DEATH OF CHANCELLOR

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22149, 22 September 1943, Page 5

DEATH OF CHANCELLOR

SIR KINGSLEY WOOD PASSES LONDON, Sept. 21 The Chancellor of the Excheque', Sir Kingsley Wood, died in London this morning at the age of 01 years. The news of his death was at once conveyed to the King, and as soon as the House of Commons met Lday after the summer recess the Speaker made the announcement. Sir Kingsley Wood became Post-master-General in 1931, was Minister of Health in 1935, Secretary for Air from 1938 to 1940, and had been Chancellor of the Exchequer since 1940. In 1918 Sir Kingsley was knighted and then elected Unionist member of Parliament for Woolwich. As Secretary for Air in 1938 he placed an prder with Lord Nuffield for 1000 Spitfires, and his drive for an ine/eased Air Force brought about a revolution in the expansion of the air arm. Sir Kingsley Wood waa married, but had no children. Shock to Parliament Sir Kingsley's death came as a great shock to the House of Commons as it was assembling in high spirits for the first meeting after the summer recess and in expectation of hearing important war news. Sir Kingsley was due an hour after the news of his death became known to make a statement in the House of Commons, announcing that it had been decided to adopt the “Pay as you earn” income tax scheme for certain classes of wage-earners. It was the last important financial plan Sir Kingsley drew up and he was very hopeful that it would be a popular success in view of the many demands which had been made for it.