ROYAL HONOURS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 100, 22 January 1935, Page 8

ROYAL HONOURS

Duke of Gloucester’s Tour PERSONAL SERVICES Knighthood For Hon. J. A. Young By Telegraph.—Press Association. s Christchurch, January 21. A knighthood for the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister in Attendance, headed tlie list of honours for personal services conferred by the Duke of Gloucester to-night at the conclusion of tlie official part of the New Zealand tour. The complete list is as follows: — Knight Commander of the Victorian Order. JAMES ALEXANDER YOUNG. Minister in Attendance. Commander of the Victorian Order. MALCOLM FRASER, Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, and the organiser of the tour. Member of the Victorian Order, Fourth Class. W. G. WOHLMANN. Commissioner of Police. Member of the .Victorian Order, , Fifth Class. ■ H. M. PATRICK, transport officer. Royal Victorian Medals. INSPECTOR JAMES CUMMINGS. SENIOR-SERGEANT J. A. DEMPSEY. SERGEANT’’ P. BOLTON. E. W. JENKINS, head waiter for the tour. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES Sir Alexander Young A dentist by profession, Sir Alexander Young was born of Irish parents in Auckland in 1575. His first essay in the field of general politics was in 1908, when be unsuccessfully contested the Tauranga seat against the late Sir William llerries. He stood again in 1911, when he won the Waikato seat from the then sitting member, and held it until 1922, when he vacated it for the newly-created electorate of Hamilton. He won the new seat by a substantial majority over his two opponents, and has represented Hamilton in the House of Representatives ever since. For 12 yeaix of his Parliamentary career he was chairman of the Native Affairs Committee of the House. During the 1925 session lie was elected without opposition to the office of chairman of comand deputy-Speaker. Sir Alexander was. Minister of Health in the Coates administration from January IS. 1926, until it went out of office in December, 1928. When the Coalition was formed in 1931 Sir Alexander was one of ..the five Reform Ministers appointed, again taking over the administration of the Health Department. Subsequently he also assumed the portfolio of Internal Affair?, and prior to file present Royal tour was for some months Acting-Minister of Employment. Away from his administrative duties Sir Alexander finds recreation on a small dairy farm lie conducts at. Mangawai. in the North Auckland district Mr. Malcolm Fraser Born in Scotland in 1873, Mr. Malcolm Fraser entered the New Zealand Government service as a clerk in the Land and Income Tax Department in 1893, and remained in that department until 1908. He was then appointed accountant for the newly-established Public 1 Service Superannuation Fund, an office which he held until 1911, ■when he became Government Statistician. After the outbreak of war in 1914, Mr. Fraser was responsible for .tlie compilation of the National Register in 1915, and also for the administration of the Registration of Aliens Act, 1915. On the passing of the Milltary Service Act in 1916, he had charge of the administration of the registration system under that Act from 1916 till 1918; and lie devised and conducted the military service ballot System. For. his services in this connection he received the 0.8. E. Mr. Fraser represented New Zealand at (lie Conference of British Empire Statisticians in London in 1920. After the appointment of the Unemployment Board in 1(130, Mr. Fraser was appointed Commissioner of Unemployment for the administration of the Act under tlie direction of the Unemployment Board. He acted as Commissioner of Unemployment until the end of March 1932, and months later he was appointed Undersecretary of the Department of Internal Affairs. This office lie still holds. Mr. W. G. Wohlmann Mr. W. G. Wohlniuim, who was appointed Commissioner of Police in 1930, was rather appropriately born in a police station at Invercargill in 1872, his father being district clerk theft. He entered the police force at- Dunedin in 1895, • and went to Auckland as district clerk iu February, 1907, serving under Inspector Johu Cullen, who was later commissioner. Mr. lyoh’mann distinguished himself during the' difficult period of the miners’ strike at Waihi, Where he had taken charge of the sub-district iu 1909. He was at Waihi until 1917, when he was promoted to senior-sergeant, being stationed at Christchurch for .11 months. On his promotion lo sub-inspec-tor he was engaged at Auckland for a siiort period.’ In November, 1920. Mr. Wohlmann was sent, to to organise the civil police nt the termination of the military regime. Ho returned to New Zealand in 1922 as inspector, taking charge of the Waikato district with headquarters at Hamilton. He went to Auekiand as superintendent in February, 1926, and in July, 1930, succeeded Mr. W. B. Mcllveney as commissioner. Mr. Wohlmann. who holds high office in the Order of Freemasons, takes a keen interest in various forms of athletic sport, and acclimatisation affairs. Last year his name appeared in the King's birthday honours list as the recipient of the Imperial Service Order. Inspector Cummings Inspector Cummings, who is attached to the head office, Wellington, is one of the best known police officers .in New Zealand. He joined tlie force in 1907 in Wellington, where for four years ho was engaged on street and clerical work. In 1911 he was transferred to Auckland, in which centre lie was stationed ,for 17 years, until his transfer to Dunedin al the beginning of 1929. He camo to Wellington about twelve months ago. _ Inspector Cummings enjoyed the unique distinction of being the youngest man in the force lo secure tlie rank of chief-de-tective and also of sub-iiispector. and al the time of his last appointment ho was the youngest inspector in the force. Among the important eases which be has handled were two Auckland murder cases, during tlie past 10 years, in connection with which each of the convicted men was hanged. Ho was responsible for the arrest and conviction of Dennis Gunn in 192 T, for tlie murder of an Auckland suburban postmaster, and later he brought Samuel Thorn into court for the murder of a farmer nt Ttinknn. Senior-Sergeant Dempsey Senior-Sergeant J A. Dempsej is at present attached to Wellington Central station, and' lias had a long and meritorious career in (he Police Fnree Prior to his transfer to Wellington, about four years ago, he was stationed at Gisborne. Senior-Sergeant Dempsey is a popular

figure both inside and outside the force. Sergeant Bolton is stationed at Dunedin. Mr. H. M. Patrick Mr. 11. M. Patrick, who is 46 years of age, is Principal of tlie Transport Division of the G.P.0.. a position to which lie was appointed about three .years ago. Prior to that he was superintendent of the Public Service Garage. Mr. Patrick was born in Auckland, and there he commenced his career in the Public Service. During tlie war he was connected with tile Board of Trade, being stationed nt Auckland. Mr. Patrick is Hie sole re. presentntive of ilie service on flic Post and Telegraph Promotion Board of five members, the other four being administrative officers. For some time he was a member of Ihe executive of the Post and Telegraph Employees' Association.