Sir William Hall-Jones | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 16thprime minister of New Zealand | |
| In office 10 June 1906 – 6 August 1906 | |
| Monarch | Edward VII |
| Governor | William Plunket |
| Preceded by | Richard Seddon |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Ward |
| 12thMinister of Public Works | |
| In office 2 March 1896 – 30 November 1908 | |
| Prime Minister | Richard Seddon Himself Joseph Ward |
| Preceded by | Richard Seddon |
| Succeeded by | Roderick McKenzie |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forTimaru | |
| In office 18 August 1890 – 29 October 1908 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Turnbull |
| Succeeded by | James Craigie |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1851-01-16)16 January 1851 Folkestone,Kent, England |
| Died | 19 June 1936(1936-06-19) (aged 85) Wellington, New Zealand |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) | [1] |
| Children | Fred Hall-Jones |
| Relatives | John Hall-Jones (grandson) |
| Signature |  |
Sir William Hall-JonesKCMG (16 January 1851 – 19 June 1936) was the 16thprime minister of New Zealand from June 1906 until August 1906.
Hall-Jones entered parliament in 1890, later becoming a member of theLiberal Party. He was interim prime minister from the death ofRichard Seddon to the return from overseas ofJoseph Ward. Hall-Jones was a mild mannered man with a fully earned reputation as an outstanding administrator. Seddon famously said of him, "He is the best administrator I have in my Cabinet."[2]
From 1908 to 1912, Hall-Jones was New Zealand'sHigh Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Hall-Jones was born inFolkestone,Kent, England, and landed atDunedin in 1873. He became a carpenter and later a builder inTimaru.[1] He developed an interest in local politics serving on the Timaru Borough Council from 1884 to 1886, and again from 1890 to 1892.[1]
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 10th | Timaru | Independent Liberal | ||
| 1890–1893 | 11th | Timaru | Independent Liberal | ||
| 1893–1896 | 12th | Timaru | Independent Liberal | ||
| 1896–1899 | 13th | Timaru | Liberal | ||
| 1899–1902 | 14th | Timaru | Liberal | ||
| 1902–1905 | 15th | Timaru | Liberal | ||
| 1905–1908 | 16th | Timaru | Liberal | ||
The death ofRichard Turnbull triggered aby-election in theTimaru electorate, which was won by Hall-Jones on 18 August 1890.[3] Hall-Jones had initially refused nomination from locals, citing several upcoming business contracts. However, after persistent calls, Hall-Jones reluctantly accepted despite having no parliamentary ambitions.[4] He represented Timaru in theHouse of Representatives until his resignation in October 1908.
Hall-Jones proved an independent thinker. He was initially an Independent Liberal holding moderate, progressive views that tended to align him withJohn Ballance, SirGeorge Grey andJohn McKenzie. He joined the Liberal caucus and in 1891 became the party whip alongsideWestby Perceval.[5]
Hall-Jones became acabinet minister in March 1896 and was given the Public Works portfolio by the prime minister,Richard Seddon followingWilliam Pember Reeves resignation to become Agent General for New Zealand in theUnited Kingdom.[6] His main task in this role was improving the main trunk rail line betweenAuckland andWellington. Rejecting a proposal for another incline on the Rimutaka ranges he insisted on using a better route, resulting in theRaurimu Spiral. He was also responsible for the eventual construction of the Otira tunnel, going throughArthur's Pass.[1]
Several weeks after entering cabinet, Hall-Jones was also appointedminister of marine, a post which he was to hold for over a decade.[7] Hall-Jones was also responsible for passing a bill granting protection to the famous navigation dolphinPelorus Jack byOrder in Council under the Sea Fisheries Act on 26 September 1904.[8]
Hall-Jones was acting prime minister during the absence from the country of Seddon in 1906 and formed an administration immediately after Seddon's funeral. During his brief period as prime minister, he wascolonial treasurer,minister of labour,minister of education, minister for public works and minister of marine.[9]
However, Hall-Jones announced that he would only hold power until SirJoseph Ward's return from abroad. Despite this, there was much speculation in the media that he might attempt to remain in office as Seddon himself had done in 1893.[10]
Hall-Jones accepted the Railways and Public Works portfolios in the subsequent Ward administration. Later, he succeededWilliam Pember Reeves asHigh Commissioner for New Zealand in London in December 1908, returned to New Zealand at the end of his term in 1912, and was appointed to theLegislative Council byMassey.[citation needed]
Hall-Jones died at his home inWellington on 19 June 1936.[2]
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom 1908–1912 | Succeeded by |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of New Zealand 1906 | Succeeded by SirJoseph Ward |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister of Education 1906 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by SirJoseph Ward | Minister of Railways 1906–1908 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Justice 1896 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Public Works 1896-1908 | Succeeded by |
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Timaru 1890–1908 | Succeeded by |
