HALL-JONES, SIR WILLIAM (1851-1936) was a native of Folkestone, England, and was educated at public schools there. Trained as a carpenter and builder, he came to New Zealand in 1875, settled at Timaru, and was foreman for George Filmer for some years before entering into business on his own account. He carried out many contracts for buildings and other works.

Hall-Jones was a member of the Timaru borough council for five years and of the Levels road board for three years. In 1890, following the death of R. Turnbull, he was returned to Parliament for Timaru as a Liberal, and he held the seat continuously till 1908. When the Atkinson Government was defeated and Ballance took office Hall-Jones was junior government whip, under Perceval (1891). He did not fully accept the view of his leaders that members of the party should vote with the Government, and in 1893 he resigned his post as whip. For three years he sat apart, keenly criticising the Government and voting in an independent liberal spirit and co-operating with McNab, Buick, G. J. Smith, Pirani and Montgomery, though on questions of no-confidence they always cast their vote with the Government.

In Feb 1896, Buckley and Reeves having retired from the Government, Hall-Jones was offered a portfolio, and he became Minister of Public Works and Marine. A painstaking, conscientious administrator, with a competent knowledge of building and contracting, he devoted himself with enthusiasm to the administration of departments which at that time were of high importance in the Government. He gained a reputation as a thorough and fearless manager in his own domain. When Seddon visited Australia in 1906 Hall-Jones, as the senior member of the cabinet in New Zealand, was acting-Prime Minister, and on Seddon's death he carried on the government as Prime Minister pending the return to New Zealand of Sir Joseph Ward. He set his face sternly against the counsel of a fairly strong section of the Liberal party that he should retain the leadership. The strain of administrative work told upon his health, and he was compelled in 1907 to take a holiday.

Returning to duty in Jan 1908, he was offered a few months later the position of High Commissioner in London rendered vacant by the resignation of Reeves. During the four years that he held this post he represented New Zealand at the Imperial copyright and education conferences and the international refrigeration congress in Vienna (at which he carried a resolution protesting against the restrictions in Europe against frozen meat from the dominions). He was the Dominion's representative on the Pacific Cable board, the Imperial wireless committee and the advisory committee of the Board of Trade. He was created K.C.M.G. in 1910.

On his return to New Zealand in 1913, Sir William was called to the Legislative Council by the Massey Government and remained a member till his death (on 19 Jun 1936). Staunch adherence to principle marked his whole public life; and his personal character was distinguished by courtesy, consideration and a singular lightness of heart even into advanced age. Hall-Jones played an important part in the preliminary study and representations which led to the acceptance by the Seddon Government of the policy of old age pensions. In a private memorandum (portion of which was published shortly after his death) he states that his first election was largely due to his advocacy of the subdivision of large estates. In discussions of old age pensions in 1894-95, he made careful estimates of the cost of granting pensions forthwith and suggested how this could be done without increasing taxation. He had intended making this a plank of his platform at the election in 1896, but on accepting an invitation to join the ministry he could not make use of it without the approval of his chief. Seddon fully concurred in the desirability of the pension but proposed raising the money by special taxation. A bill was introduced that session, but dropped after these objections had been urged against it. Next year it was passed by the lower house without special taxation, but thrown out by the Legislative Council. In 1898, after some new members had been appointed to the Council, the bill was carried.

While acting-Prime Minister in 1906, Hall-Jones, on behalf of New Zealand, sent to the Colonial Office a despatch protesting against the non-consultation of the Dominions in the matter of the New Hebrides. As the outcome of conversations between Seddon and the Australian Prime Minister, it had been intended that the despatches from the two dominions should be identical, but Hall-Jones considered the terms too strong, and took the responsibility of toning down the despatch which he sent on behalf of New Zealand.

N.Z.P.D., pass.; Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924, 1932; Condliffe; Scholefield, N.Z. Evol.; Reeves; Evening Post and The Dominion, 20, 22 Jun 1936.

Portrait: Prime Minister's gallery, Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 189

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