Norman Jones (politician)
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Norman Philip Hastings Jones, QSM (1923—1987) was a New Zealand National Party politician, who represented the seat of Invercargill in the Parliament of New Zealand from 1975 to 1987.
Jones served as a private in the 23rd Infantry Battalion during World War II and lost his right leg to tank fire. On returning to New Zealand he trained as a teacher and became a polytechnic tutor in commerce.
Jones was an Invercargill city councillor for 18 years, and served one term as deputy mayor. He was particularly notable for his vehement opposition to the Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986. Due to his outspokenness on this and other issues, the media dubbed him "the mouth from the south". When the Labour Party won office in 1984, an economic summit was held in the debating chamber. Representatives from industry, unions and community groups attended. Jones refused to vacate his seat saying he would not give up his chair for some communist to sit down.
Norman Jones died from a brain tumour in the year of his 64th birthday. His autobiography, Jonesy, published five years earlier, in 1982, detailed his wartime service and his political career, although a number of the most controversial aspects and events of his public service occurred after the book's publication.
[edit] References
- Jones, Norman (1982). Jonesy. Invercargill: Craig Publishing. ISBN 0-908-62903-6
