Arthur Shapton Richards

Richards in 1922

Arthur Shapton Richards (1877 – 5 August 1947) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Biography

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate Party
19311935 24th Roskill Labour
19351938 25th Roskill Labour
19381943 26th Roskill Labour
19431946 27th Roskill Labour
19461947 28th Mount Albert Labour

He was born in Reading, Berkshire, England and came to New Zealand in 1894, first at Gisborne and Poverty Bay, then from 1922 Auckland.[1]

He stood unsuccessfully in the Hamilton electorate in 1922, Marsden in 1925,[2] and Roskill in 1928.[3] He contested Roskill again at the subsequent general election in 1931 and this time, he was successful. He held Roskill until 1946, when he successfully stood in the Mount Albert electorate in the 1946 general election. He died in office on 5 August 1947.[4] His death caused the 1947 by-election, which was won by Warren Freer.[5]

He was the senior Government whip from 1942 until his death, and was succeeded in that position by his deputy, Robert Macfarlane.[6]

He was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal in 1935.[7]

Notes

  1. Gustafson 1986, p. 295.
  2. The General Election, 1925. Government Printer. 1926. p. 1. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  3. "The Next Parliament". The New Zealand Herald. LXVIII (21046). 3 December 1931. p. 11. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  4. Wilson 1985, p. 230.
  5. Wilson 1985, p. 198.
  6. Wilson 1985, pp. 280–281.
  7. "Official jubilee medals". The Evening Post CXIX (105). 6 May 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 4 June 2014.

References

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
George Munns
Member of Parliament for Roskill
1931–1946
Succeeded by
Frank Langstone
New constituency Member of Parliament for Mount Albert
1946–1947
Succeeded by
Warren Freer