. Mr Gohns received a vote of confidence from the householders of Wanganui East last Monday night, when he was re-elected to the School Committee.

MR. C. J. SHARPE. | Mr C. J. Sharpe Is one of Wangai nui’s best-known public men. He | has been a .member of the Borough Council for two years, and a very ■valued member, as his position as chairman of the Finance Committee proves. He has also been a mem- 1 her of the Hospital Board for two years. Mr Sharpe has always been an ardent workdr in the cause of education. He has been a member of the Gonville School Committee for twelve years, six of which he served as secretary and six as chairman. No man is better known in the ranks of Friendly Societies, as for ten year's past he has secretary of the J Druids’ Lodge. His grip of finance ■ has been of great benefit to the community. MIL A. A. GOWER. Mr A. A. Gower has beizn a member of the Borough Council for the past eight years, and during his term of office has rendered invaluable service to the citizens. Particularly was his expert knowledge as a chemist of inestimable value during the influenza epidemic in 1918, when Cr. Gower was appointed chairman of the Sanitary Committe, and inaugurated a system of town cleansing and rubbish collecting which made Wanganui one of the cleanest towns in the Dominion. The history of the Gower family makes interesting reading. In March, 1856, George Gower, chemist, of Great Britain, landed in Wanganui with his family from the 'Qlff' I>aßd, and at once commenced the practice of his profession in Ridgway opposite the old Lyceum Theatre—landmark which has long disappeareii.x Some time after their arrival the ’Maori War 'broke out on this coast, "tJd a yery stirring and busy time it wfer— Tffis-j. military hospitals alone kept the chemist busy, medicines and surgical requirements, having to be sup- I plied in large quantities. Father and son did their share of the toil in those days, the same as father and son are doing it to-day. As time went on, however, the founder of the firm was called to rest, and the son took up the work. In his younger days Mr Alf A. Gower continued to gain the experience necessary to a first-class chemist by travelling throughout New Zealand. He eventually settled in Wanganui, and has been here ever since. Cr. Gower has identified himself closely with the life of the town. He is an expresident of the Horticultural Society and an ex-president, of the Hockey Association, and is a member of many societies which make for the s social welfare of the community. j

MR. J. W. CRAMPTON. Mr J. W. Crampton, of old Irish parentage, was born in Canterbury, where he/received a private and public school education. At an early age Mr Crampton entered the Royal Navy and had a varied career of four years’, sea service, during which period he served on board the flagship to H.M. King George when on tour round Australia and New Zealand. For the past seventeen years Mr Crampton followed an army career, where he obtained his commission and served, during the Great War. Prior to the war, however, Mr Crampton at one time held the position of Chief of the Fijian Military Forces, under the Imperial Government, and auring the latter part of the Greal War he held positions as Provost Marshal, judge of the Native Courts, and secretary .of Native Affairs tin Samoa, as well as Inspector-General of Police and Prisons, and last but not least, Officer In Charge of Military Detention Barracks at Wanganui. Mr Crampton was on Monday last elected chairman of the Northern Division School Committee, and it Is hoped that his career will further be honoured today as a member of the Wanganui Borough Council. MR. J. AITKEN. Mr J. Aitken was born in Clydesdale, Scotland, the youngest of a family of 10. At. the age of 15 he was sent to the metropolis to learn the gentle art of school-mastering. He taught in Edinburgh and jn New-castle-on-Tyne, and in 1881 migrated to New Zealand, landing at Port Chalmers and commencing work at Caversham, near Dunedin. As time went on he has gradually crept further north, taking up duty in the Boys’ School, Wanganui, on 25th April, 1892. His record here is wellknown. In view of his coming retirement Mr Aitken offered himself two years ago as a candidate for a seat on the Borough Council, and was returned second on the poll, being beaten only by Mr T. B. Williams.

MR. R. W. GREEN. Mr R. W. Green is a member of the Borough Council. He was born and educated at Auckland, and after serving his apprenticeship he crossed over to Melbourne, where he remained for some three and a-half years, gaining valuable experience in the Victorian capital which stood him in good stead in after life. He returned to Auckland, and came to Wanganui about 28 years ago, where he obtained employment xvith the Sash -'and Door Factory. After serving with the firm for two years, Mr Green commenced business on his own account, and carried on successfully until the business was formed into a company undej- the style of Green and Beavan, Ltd. He was first elected to the Council some 14 years ago, when Mr A. G. Bignell was mayor. Cr. Green took an active part in the instalftion of the tramway Cr. Green has always identified himself with, every movement for the advancement of the town, and was secretary of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce for a number of years. Cr. Green has done good work on the Borough Council, and was mainly responsible in ordering the steam plant. He is a man of high and any business conducted by him has always been carried through on sound commercial lines.

