His Right Hand

NZ Truth, Issue 1209, 31 January 1929, Page 4

His Right Hand

TUCKED away m the solemn surroundings of the Parliamentary Buildings m Wellington are the private secretaries to Ministers of the Crown. Unseen and little' heard of, they are, nevertheless, necessary units m the scheme of things. Among their number is Cecil A. Jef--fery, private secretary to the Prime Minister. Middle age sees him practically at the height of his chosen profession. Life has handed out to him many experiences, and m reaching his present niche, the path he has followed has been a winding one. C.A.J. . started his. career as a junior m the Post a n d Telegraph Department, but f later on was appointed as a member of the private staff of the then Governor-General, Lord Liverpool. Four or fi v c years m this capacity, and Jeffery became secretary to the Hon. A. M. Myers, then Minister of Munitions m the National Government. The glamors of war, however, held their appeal, for him, and he did his bit with the boys "over yonder." When he again occupied his chair mi the "Buildings," it was as secretary to the Hon. J. B. Hine, and when that gentleman from Stratford lost his seat, Cecil A. advanced a, step, being attached to the Prime Minister's department. . During the regime of the late W. F. Massey, he was assistant secretary, but when the secretarial department was formed and F. D. Thompson, the Prime Minister's secretary, was appointed as head oC it, C.A.J, stepped into his shoes. Jeffery doesn't always worry himself with matters of State and likes to take a hand m the affairs, of sport. He handles .the racquet well and at one time played m . the Wellington Association competitions.