Sidney Holland
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| Rt Hon. Sir Sidney Holland | |
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25th Prime Minister of New Zealand
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| In office December 13, 1949 – 20 September 1957 |
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| Deputy | Keith Holyoake |
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| Preceded by | Peter Fraser |
| Succeeded by | Keith Holyoake |
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| Born | October 18, 1893 Greendale, Canterbury, New Zealand |
| Died | August 5, 1961 Wellington, New Zealand |
| Political party | National |
Sir Sidney George Holland, GCMG, CH, (October 18, 1893-August 5, 1961) was Prime Minister of New Zealand from December 13, 1949 to September 20, 1957.
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[edit] Early life
Holland was born in Greendale in the Canterbury region of the South Island.
[edit] Political career
He came from a politically prominent family and his father, Henry Holland served as Mayor of Christchurch from 1912 to 1919. Sidney was elected to Parliament in 1935 after replacing Henry in elections for his seat due to Henry’s ill health. In 1940 he became leader of the National Party and served as leader of the opposition for nearly 10 years, until the National Party won the 1949 elections.
[edit] Prime Minister
His National government implemented economic reforms, dismantling many state controls. In 1951, the National government signed the ANZUS defence agreement with Australia and the United States. The National government also undertook constitutional change in 1950, by abolishing the Legislative Council, the upper house of Parliament, on the grounds that it was ineffectual. Consequently New Zealand has since had a unicameral parliament.
In 1951 Holland confronted striking dockers and coal miners intent on what he called "industrial anarchy", and calling a snap election, was re-elected Prime Minister.
[edit] Resignation and later life
Following ill health, Holland stepped down as Prime Minister in September 1957 and was replaced by Keith Holyoake.
Holland was knighted not long after leaving office. He died of illness in Wellington, New Zealand.
| Prime Minister of New Zealand |  |
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| Preceded by: Peter Fraser | (1949-1957) | Succeeded by: Keith Holyoake | ||
| Sewell | Fox | Stafford | Domett | Whitaker | Weld | Waterhouse | Vogel | Pollen | Atkinson | Grey | Hall | Stout | Ballance | Seddon | Hall-Jones | Ward | Mackenzie | Massey | Bell | Coates | Forbes | Savage | Fraser | Holland | Nash | Holyoake | Marshall | Kirk | Rowling | Muldoon | Lange | Palmer | Moore | Bolger | Shipley | Clark | ||||
