Hanson, Frederick Melrose Horowhenua Biography 1971

HANSON, Frederick Melrose Horowhenua
CMG [Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George] (1961), DSO [ Distinguished Service Order] (1943) and bar (1945), OBE [Officer of the Order of the British Empire] (1942), MM [Military Medal] (1918), ED [Efficiency Decoration] (1954)
Commissioner of works 1955-62 MOW [Ministry of Works] Wellington
Retired
Born: Levin, 1896 [1895], son of F Hanson; married 1924 Constance M, daughter of E Grindley
Education: Wellington College, Victoria University of Wellington; FNZIE [Fellow of New Zealand Institute of Engineers], FICE [Fellow of Institute of Civil Engineers], MNZIS [Member of New Zealand Institute of Surveyors]
1 NZEF [New Zealand Expeditionary Force] 2½ years overseas, Wellington Regiment; MM; NZ army rugby team (Kings Cup) 1919; rugby rep Wellington, Manawatu and NZ University; senior oarsman; training as engineer Beere & Seddon and Public Works Department, Mangahao, Waikaremoana 1920-26; assistant  engineer Public Works Department, Wellington 1927-35; resident engineer Main Highway Board 1936-39; 2 NZEF 6½ years commanding divisional engineers and Commander, Royal Engineers; V British Corps; brigadier; mentioned in dispatches; DSO and bar and OBE, wounded 3 times; chief highway engineer Main Highways Board 1946-49; territorial member Army Board 1948-55; past president NZ Institute Engineers; past member NZ Council Technical Education; 1^st chairman National Roads Board; invited by Tasmanian Government 1957 to advise on organisation, staffing Public Works Department and technology efficiency state works; chairman Defence Survey Commission 1962-63
Published: Bituminous Surface Treatment of Rural Highways (Fulton gold medal); Preparation of Rural Highways (bar to Fulton medal); Metal Depths and Subgrade Properties; Transition Curves  for NZ Highways; Roading in Tasmania; Steel Tower Foundations; Erection of High Tension Transmission Lines; The Road Structure
Recreation: shooting, swimming, gardening
Private address: 17 Portland Crescent, Thorndon, Wellington 1