WILFORD, SIR THOMAS MASON (1870-1939) was born at Lower Hutt of Quaker parentage. His mother was a daughter of Thomas Mason (q.v.) and his father was Dr J. G. F. Wilford (also a Yorkshireman). Educated at Wellington College and Christ's College (1886-87), he joined the legal firm of Brandon and Son, Wellington, passed his solicitor's examination at 18, and on attaining the age of 21 was admitted to practise. After three years with W. T. L. Travers he practised alone, being joined later by Phineas Levi and P. W. Jackson.

Wilford contested the Wellington Suburbs seat against Newman in 1893. Three years later he was elected to Parliament for Hutt, but unseated on petition. In 1903 he won the Hutt seat, which he held until his retirement in 1929. In the National Government Wilford was Minister of Justice and Marine (1917-19). When Sir Joseph Ward lost his seat in Parliament (1919) he was elected leader of the Liberal Opposition and he was responsible for changing the name of the Liberal Party a few years later to 'United'. Ill-health compelled him to withdraw for a time, and he was re-elected to Parliament in 1925 during his absence from the Dominion. When the United Party was returned to office in 1929, Wilford assumed the portfolios of Defence and Justice. In the following year he was made King's Counsel, and later resigned to become High Commissioner for New Zealand in London. In that position he attended assemblies and other meetings of the League of Nations and the Mandates commission; was chairman of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the Empire, a delegate at the Disarmament conference and the Egyptian conference, and represented New Zealand on the Imperial Defence committee, the London Naval conference and the Imperial Economic conference. (K.C.M.G. 1930.) In 1931 he was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn. Relinquishing the post of High Commissioner in 1934, he became a director in London of the National Bank of New Zealand and of the Vacuum Packed Produce Co.

Wilford was a member of the Wellington harbour board (1900-11) and chairman (1908-09). In 1909 he was elected mayor of Wellington, and on his retirement (1911) he was appointed a sinking fund commissioner. He was a permanent trustee of the St John Ambulance association. As a young man he played Rugby football for his province in 1888, and was champion tennis player for the Hutt. He was associated with most forms of sport and was a keen supporter of the turf, racing his own horses for 40 years, first as 'Mr Lancewood' and later in his own name. He was also a prominent acting member of the Wellington Amateur Operatic Society, and took leading roles in many of its productions.

Wilford married (1892) Georgina Constance, daughter of Sir George McLean (q.v.). He returned to New Zealand in 1938 and died on 22 Jun 1939.

N.Z.P.D., 1903-30 and 30 Jun 1939; Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924, 1932; Evening Post, 22 Jun, The Dominion, 23 Jun 1939.

Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 257

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