MR. IT. N. MAUNDEft. Mr H. N; Maunder is a young New Zealander, having been born in 18S4. He was educated at Wanganui, where be gained a senior scholarship ill 1900. He entered the engineering profession as an apprentice in 1902, and on the completion of his apprenticeship joined the staff of the I Wellington Tramways power station [ as an electrician. He was later appointed chief electrical engineer to the Westport-Stockton mines. In 1916 Mr Maunder left Westport, and spent two years on the Lake Coleridge hydro-elecinc installation and its application. _He came to Wanganui in 1918, and has been in business here on his own account as an electrical enginer for the past two years. His expert knowledge as an electrical engineer should be of valuable service in view of the near approach of the lighting of the town and the establishment of hydro-elec-tricity for lighting and power. 7 MH. F. A. HARKNESS. Mr Frederick Alexander Harkness was born in Wanganui in 1569, and was educated by his father, who was the first schoolmaster al, Mataroa, and taught in a school somewhere in the vicinity of the old blockhouse. Mr Harkness left Wanganui when a lad, and travelled extensively for several years, traversing almost all i parts of the Continent of Australia. | Mr Harkness returned to New, Zealand in 1897, and started business in [ Walnganui as a coal merchant. I Shortly before coming to Wanganui [ Mr Harkness was assistant engineer on the Midland Railway construction works in the South Island. He has carried on business successfully in Wanganui for 24 years, and has taken an active part in public life, •Jiaving served for a number of years on*^S^i¥w£ganui. Borough Council, the and at the present time hSsj s a member o£ the Patriotic Me takes a keen interest in sport, afiJ * s . P re " sident of one club and vice-prhti’bent of two others. Mr Harkness > as always taken a keen interest in the’ advancement of the town, and his outspoken letters to the press on public matters were at all times.wel- | corned. Having large interests in [ Wanganui, Mr Harkness is naturally | anxious to do all in his power to ad- [ vance the town’s interests in every way. JIK. A. HARRIS

Mr Alfred Harris is a Somersetshire man, having been born at llminster. From his earliest years he showed an aptitude for engineering, and as.a boy worked Fowler steam ploughs. In 1876 he purchased from the Manchester Land Corporation a property in New Zealand and came out to the Feilding district in the same year. Later he erected five flax mills and exported fibre to the National Cordage Company of New York and Boston, until the financial collapse of that company. In 1891 Mr. Harris came to Wanganui and entered into partnership with Mr R. B. Horsley as shipping, coal and produce merchants. This firm showed great enterprise, being the builders of the first ocean going oil auxiliary vessel- (the Toroaj which traded to Australia and the South Sea. Islands. They were also the owners of other steam and sailing vessels. Mr Harris recently retired after a partnership of thirty years. Mr Harris has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce for 16 years, filling the presidential j chair for two years. He served two terms on the Borough Council, and was a school committee man for some years. He is now the organiser of the Rangitikei Hydro-Elec-tric Power Board. MR. J. G. SWAN. Mr J. G. Swan is one of the bestknown and most popular man in this district. Mr Swan may be said to have been reared in Municipal polities, as his father had been Mayor of Napier for 17 years, and also held the leadership of public bodies in the East Coast town for a score of years. Mr J. G. Swan was the pioneer of the brewing industry in this district and carried on until the brewery he controlled was taken over by the Wanganui Brewery Co. Mr Swan then acquired the license of Chavannes’ Hotel, which he held, with one break, for ten years. Mr Swan is known throughout the North’ Island as an entertainer of a good deal more than the ordinary amateur standard, and has been . connected all his life with operatic, dramatic and musical societies. His talent as an elocutionist has always been readily offered for charitable purposes. He has always been a keen defence supporter, and has been actively associated with the veteran corps and rifle clubs.-'He has for many years been Captain of the Wanganui Defence Rifle Club. Mr Swan was one of the founders of the Swankers’ Club, which did such splendid work towards raising funds for patriotic purposes during the war. A successful business man and a most capable organiser, Mr Swan would be a valuable member of any public body. MR W. S. DUSTIN. Perhaps there is no better known name on this coast than that of Mr W. S. Dustin, the head of the firm of Dustin’s, Ltd. Starting forty years ago in a very’ small way, he has, by industry and. ability, established a flourishing business with important branches m Wellington and Palmerston North andj an almost Dominion-wide connection, j He was also founder of the SouthernCross Biscuit Company, Ltd., which today employs over 100 hands, and of which he is thd chairman of directors. This business record frilly warrants Mr , Dustin's claim to again serve his fellow'citizens as a councillor, especially when his previous six"'years’ service st the' Council table is remembered. During his lengthy term of office he was chairman of the Tramways Committee and the Suburban Extension Committee. He I holds, too, a most honourable record as I a volunteer, httving served 12J years' m the Wanganui Nava-ls, of which fine ' corps he was chief petty officer, and af- [ terwards was one of the founders of the Wanganui Guards, of which cores he" held the captaincy. Mr Dustin has aI-[ ways been a keen patron of every kird’ of manly sport, and has held high [I position's in several of our most succesful clubs.

