WAIKATO ELECTORATES

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19745, 28 November 1935, Page 8

WAIKATO ELECTORATES

THE NEW MEMBERS. MR C. A. BARRELL, Mr Charles A. Barrell, the new member for Hamilton, was born In Rangiora, Canterbury, in the late eighties, eldest son ofvMr Abraham Barrell, who Is now In his Ssth year and living in retirement at Pahlatua and who was an early pioneer in the Canterbury province, having emigrated rrom Bury Street, Edmonds In England as a youth. Mr Barrell xvas educated at the Rangiora School and at an early age went on the land at Pahlatua, but later joined the railway service where he cjualiiled as a mechanical engineer, and being Interested In military matters he soon attained the rank of stair sergeant major In the local unit of the New Zealand Defence Department. ■ Believing that at that time the Railways Department did not ofTer sufficient scope to an ambitious man in a young country, Mr Barrell resigned from the service at the age of 27 and joined the nrm or Booth Macdonald, Limited, soon becoming branch manager at New Plymouth and later at Auckland. From Auckland, Mr Barrell went to Invercargill to take charge of his firm’s engineering works, a position which he held for eight years at the end of which time he was promoted to the post of branch Inspector. In 1927 Mr Barrell decided to enter business on his own account, and took over Booth Macdonald’s agencies in Hamilton, since which time he has built up a sound business In Ward. Street. Mr Barrell is Interested in all outdoor sports and is. well known in bowling circles, having been president of the Frankton Bowling Club for two. terms and delegate to the South Auckland Bowling Centre. A wide reader and a fluent speaker, Mr Barrell Is also a keen student of economics.

MR W. LEE MARTIN,

Mr W. Lee Martin Is a well-known rarmer In the Matangi- district. ■ He was born in Oamaru and educated at the Waimate High School. For many years he was an active worker In the old ■ Liberal Party but in 1908 he Joined up with the Labour movement and since then lias been closely Identified with all its • activities. Mr Martin was for some years secretary of tho Wanganui Painters’ Union and a representative for the employees on the Conciliation Council and assessor ror the men on the Tramway Appeal Board. He has always taken a very keen Interest In education matters and in Wanganui he was a member of the Technical College Board of Governors. Twenty-three years ago Mr Lee Martin took up farming In the Matangl district and he is still farming tne same property. He Immediately associated himself with the various farming and social activities or the district and has materially assisted in its progress. He was secretary of the Matangi Cheese Company prior to Us absorption in the present glaxo factory while for many years he was on the suppliers’ committee and secretary or the school and hall committees. For a number of years Mr Martin was a member and later chairman or the Tamahere Road Board. He was one of the founders of the Farmers’ Union in the district and Tor three years was president of the Waikato sub-provincial and a member or tile Auckland executive of the Union. He Is still a provincial delegate. In 1925 Mr Martin unsucccsfully contested Hamilton in the Labour Interests and In 1927, on the death or the Hon. R. Bollard, he won the Raglan scat Tor Labour, retaining It at the 1028 election. However, he lost the seat to Mr D. S. Reid In 1931.

IVIR R. COULTER.

Mr Robert Coulter, the new Labour membei for Wallcato. was born In Christ-' •ctbureh and educated at (the Woodend Public School, Canterbury. Leaving school at an early age, Mr Coulter followed a variety or occupations Including farming, in various parts or the country. During these years he pursued further education with a commercial college, Mr Coulter was in Wellington for a number of years and came to Auckland over SO' years ago There he followed a commercial life and about 20 vears ago he took up permanent residence at Te .Aroha, conducting an auctioneering business Tor many years. Mr coulter lias behind him a hue record or local body and civic service. Ho was llrst elected to the Te Aroha Borough, Council in 1018 and has been a member practically ever since. He was elected Mayor in 1021 and has acted in that capacity since. He has been a member or the Thames Harbour Board Tor 1 5 years and retired from the chairmanship after rour terms or oniec. lie is president of the Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce and the Te Aroha Aero Club since. Its inception. Besides being a member or the Te Aroha Fire Brigade lie also chairman of numerous societies in and about Te Aroha. V man or studious character Mr Coulter ha« nhvavs been keenly Interested in political and ctvtc life. He lias closely associated himself with the unemployment situation and It was this that prompted him to offer his services in a wider sphere,

MR F, W. SCHRAMM.

Frederick William Schramm, Labour member for Auckland Last, enters upon his second term in Parliament, having won that seat for the llrst time In 191)1. Born In Hokitika, Mr Schramm was educated at Cfinterhury College, and was Tor some years In the Justice Department. Ho was deputy-registrar and deputysheriff of the Supreme Court .at Auckland until his career was Interrupted by war service and her spent 18 months in camp. After his discharge he commenced practice on Ills own .account as a solicitor In 1928 Mr Schramm unsuccessfully contested the Hamilton seat, but in 1931 lie was more fortunate, in defeating Mr H. p'. Burton in a contest which produced five candidates

MR J. THORNE,

Mr ,i:lines Thorne, the new Labour member for Thames, was born in Christchurch in i SS2 lie was working in the Addington railway workshops when Hie South Afric-an War broke out, and lie went with the -ml New Zealand Contingent as a trumpeter, in 1905, he became a round,ii ion member of Hie New Zealand Labour Piirlv and unsuccessfully contested tin 1 Christchurch South seat. In the election of that year, lie again was a candirlair in 1908, lint polled only 2250 votes. I alcr lie went, to Great Britain and worked us a lournatist and speaker Tor Hie British Labour pariv lor several years. Upon his return to New Zealand, lie was appointed sub-editor or the Maorliand Worker under the ■ Kile Mr IL E. Holland, and when Mr Holland was elected to Parliament Mr ThCirne became editor. He held this position ror ten years up in 1932, when in' was elected national secretary of ilie New Zealand Labour Party. in 193! he was a candidate for the Otaki 3eat,’ but was defeated.