TRIGGS, WILLIAM HENRY (1855-1934) was born in Chichester, England, educated at private schools, and gained his first experience in journalism on the Surrey Comet. Coming to New Zealand in 1878, he joined the Wellington Evening Post, in 1885 succeeded Edward Wakefield as editor of the Timaru Herald, and the following year joined the staff of the Christchurch Press. He represented New Zealand at the first international congress of the press at Antwerp in 1894. In 1895 he was appointed editor of The Press, which during his editorship maintained a high literary standard. He was elected a member of the English Journalists' Institute in 1894, a fellow in 1901, and in 1910 a vice-president and chairman of the overseas committee. He was president of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists in 1900. Triggs was a director of The Press for 10 years until retiring from the paper in 1919.

In 1918 he was appointed to the Legislative Council, from which he retired in 1932. In 1908 he was a member of the board of public health, and in 1925 chairman of the mental defectives committee. He married (1882) Marion, daughter of the Rev J. Dumbell. Triggs died on 17 Jun 1934.

N.Z.P.D., 26 Jun 1924; Cycl. N.Z., iii (p); Evening Post, 18 Jun 1934.

Reference: Volume 2, page 201

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