Fraser Colman

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rt Hon. Fraser MacDonald Colman, QSO (1925 - 11 April 2008) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

He represented the electorates of Petone from 1967 to 1978, and then when Petone was renamed, Pencarrow from 1978 to 1984, when he retired. He was replaced in Pencarrow by Sonya Davies.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Early Political Career 3 Second Labour Government 4 Mururoa 5 Fourth Labour Government 6 Life after politics 7 Private Life 8 Decorations, Awards and Memberships 9 Notes 10 Further reading

[edit] Early life

Colman was born in Wellington on 23 February 1925, one of 5 children. ^[1] He attended primary school in Wellington before his family moved to Paraparaumu, where he went to Horowhenua College.^[2] Upon leaving school he found employment as a boilermaker at the firm of William Cables.

He soon became active in the union movement, becoming a shop steward. He joined the Labour party organising and distributing pamphlets and writing for the Labour Party newspaper, The Southern Cross.

[edit] Early Political Career

He served as campaign manager for Henry May in the Onslow seat in 1954. In 1955 he became assistant general secretary of the Labour Party. He held the position until he was persuaded to stand for Labour in the by-election for the Petone electorate in April 1967 following the death in office of Michael Moohan, its existing MP.

[edit] Second Labour Government

He was a Cabinet Minister in the Second Labour Government of New Zealand. In the cabinet of Norman Kirk he held the positions of Minister of Mines, Minister of Immigration, associate Minister of Labour, associate Minister of Works.^[3]

In the cabinet of Bill Rowling he held the posts of Minister of Mines, Minister of Immigration and Postmaster General.^[4]

Following the defeat of the Labour Party he held the position of Opposition Spokesman on Energy.^[5]

[edit] Mururoa

In 1973 when government decided to dispatch a Royal New Zealand Navy frigate to protest against French nuclear testing on Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific. It was decided that a cabinet minister should accompany the frigate to demonstrate the seriousness of the New Zealand government’s position. Norman Kirk put all the Cabinet ministers' names into a hat and drew out the name of Colman. He departed from Auckland on 25 June aboard the Otago, which reached Mururoa a month later where he witnessed the first atmospheric test. Colman transferred to the Canterbury when it arrived to relieve the Otago on 25 July, from which he witnessed the second French atmospheric test. ^[6] See New Zealand's nuclear-free zone.

[edit] Fourth Labour Government

In the fourth Labour Government he again served as a cabinet minister holding the posts of Minister of Works and Development, Minister in Charge of the Earthquake and War Damages Commission, Associate Minister of Energy.^[7]

[edit] Life after politics

Colman retired from Parliament at the 1984 election. He was subsequently appointed as chairman of the New Zealand Fire Service Council for a three year term.

[edit] Private Life

He married Noeline Allen in 1958 after first meeting her in 1954. They moved to Wainuiomata in 1959.^[8]where they built a home and spent the remainder of their life there. They had 4 children, Acacia, Ann, Lynda and Jeanette.

He had a stroke in 1991. Another stroke in 1999 removed his ability to speak.

[edit] Decorations, Awards and Memberships

• Member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council. 1986.
• Queen's Service Order
• Life member of the Wellington Rugby League Club. ^[9]
• Fraser Colman Grove, a street in Wainuiomata is named after him.^[10]

[edit] Notes

[edit] Further reading

• Wilson, James Oakley (1985), New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840-1984 (4th ed.), Wellington, [N.Z.]: Government Printer 

• Mururoa Veterans website