PERSONAL

Chronicle (Levin), 13 August 1946, Page 4

PERSONAL

Mr. G. H. Mackley, M.P., has 3een selected by ballot as the STational Party's candidate for the Wairarapa seat. Mrs. - W. Kime, of Auckland, returned home on Saturday after spending a month's holiday with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Hocking, of Sussex Street. Mr. G. F. Dixon, private secretary to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice (Mr. Mason) , aompleted on Saturday 50 years in the Public Service, over 30 of them as a Ministerial secretary. Mr. Dixon has been private secretary to nine Ministers of the Crown. Squadron Leader Leonard H. Trent, V.C., D.F.C., who was the third New Zeaiand airman to be awarded the Victoria Cross, is among the passengers on the Akaroa, which is due at Auckland from London on August 31. He is accompanied by Mrs. Trent and cheir daughter. The appointment of Mr. G. E. Wood, M.A., as Government sta'tistician, .ffollowing the iretirement of Mr. J. W. Butcher, is announced. Mr. Wood joined the Public Service in March, 1918, and after serving for a short time in L-he Police Department was appointed to the Census and Statistics Department, which he joined in 1921. In 1937 Mr. Wood was appointed chief compiler to the department, in October, 1938, he was granted leave to enable him to serve with the British Colonial Service as Government Statistician in Palestine. During his sojourn in the Middie East Mr. Wood served on a number of important committees and visited ;,everal of the other colonies. Mr. Wood earned high recognition for his ability during the period of nearly seven years he spent in Palestine. He played an important part in developing the statistical organisation for the Government. Upon his return to New Zeaiand some months ago he was appointed to the position of Acting-Goverri-ment Statistician.