NEW LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 610, 11 October 1913, Page 5

NEW LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR

SIR WM. HALL-JON&S. When the Legislative-* Council met on Wednesday afcernoon a big surprise awaited everybody, Sir W. Hall-Jones being sworn in to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Si? W. Russell. Unusual reticence had been observed with regard to the appointment. Sir William Hall-Jone3 as born at 7 Folks stone, near Dover, England. In the ea.'i:' saventie's he left England for Nc-v." Zealand, going to Timaru, where he worked at his trade as a carpenter. In 1980 he was elected a member gl the House of Representatives on the death of Mr T. Turnbull. He had been a member for one month when Parliament prorogued, and next- session ho was made one of the Whips of the Liberal Party. In 1893 he resigned as Whip, his ideas not conforming to those of his political leaders, and he constituted in hi 3 own person what as known ass "Fourth Party." In February, 1896, Sir Patrick Buckley and the Hon. W. P Reeves having resigned from the Liberal Ministry, he was offered a seat in the Seddon Administration; accepting the portfolios of Public Wo:':?, and Marine. On the death of -• T " Seddon, in 1906, Sir Joseph Ward being absent at the Postal Conference, h became ActingPremier. v.hi.h position he reggned on Sir Josenh Ward's return. In 1907 pressure'c-1 Ministerial duties having impaired '.is health, he took a twelve months' holiday, proceeding to England. On the resignation of the Hon. W P. Reeves as High Commissioner, in 1909, he v;as appointed to the office, holding it until early in 1912. Hjs krighthood was conferred upon him in 1910.