MR A. HALLICAN. I Mr A. Halligan, one of the new (candidates who is offering his serIvices at to-day’s election, has for (many years been head of a flourishing business in the town, and his (business ability would be of service (to any public body. Mr Halligan (entered public life by accepting nomination in school committee work, one or the highest forms of public duty conceivable, and has just been re-elected chairman of the Aramoho School committee. A highly successful business man, full of push and (energy, with a decided mind and sound judgment, and whose word is his bond, Mr Halligan sho lid make a capable Councillor.

MR. W. R. NELSON. Mr W. Ross Nelson, the Trades Union candidate, is a member of the Wanganui "Herald” linotype staff, and is also secretary of the Wanganui Printing Trades Unions. He was born in Sqpt-, land 31 years ago, and was educated.at a Glasgow College, where he went through a classical and commercial course. He has an aptitude for foreign languages, amongst which may he mentioned Latin, Greek, French and Spanish. He camo to New Zealand about ten years ago, and has proved himself to be a. capable business man, respected and trusted by his fellow unionists and employers, and controlled a business of his own before leaving Scotland. He has travelled extensively in various parts of the world. He takes a keen interest in all that appertains to the welfare of I the working classes. His candidature• i for the Borough Council is endorsed by the most powerful unions in the city. MR. L. J. SIGLEY. Mr Sigley entered public life eight years ago, standing for the Council and( being elected. During his first term of| office he was elected to t’he .position ofi chairman of the Tramways, and occu-1 pied that position when Wanganui East I and Aramoho extensions were carried ( through. Cr. Sigley brought down a! loan for the augmenting of the power.house plant, which, if the succeeding \Uouncil had carried it through, would haVT obviated the calamitous break-! I down.'' ', s chairman of the Gas Com- ( mittee, t.' r - Sigley has been singularly i successful, the advantage of! i having a man'SJP versant to some extent with the businessjmadled. Wanganui I owes to him the inceptS^ ll a municipal library and it is his h»P e to soe bis, ideas of a library and free\ readin g roonl I suitable for Wanganui’s in 1 henear future. As chairman sof other committees, chairman of tho ]• ire Board, and in many other concerns Mr Sigley has proved - worthy of the confidence of the i of Wanganui. His splendid work irS* connection with the epidemic will not' i soon bo forgotten, and even at the H eleventh hour Mr Sigley is chairman,', and one of the leading spirits in the; successful carnival now being held in - £Kid of the R.S.A. and Queen Alexandra 1 Band. As a representative footballer : for Wanganui and other districts, in i cricket, tennis, and other forms of sport < Mr Sigley has played his part. MR. A. THOMPSON. Mr A. Thompson is a member of the ] present Council. He is a New Zealander , born, and was educated at the Normat , School, Christchurch. He came to Wanganui 27 years ago. and entered upon ! . business as a builder and contractor. ( . Many of Wanganui’s principal business! ; places stand as monuments to his abil-l J ity as a builder. _ Cr. Thompson was a , member of the Wanganui East Borough! . Council, and on amalgamation taking! ( place he was elected to the Wanganui i Borough Council. Mr Thompson has devoted a great deal of time to Borough! | affairs. He was chairman of the Bor-, . ough Building Committee, which erect- ' ‘ cd the four workers’ dwellings on the. ( Springvale Estate, nad it is a testi-1 1 mony to his ability as a. master builderj i that these cottages were erected cheaper i than any workers’ dwellings which have yet been built in the Dominion. , Mr. Thompson has always taken a keen interest in educational matters, , and was one of the first committee- | men on the establishment of the new Technical College. He has been a member of the Builders’ Association from its inception, and on the Fire Board being set up here he was apointed one of the Borough Council’s representatives on that Board. Mr. Thompson has always X 1 displayed a most independent spirit, f and has nevei- been allied to any party or ticket. t!

MR. C. H. BURNETT. Mr. C. H. Burnett is a member of the present Council, and is recognised as one of the most capable of our younger public men. He has probably as good a grasp of our municipal affairs as any member of the present Council. He was elected to the Borough Council in 1917, and was again returned in 1919. Cr. Burnett served for some seven years on the old Purua Road Board and Wanganui County Council, and was for many years on the executive of the Agricultural Society. During the war he was elected president of the Second Division League and president of the Belgian and French Red Cross, and is a member of the executive of the Patriotic Association. Cr. Burnett has led the opposition on the present Council, and has actively identified himself during the campaign to secure the return of Mr. Oakley Browne to the Mayoralty.