David Wilson (New Zealand politician)
David Wilson (6 July 1880 – 24 August 1977) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. He was a minister in the First Labour Government.
David Wilson | |
---|---|
28th Minister of Immigration | |
In office 30 April 1940 – 12 April 1944 | |
Prime Minister | Peter Fraser |
Preceded by | Tim Armstrong |
Succeeded by | Paddy Webb |
3rd Minister of Broadcasting | |
In office 21 January 1941 – 8 April 1944 | |
Prime Minister | Peter Fraser |
Preceded by | Peter Fraser |
Succeeded by | Fred Jones |
Personal details | |
Born | Glasgow, Scotland | 6 July 1880
Died | 24 August 1977 97) Wellington, New Zealand | (aged
Political party | Labour |
Biography
Early life and career
He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, a tailor, and was a union organiser in Derbyshire, England before migrating to Australia in 1911 and New Zealand in 1916. He became a Labour Party organiser, and assistant to Walter Nash then Jim Thorn.[1] Wilson unsuccessfully stood for the Auckland City Council on a Labour ticket in the 1921 local elections.[2]
Wilson served as the Labour Party's Secretary-Treasurer from 1936 until 1940.[3]
Political career
He was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council from 22 September 1937 to 21 September 1944, when his term ended; and 16 June 1947 to 31 December 1950, when the Council was abolished.[4] He was a Member of the Executive Council in the First Labour Government: Minister without Portfolio from 8 November 1939 to 13 December 1949; Minister of Immigration and Minister for State Fire from 30 April 1940 to 12 April 1944; Minister of Broadcasting and Associate Minister of National Service from 21 January 1941 to 12 April 1944.[5]
Diplomatic career
He was High Commissioner to Canada and New Zealand delegate to the UN General Assembly 1944–47, and to FAO 1945, UNESCO and UNICEF 1946–47.[1]
Later life and death
A 91-year old Wilson was a guest of honour at the first meeting of caucus following Labour's victory in the 1972 election and oversaw the election of the cabinet for the Third Labour Government.[6]
He died in Wellington Hospital on 24 August 1977.
Notes
- Gustafson 1986.
- "Electoral". LII (106). Auckland Star. 5 May 1921. p. 7. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- Paul, J.T. (1946). Humanism in Politics: New Zealand Labour Party in Retrospect. Wellington, NZ: New Zealand Worker Printing and Publishing.
- Wilson 1985, p. 167.
- Wilson 1985, pp. 82-83, 116-117, 131, 167.
- Grant 2014, p. 220.
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Wilson (New Zealand politician). |
- Grant, David (2014). The Mighty Totara: The life and times of Norman Kirk. Auckland: Random House. ISBN 9781775535799.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Gustafson, Barry (1986). From the Cradle to the Grave: a biography of Michael Joseph Savage. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00138-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Government offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Mark Fagan |
Leader of the Legislative Council 1939–1944 1947-1950 |
Succeeded by Angus McLagan |
Preceded by Angus McLagan |
Succeeded by William Polson | |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by Tim Armstrong |
Minister of Immigration 1940–1944 |
Succeeded by Paddy Webb |
Preceded by Peter Fraser |
Minister of Broadcasting 1941–1944 |
Succeeded by Fred Jones |
Diplomatic posts | ||
Preceded by Robert M. Firth |
New Zealand High Commissioner to Canada 1944–1947 |
Succeeded by Jim Thorn |
Party political offices | ||
Preceded by Jim Thorn |
Secretary of the Labour Party 1936–1940 |
Succeeded by Mick Moohan |