Paul Verschaffelt
Encyclopedia
Paul Desiré Nestor Verschaffelt CMG
was born in Napier, New Zealand
on 21 May 1887. He was a barrister, solicitor, and the third Public Service Commissioner
in New Zealand.
as a clerk.
In 1915 he was promoted to secretary, and after graduating LLB
from Victoria University College
in 1919 was admitted as a barrister and solicitor.
Between 1919 and 1921 Verschaffelt served as controller of wills, trusts and agencies and as chief accountant in the Public Trust Office
. He returned to the Office of the Public Service Commissioner as assistant commissioner on 1 March 1921.
In February 1923, on the retirement of William R. Morris
, he became acting commissioner and on 1 June was appointed commissioner for a seven-year term.
In 1928 Verschaffelt visited Western Samoa with C. A. Berendsen and A. D. Park: they reported that the Samoan public service was 'by no means creditable to New Zealand'. In 1930 he was reappointed for a second seven-year term as commissioner and was made a CMG. Between 1933 and 1935 he worked with Gordon Coates
's 'brains trust' on economic and fiscal policy and in 1935, as a ‘technical expert’, he accompanied Coates to London for discussions on trade policy. It was while in London, at the age of 48, that he resigned; this last trip was described in the press at the time as a 'political mystery'.
Eanie died in September 1920, a month after the birth of their third child. In Dunedin on 29 December 1923, Verschaffelt married Olive Beryl Norwood.
Verschaffelt fathered another child with Norwood, a daughter, who died at the age of 13 in 1939.
. His remaining years were punctuated with appearances before the courts, and periods in Rotoroa Inebriates' Institution, Mount Eden prison
, and Porirua Hospital. Perhaps the most notorious incident was his expulsion from Parliament by the Speaker for protesting from the gallery about the 'abortion of a bill' which became the Public Service Amendment Act 1946.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
was born in Napier, New Zealand
Napier, New Zealand
Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
on 21 May 1887. He was a barrister, solicitor, and the third Public Service Commissioner
State Services Commissioner
The State Services Commissioner is the chief executive of New Zealand's State Services Commission and has a range of responsibilities for the Public Service, the State Services and the wider state sector...
in New Zealand.
Career
On January 1, 1904, Verschaffelt entered the public service as a clerical cadet in the Department of Lands and Survey. On 1 February 1913 he shifted to the newly established Office of the Public Service CommissionerState Services Commissioner
The State Services Commissioner is the chief executive of New Zealand's State Services Commission and has a range of responsibilities for the Public Service, the State Services and the wider state sector...
as a clerk.
In 1915 he was promoted to secretary, and after graduating LLB
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
from Victoria University College
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
in 1919 was admitted as a barrister and solicitor.
Between 1919 and 1921 Verschaffelt served as controller of wills, trusts and agencies and as chief accountant in the Public Trust Office
Public Trustee (New Zealand)
The Public Trustee of New Zealand was a government appointed corporation sole providing Trustee services to those unwilling to use private services, or required by the courts or legislation to use the Public Trustee...
. He returned to the Office of the Public Service Commissioner as assistant commissioner on 1 March 1921.
In February 1923, on the retirement of William R. Morris
William R. Morris
William Russell Morris CMG ISO was the second Public Service Commissioner in New Zealand. He was born in Dublin, and joined the New Zealand Post Office in 1875. He was awarded the ISO in 1917 and the CMG in 1919....
, he became acting commissioner and on 1 June was appointed commissioner for a seven-year term.
In 1928 Verschaffelt visited Western Samoa with C. A. Berendsen and A. D. Park: they reported that the Samoan public service was 'by no means creditable to New Zealand'. In 1930 he was reappointed for a second seven-year term as commissioner and was made a CMG. Between 1933 and 1935 he worked with Gordon Coates
Gordon Coates
Joseph Gordon Coates, MC and bar served as the 21st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1925 to 1928.- Early life :Born on the Hukatere Peninsula in Kaipara Harbour where his family ran a farm, Coates took on significant responsibility at a relatively early age because his father suffered from...
's 'brains trust' on economic and fiscal policy and in 1935, as a ‘technical expert’, he accompanied Coates to London for discussions on trade policy. It was while in London, at the age of 48, that he resigned; this last trip was described in the press at the time as a 'political mystery'.
Family
Verschaffelt married Eanie Stella Martin in Wellington on the 30 December 1913.Eanie died in September 1920, a month after the birth of their third child. In Dunedin on 29 December 1923, Verschaffelt married Olive Beryl Norwood.
Verschaffelt fathered another child with Norwood, a daughter, who died at the age of 13 in 1939.
Alcoholism
At the time of Verschaffelt's retirement, he had been under treatment for alcoholism. In 1934 he had been asked by the government to undergo treatment at Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer SpringsHanmer Springs
Hanmer Springs is a small town in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located 65 kilometres southwest of Kaikoura , in the Hurunui District. The town lies on a minor road 9 kilometres north of State Highway 7, the northern route between Christchurch and the West Coast...
. His remaining years were punctuated with appearances before the courts, and periods in Rotoroa Inebriates' Institution, Mount Eden prison
Mount Eden Prisons
Mount Eden Prisons refers to two New Zealand prisons, located in Lauder Road in the Central Auckland suburb of Mt Eden. They are:* Mount Eden Prison, which holds about 420 sentenced male prisoners...
, and Porirua Hospital. Perhaps the most notorious incident was his expulsion from Parliament by the Speaker for protesting from the gallery about the 'abortion of a bill' which became the Public Service Amendment Act 1946.