WILLIAM JOSEPH JORDAN

Radio Record, Volume XI, Issue 1, 10 July 1936, Page 6

WILLIAM

JOSEPH JORDAN

Has Arrided

Specially Written for the "Radio Record" by

CLYDE

CARR

M.P.

EW ZEALAND’S High Commissioner-elect will be on his native heath. Not quite that. With the thought of him one’s mind turns almost instinctively to Hampstead Heath, with or withaut the aspirates, for he would pass anywhere as a Cockney. Yet he was born at Ramsgate, Kent, which, being over seventy miles from London, is hardly within sound of Bow Bells. When he takes up his duties at New Zealand House, anyway, he .will-be at Home in more senses than one. For "Bill" is quite at home anywhere. His Cockney wit is a great asset. In: Parliament, in caucus, on the hustings, at home and abroad, it opens all hearts to him. It may even gain him an entree to the drawing-rooms of Mayfair, ._. I remember his addressing a political audience in my own neighbourhood. A persistent interjector made himself obnoxious, and there were cries of "Put him out!’ "Leave him alone," protested the visiting M.P., "I am sure we ate all willing to suffer for a while and give his poor wife 4 holiday." I read a statement in an Hnglish-paper the other day by Mr. Jordan’s mother to the effect that, had it not been that the smell of paint made him sick, be might still have been a coach painter. Yet his varied career in’ this country has included a period. when he went back to paint+ ing. We was busy covering a fence with a bilious yellow when a passing acquaintance remarked: "Oh, Mr, Jordan, what are you painting it that colour for?" "So much per foot, madam," was the prompt reply. It was at a political meeting I heard him tel] that one. He was apologising for newspaper. editors, not necessarily of the yellow press. He is capable of, delivering quite a "meaty" speech, with mustard; it is enlivened throughout by just sueh sayours as I have. quoted, so much so as to lift the whole effort on ‘to the table of pure comedy, and never out of place. Parliament was discussing an amendment to the Gaming Act. One proposal was for the telegraphing of cdds, if that is the term. Jordan coyvulsed the House by representing himself as a postmaster standing outside his office laying "two to one on the fiela bar one." To the uninitlated,.at least, he seemed‘to know all the tricks of the trade. ‘Knowing him to be a trustee and local preacher

of the Methodist Church, one’s admiration Was tinctured with mild surprise. Indeed, there are about him unsuspected reserves of information as of ‘strength: "His friendly grip on a fellow’s arm in passing is sufficient warning that he did not serve a term

in the London Metropolitan Police for nothing. Broadshouldered and well set up, with a massive head, he yet carries a good deal of extra weight, and his voice, strangely enough, especially under stress of nervous excitement, is pitched high. To hear him recount the tests of memory and self-reliance required for entrance into the Force, is an education; and to hear how he left it is to raise him Jn one’s estimation, An old lady had tripped on a tramline considerably above the level of the road, and was badly shaken. As a typical London policeman, he was immediately on the job. He put in a complaint about the condition of the thoroughfare and was immediately told that this was no coricern of his, Being thus prevented from doing his job thoroughly, he promptly resigned. ‘Then it was he decided to come to New Zealand. ff should be: mentioned that he was educated at St. Luke’s Parochial School, London, and was for some time in the London postal service. He is a son of Captain W. Jordan, -so that when, later, he enlisted for service in the World War, it may be because his father was of war proof. He wag severely wounded in France, and after the Armistice was an instructor under the educational scheme. Prior to this, on his arrival in this country, he was farming for a time. Followed a term in the railway service, after which he was in business in Wellington and Wnhikato. He was the first national secretary of the New Zealand Labour Party, in 1907. In 1919 he contested the Raglin seat.. Mr. Jordan won his present position as member for Manukau in 1922, defeating the Speaker of ‘the House, Sir. Frederick Lang. Absent as a delegate to a conference of the Hmpire Parliamentary Association, held in Canada in 1928, he was yet returned with a record majority, Jordan has had, like most Parliamentarians, loca] body experience. He was in 1982 National President of the N.Z. Labour Party. Since the return of Labour he has been chief Government Whip, and is most assiduous in his duties. Yet We have somewhat against him. He is a shocking writer, running the present Minister of Railways, the Hon. D, G. Sullivan, a close second. There may be some excuse for an ex-earriage painter, but surely none for an exjournalist. Yet perhaps a Minister of Railways has something in éextenuation. It is a rough ride, especially on the footplate, and would. jar anyone’s nerves. Let ts hope that as High Commissioner Mr. Jordan will have to set pen to paper only to sign his name. Wyen that will be bad enough. But the typescript above it will be immaculate. One knows low efficient the staff are, Up to now, Bill has used his own typewriter, and the result is only a shade better than his penmanship. Still, he gets there. Untloubtedlv he does. There is a dogveédness abont

him, and he is not without an eye to the main chance, All will wish him wel] in _his high office. He will make a pusiness of it,'dever fear, Those who stand . in his way will be gently but firmly pushed aside. He hag learned diplomacy in a hard school. ;

Next week’s character’ sketch will be of Captain H. M. Rushworth, well-known Independent Member of Parliament.