HON. WILLIAM PERRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 95, 22 April 1944, Page 4

HON. WILLIAM PERRY

ANZAC PAY SPEAKER IN WANGANUI A record oil service, both in’ peace and in war, si lands to the credit of the Hon. W. Peri v, M.L.C., of Wellington, who will be the speaker at the Wanganui Anzac 13ay Commemoration service to be held at the Cenotaph, Queens Park, on Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Perry wilp also be an associate speaker with tßishop Bennett, at the Maori Memorial service in Moutoa Gardens on th|e morning of Anzac Day. Born in Wclimea, Westland, in 1885, he was educated at Wellington College and is in graduate of Victoria University College, Wellington. He was a men.(ber of the Wellington Rugby Footbull Union committee irom 1908 to 1914 and from then, till 1915, he was a member of the executive oi the New Zealand Rugby Football Union. He served in France for three years and was wouihded in action, losing his right arm. Hfis return to civil life found him ripne the less active. Mr. Perry was e lected president of the Wellington .Returned Soldiers' Association in 1 D2O-21 and 1921-22, and in 1935 he was elected Dominion president of the jfc.S.A., succeeding MajorGeneral S’.r Andrew Russell in that office. In he was appointed to the Legislate Council. In 1936 he was elected president of the recently’ revived New Zealand Defence Leagjlie, which was largely responsible for 'reviving the principle of compulsory ipilitary training in New Zealand. Soon after the outbreak of the present *var h e was appointed a member of tl&e Defence Council, which acted in an (advisory capacity to the War Cabinet} till it was superseded by the formation of the War Administration. i On the death of the late. Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, • who was Minister of Armed Forces and War Co-ordination, the vacancy! was filled by the appointment cfc Mr. Perry, who resigned from the Dominion presidency of the Returned Services Association. Mr. Perr.j accompanied Sir Bernard Freyberg on his tour of New Zealand last* year.