Charles Statham

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Sir Charles Ernest Statham (10 May 1875 - 5 March 1946) was a New Zealand politician, and the ninth Speaker of the House of Representatives, from 1923 to 1935.

He was born in Dunedin, and trained in law, practicing from 1904 in Dunedin. He married Lilias Harata te Aho Burnett of Dunedin in 1905, and they had one daughter.

He was on the Dunedin City Council 1911-13, and was the Reform Party candidate in 1911 for the Dunedin Central seat, which he held from 1911 to 1935. He had differences with the Reform party leadership, and was returned as an Independent member for the seat in 1919. He represented a city and working-class electorate, and his majority was gradually reduced by Labour. His majority fell to 262 in 1931, and he decided to retire at the 1935 election.

He was Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1923 to 1935. He is one of only three people to have held the office despite not being from the governing party. In 1923, as an independent, but formerly a member of the Reform Party, he was backed by Reform so as not to endanger the party's slim majority, and later retained his position under the Liberal Party. He was described as probably the greatest speaker the house has known (see reference), and was fair but firm during a stormy period.

He was created a Knight Bachelor in 1926. He was appointed to the New Zealand Legislative Council in 1936, but spoke rarely and did not take an active part in politics. He practiced law in Wellington after retiring, and died there in 1946.