James O'Brien (New Zealand politician)
Peter James O'Brien (8 June 1874 – 28 September 1947) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.
Early life
O'Brien was born in 1874 at Forest Creek, near Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia. His parents of Irish descent were Terence O’Brien, a miner, and Bridget O’Leary. He was christened Peter James, but his first name was never used; many knew him as Jim or Briney. After having worked as a miner in various Australian states, O'Brien emigrated to New Zealand in 1904 and found employment as a coalminer in Reefton.[1]
Political career
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1922–1925 | 21st | Westland | Labour | |
| 1928–1931 | 23rd | Westland | Labour | |
| 1931–1935 | 24th | Westland | Labour | |
| 1935–1938 | 25th | Westland | Labour | |
| 1938–1943 | 26th | Westland | Labour | |
| 1943–1946 | 27th | Westland | Labour | |
| 1946–1947 | 28th | Westland | Labour | |
O'Brien became active in the socialist circles that developed on the West Coast. He became president of the Westland Certificated Engine-drivers' and Firemen's Union, and was the president of the Runanga Co-operative Society. Standing on a socialist ticket, he was voted onto the inaugural Runanga Borough Council in 1912. In 1913, he supported Paddy Webb's successful by-election campaign in the Grey electorate for the Social Democratic Party, and later became the president of the Runanga branch of the party.[1]
He represented the Westland electorate in Parliament from the 1922 election, when he defeated Tom Seddon.[2] He lost the electorate in the 1925 election to Tom Seddon, but won it back in 1928, and held it to 1947, when he died.[2]
He was a Minister in the First Labour Government. He was Minister of Transport (9 December 1942 – 28 September 1947), Minister of Marine (9 December 1942 – 28 September 1947), Minister of Labour (27 June 1946 – 19 December 1946) and Minister of Mines (27 June 1946 – 19 December 1946).[3] He remained an MP until his death, which caused a by-election held in December 1947 that was won by Labour's James Begg Kent.[4]
In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.[5]
Family and death
O'Brien married Kate Teresa Flaherty on 29 June 1909 in Greymouth. He died in Wellington on 28 September 1947. His wife survived him; they had no children.[1]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Richardson, Len. "O'Brien, James". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Scholefield 1950, p. 129.
- ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 51.
- ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 210.
- ↑ "Official jubilee medals". The Evening Post CXIX (105). 6 May 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
References
- Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
- Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tom Seddon |
Member of Parliament for Westland 1922–1925 1928–1947 |
Succeeded by Tom Seddon |
| Succeeded by Jim Kent | ||