SIR GEORGE SHIRTCLIFFE

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 1, 2 January 1936, Page 10

SIR GEORGE SHIRTCLIFFE

A record of conspicuous service to the State is recognised in the granting, of a knighthood to Sir George Shirtcliffe, K.8.E., a well-known Wellington business man, who has been a member of several important Government Commissions, including the National Expenditure Commission of 1932, of which he was chairman. He was also chairman of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and on his retirement from that post in March last year, he invested an endowment of £20,000 with the New Zealand University to enable students of outstanding ability and character who lacked the requisite means to do so to continue their studies. He is chairman of directors of A. S. Paterson and Co., Ltd., Wellington, and a director of the Wellington Investment Trustee and Agency Co., Ltd., from the chairmanship of which he retired some months ago because of ill health.

Sir George was born at Worksop, England, in 1862, and came to New Zealand in 1864. He was educated at the Riccarton School and later at Christ's College, and started his business career as a cadet in the Government Land Office at Timaru in 1877. In the following year he joined the National Mortgage and Agency Co., Ltd., as a junior, and in 1880 was appointed accountant. Two years later he was appointed accountant for the Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association, Ltd., and after another two years' service became manager. In 1890 he became a partner in and manager of the firm of A. S. Paterson and Co., Ltd., in Dunedin. From 1912 to 1919 he was managing director of the firm, and in 1927 was appointed chairman.

Sir George was a member of the Wellington City Council from 1907 to 1913, member of the Wellington Harbour Board from 1906 to 1908. and president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce from 1904 to 1907. In addition to his responsibility as chairman of the National Expenditure Commission, Sir George has served on a number of other Royal Commissions, among them the 1921 Hospital Commission and the 3922 and 1924 Taxation Commissions. He was also a member of the Hawke's Bay Rehabilitation Committee. He is a prominent churchman and is a member of the Anglican Synod.

Today he was the recipient of nunie'rous messages of congratulation.