ROTARY GOVERNOR OF N.Z.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 46, 10 March 1937, Page 14

ROTARY GOVERNOR OF N.Z.

Mr F. G. Hall Jones's Career SOLDIER AND STUDENT a Mr. F. G. Hall-Jones, of Invercargill, who has been elected District Governor of Eotary for New Zealand in succession to Mr. W. Thomas, Timaru, was born on July 4, 1891, at Timaru. He is the younger son of Sir William HallJones, who was formerly Prime Minisler • and High Commissioner of New Zealand, and who died last year after a continnous political career extending tnore than 45 years. Mr. Hall-Jones was educated at the Timaru South School, of which he was dux, and the Timaru High School. He was also dux at the High School and Cain Bequest Essayist, and he won a junior national scholarship, as well as heading the list for New Zealand in the junior Civil Service examination. At Victoria IJniversity College (Wellington), he secured the B.A. and LL.B. degrees and yon the Plunket Medal for oratory. He was also prominent in athleti-cs and won the college championship cup and was secretary and president of several of the college societies. Mr, Hall-Jones was also a college nominee for a Efiodes Scholarship. In inter-university tournamsnts he won the high jump for two years and, with partner, the Joynt Challenge Scroll for debating. He studied law nnder Sir Francis Beli in Wellington and the Hon. J. A. Tole in Auckland. . He enlisted in the main body of the 3rd Auckland Eegiment and served in Egypt and Gallipoli, being in the first tow-load of New Zealanders to land at Anzac Cove 011 the morning of April 25, 1915. He was severely wounded at Quinn's Post during a rai.d. into the enemy trenches. Variety of Interests. War injuries interfered with his career at the Bar, but he has figured in many notable law-suits in the Invercargill Coarts during the last 20 years. In Invercargill lije has been president of the Beturned Soldiers ' Association, War Funds Association, Southland Law Society, Invercargill Club and Eotary Club; .vice-president of the Invercargill Golf Club; chairman of the Cancer Campaign Committee; Metropolitan Commissioner of the Southland BoyvScouts' Association, and chairman of, the Southland Transport Licensing Authority. He has served on the City Couneil and the T^chnical College Board. For some years past Mr. Hall-Jones has delivered addresses at Aanzac Day services in Southland . and elsewhere. Ten years ago he purchased "Lennel," with eight acres of gardens and English trees, and is an ardent horticulturist. He is a keen bridge player and last year contributed a series of articles to the Southland Times, chiefly for the purpose of keeping Invercargill abreast of the recent developments in Contract Bridge. He is convener of the local committee of historical zesearch, and has written a "popular" history of early Southland which will not now be published nntil next year. Interest In Rotpry. Mr. Hall-Jones joined the Invercargill Eotary Club in May, 1930, and was president in 1933. He has made a wide study of international, and paxticularly European, affairs and his addresses at Dunedin and Timaru in 1934 and 1935 attracted the attention of the leaders of Eotary and elicited a wide general interest. He will attend the world conference of Eotary^ International at Nice on Jiune 6, m which 8000 to 10,000 Eotarians are expected to participate. _ 5 _ , Being conversant with the Frencn and German languages, Mr. Hall-Jones will spend as much time as possible on the Cohtinent and will Teturn to New Zealand in August or September of. this year. !