SECRETARY TO TREASURY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 December 1921, Page 5

SECRETARY TO TREASURY.

COLONEL J. J. ESSON. Colonel J. J. Esson (Assistant Secretary to the Treasury), is to succeed Colonel G. F. G. Campbell, the newly-ap-pointed Auditor-General, as Secretary to the Treasury. Colonel Esson was born at Picton, Marlborough, where his people are wellknown and much, respected residents. He commenced his career in 1881 at an early age on the lowest rung of the ladder in the Post and Telegraph Department, and served with that section of the public service for about 25 years, being transferred to the Treasury in 1906. At the time of the transfer he held the position of clerk in charge of the clearing room. In the Treasury he held successively the positions of clerk in charge of the pay, and revenue branch, ch ; ef clerk and inspector, aecountant, and assistant-secretary. He had long been associated with and interested in the volunteer and territorial movements, and was well known as captain of the old Wellington City Rifles, and later as eomamnding officer of the sth Wellington Regiment. For his connection with these units he was awarded the long-service medal. On the outbreak of war in 1914 Colonel Esson volunteered for*active service, leaving with the Main Body of the N.Z.E.F., as assistant-quartermaster-general. He saw service on Gallipoli as assistant quartermaster to the New Zealand and Australian divisions, apd was mentioned in dispatches and later had the order of C.M.G. conferred upon him. After the evacuation from the peninsula he was appointed colonel commandant of the N.Z.E.F. in Egypt. He was recalled to New Zealand in 1916 for special duty in connection with defence matters, and en' route passed through England, France, and Canada. During the latter years of the war he was a prominent officer at general headquarters, and he later acted as Assistant-Public. Service Commissioner in connection with the last regrading and reclassification of the public service. He also did invaluable service on various boards and committees. Since the war he has resumed his position at the Treasury.