THE NEW MEMBERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1922, Page 2

THE NEW MEMBERS.

COL. ALLEN BELL. BAY OF ISLANDS. - •" s • Colonel Allan Beil is eoUSideJed a forceful personality, who haa rapidly made his presence felt since he emigrated to the north from the Auckland district. He tbegan his military career in South Africa in IS9U, serving in the ilatabeh- and Boer Wars. He returned to New Zealand in 1902, and Was elected to command the 4th (Waikato) Mounted Rifles, and rose to the rank of lieuten-ant-colonel. He is keeiily interested in military training, and was prominently oohhbcted with the New Zealand National League of Defenee. Ootohel Bell was prominently concerned with the advertising <jf 'the district round about Kaitaia, and the north generally has no mote consistent supporter. As an instance of the feeling that is felt towards him it may the mentioned that the requisition asking him to come out for the Bay of Islands seat was signed by over 1900 electors.

MR. J. A. LEE. AUCKLAND EAST. Mr. J. A. Lee is one of the recent aspirants to political honours under the Labour banner. He is a native of Dunedin, and. came to Auckland after the war. Whiie with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force he served his country with distinction, being awarded the D.C.M. He, like his opponent, suffered a severe disability; he lost an arm at Messines. MR. W. J. JORDAN. MANUKAU. Mr. W. J. Jordan is a Kent man, and arrived in New Zealand in 1904, since when he worked in bush and town. For some years he was in business in Wanganui, and while there was a strong supporter of the party of which Mr. Veitch is president. Coming north to Ngaruawahia he [became a member of the Town Board, occupying the seat until he enlisted in February, 1817. Severely wounded in France in April, 1918, he was apponted to the educational staff of the N.Z.E.F., and had charge of a department at Sling Camp. MR. L. McILVRIDE. . NAPIER. Mr. Lewis Meßvride, who has wot! the Napier seat for the Labour Partjq is a native of Glasgow, and has been connected with industrial and political organisations of Labour from the time that he completed his apprenticeship to the engineering trade in that city. He lived in Canada for a time, and came to New Zealand in 1908. In this country he has held office in tho Amalgamated Society tlf Engineers and the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. In 1919 he contested the Wanganui seat, and In 1921 the I’atea seat at the by-eleetion.

MR. J. LINKLATER. MANAWATU. Mr. J. Linklater, the Reform candidate elected for MannWatu, replacing Mr. lE. Newman, who has retired from politics, has lived in the district for many years. He has served for a considerable time on local bodies earning the reputation of being a hard worker and an efficient administrator. He is a convincing speaker, and should prove a valuable addition to his party. MR. G. McKAY. HAWKES BAY. Mr. Gilbert McKay, Liberal-Labour roemiber for Hawke's Bay, is an old resident of the district. He stood last election against Mr. Chapffian (tahout). He has the reputation of being a shrewd local politician. MR. ft T. ARMSTRONG. CHRISTCHURCH EAST.

Mr. H. T. Armstrong Was born at Bulls, North Island, ftl 1873. After passing through the public- school in that town, he began life in the flaxmilling industry in Rangitikei, and Was a bushman at 16 years of age. He has been goldminer, coalminer, railway construction, worker, watersider . and brickyard employee. When he was a young -man he was president of the Waihi Miners and Workers' Union, nt that time the largest organkation of its kind in New Zealand. He was viee-.president of the first New Zealand Federation of Miners, first vice-president of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, general secretary of the West Coast Workers’ Union (a position he held for five years), and vicepresident of the New Zealand [Labour Party. In 1919 he was appointed to his present position, secretary of the Chriatchuroh Tramway Employees’ Union. He was a member of the Waihi Borough Council from 1907 to 11)09, and a member of the first Borough Council at Runangn, West Coast. He is at present a member of the Christchurch City Council, the Lyttelton Harbour Board, the Domains Board, the Board of Governors. of the Technical College, anil the Canterbury Progress League.

MR. W. .1. GIRLING. W AIRAU. Mr. W. J. Girling was born at Blenheim in March, 1882, and is the only son of the late Mr. W, B. Girling,_ one of the pioneer business men of Wairau, who landed from England at Nelson in 1872, and almost immediately went io Blenheim, where he founded and extended a drapery business. Mr. Girling was educated at Blenheim School and Wellington College, and afterwards entered his father’s firm. He is a good allround sportsman, and finds particular interest in rowing, in which strenuous sport he has taken part consistently for the last 25 years.. He won his coat in the champion fours some years ago, and was for some time captain of the Blenheim Rowing Chub, Which he represented last year in rowing races for the McCallum Cup. At tennis, Mr. Girling is sac of Marlborough’s most prominent

players, and he is also to be found prominently interested in half a dozen other sports. Mr. Girling is president of the Marlborough Progress League, and is a prominent member of the Chamber of Commerce, having been chairman for two years. His ■other activities include membership of the Board of Governors of Marlborough College, and the presidency of the Blenheim Retailers’ Association. He is a prominent warden of the Anglican 'Church, and is also a .prominent Freemason. He mq/ried in 1910 a daughter of Mr. A. McKenzie, a prominent 'Marlborough settler, and now a resident of Wellington, and has a family of three girls and one boy.

MR. A. L. MONTEITH. WELLINGTON EAST. Mr. A. L. Monteith was bom at Woodville in 1886. His father, Mr. C. F. Monteith, was well-known in the Hawke’s Baj r district. After the death of his father, Mrs. Monteith took her family and entered into business in Wellington South, and Mr. A. L. Monteith was educated at the ’Newtown Schoot After Mrs- Mohteith’s second marriage, to 'Mr. W. Murdock, Mayor of Shannon, Mr. A. L. Monteith spent about 10 years of his life in the -Shannon district. He returned to Wellington and followed the occupation of a storeman until 1915, when he was appointed to the secretaryship of the Wellington Storemen’s Union. Mr. Monteith is to-day secretary of the New Zealand Tramways Employees Federation. He has spent many years in the Labour movement and js an executive member of the New Zealand Labour Party. At the last general election he contested the Wellington East seat and was runner-up to Dr. Newman in a three-cornered fight. To use Mr. Monteith”s own words, he is “just a plain man.”

MR. ROBERT McKEEN. WELLINGTON SOUTH. Mr. Robert McKeen has been prominent in Labour circles in New Zealand for some considerable time, and has taken part in municipal elections as a representative of his party; he unsuccessfully contested a seat on the Wellington City Council. Before coming to the Dominion, Mr. McKeen was associated with the Labor movement in Scotland. On arrival in the Dominion he proceeded to the West Coast, where he was identified With the movement for some time, the position of secretary of the Grocers’ Assistants’ Union. On taking up his residence in Wellington, Mr. McKeen was appointed to the Labour Representation Committee, a position which he still holds. He is prominently indentified with trade union matters, and is secretary to the Grocers’ Union, as well as occupying other posts. He is a resident of Miramar.