WAR PENSIONS BOARD

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 38, 14 February 1930, Page 10

WAR PENSIONS BOARD

CHAIRMAN RETIRING

MR. T. E. Y. SEDDON APPOINTED

The retirement of Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, for some years a Stipendiary Magistrate and also Chairman of the War Pensions Board, is announced.

The vacancy on tho War Pensions Board as chairman will be filled by tho appointment of Mr. T. E. Y. Scddon, exM.P., barrister and solicitor, of Greymouth.

Tlie otlier members of tho board—Dr. A. W. Izard and Mr. J. D. Harper—will be appointed for a further term.

Mr. Cooper has had a long aud honourable career in the Public Service, extending over some fifty-two years, and was always a popular official. He was first appointed to the Civil Service as a cadet in the Crown Lands and Immigration Department by Sir Robert Stout, then Minister of Lands and Immigration, on 23rd September, 1878. On 12th . November, 1879, he was appointed secretary to the Chief Justice, Sir James Prendergast, with whom he served until Ist March, 1882, when he was appointed Deputy-Re-gistrar of the Supreme Court, Wellington, in succession to Mr. H. Hall, who resign-

Ed to enter into private practice. On Ist April, 1889, he was appointed Registrar of the. Supreme Court and Registrar of the Court of Appeal at Wellington in place-of Mr. A.S. Allan, who had retired on superannuation. Mr. Cooper was appointed Sheriff of the Wellington District on 9th July, 1891, in place of Mr. Ebenezer Baker, who had resigned. On Ist February, 1914, he was appointed a Stipendiary Magistrate, being made Second Magistrate at Wellington, Mr. W. G-. Riddell (now retired) having become Senior Magistrate consequent on the death of Dr. Alexander M'Arthur. On 25th August, 1915, after the passing of the War Pensions Act, Mr. Cooper was appointed Chairman of the War Pensions Board, the other members being Colonel G. F. C. Campbell and Dr. H. Pollen, with Mr. G. C. Fache (Commissioner of Pensions) as secretary and member ex ofticio. When the Military Service Act was passed, Mr. Cooper was appointed chairman of the First Wellington Military Service Board on 26th September,' 1910, and in that capacity he heard many appeals from those claiming exemption from war service. The Military Service Boards ceased to function after the Armistice, and Mr. Cooper continued his duties as chairman of the War Pensions Board.

Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon, second son of tho Eight Hon. B. J. Seddon, was born in Kumara, Westland, in 1884. He was educated at the Kumara State School, the Terrace School, Wellington, "Wellington College, and Victoria College. At AVellington College he distinguished himself in athletics, winning the school championship and the Banfurry Cup, and for three years represented his college at football. At Victoria College for five years he was representative in inter-University tournaments. He graduated LL.B at Victoria College: He was on the staff of

Messrs. Finlay and Dalzicll, the legal firm, and afterwards was with the firm of Chapman, Skerrett, Tripp, and Blair, and in 1922 he joined his present partner, Mr. J. W. Hannan, LL.B., as tie firm of Hannan and Seddon, carrying on business in Greymouth.

In 1906, on ttie death of his father, Mr. Seddon was elected for the Westland seat. He represented that constituency until 1922, when four candidates presented themselves and he was defeated. He won the seat in 1925 by 12' votes, and was defeated in 1928 by 185 votes by, Mr. James O'Brien. In the district of Westland he is personally popular and ho has worked hard for its advancement. He was identified with the movement for tlie Otira Tunnel, which work was begun in 1908. He succeeded before the 1928 election in convincing the Government of the necessity of carrying out a road construction scheme to connect West-land and Otago, a scheme which is to cost £500,000. In tho House of Representatives, Mr. Seddon always showed keen interest in mining and forestry, two subjects with which AVcstland was closely concerned.

In 1015 Mr. Sedrtoii und Mr. Downio Stewart paired and volunteered for service with the N.Z.E.F. Mr. Seddon left with tho 9th Reinforcements as adjutant to Colonel R. Allen, D.S.O. After seeing service in Egypt he wont to Flanders, where he was with the Canterbury Regiment at Armentieres, subsequently he was with the Second Battalion (Canterbury Regiment) ,at the First Sonune Battle. Ho was in command of a company at Passehondaele and for four months was A.D.C. to Major-Goneral Sir Andrew Russell. After leaving General Russell's staff he was in command of a company at Beaumont Hamel (Second Soinmc Battle), and in May, 1018, lie was selected as tho representative of the New Zealand, Division on tho Propaganda Mission in the United Stores of America. This mission was organised by Lord

Beaverbrook and the members were sent to Lord Reading in Washington, and were delegated to different American organisations to carry on their propaganda work.

Since the war Mr. Seddon lias identified himself with the executive work of the Returned Soldiers' Association. Some years ago ho was elected as delegate of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association to meet Earl Haig in South Africa at a conference of returned soldiers' associations, but he was unable to go.