Robert Thompson (New Zealand politician)

Robert Thompson (1840 – 21 April 1922) was a Member of Parliament for Marsden, in Northland, New Zealand.

Early life

Born at Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh,^[1] Thompson migrated to New South Wales in 1864, and New Zealand in 1870. He was a commission agent and auctioneer in Whangarei.^[1]

He married Mary Catherine Aubrey, eldest daughter of Harcourt Richard Aubrey, Resident Magistrate for Kaipara and Whangarei, in 1879.^[1]

Member of Parliament

Robert Thompson represented Marsden in the House of Representatives for fifteen years from 1887 to 1902.^[2]

According to Wilson, he changed his political allegiance; initially a Conservative he was a Liberal in 1893, but in 1896 was Independent and in 1899 was an Independent Liberal but was not part of the governing Liberal Government.^[2]

He acquired the labels 'Marsden Thompson' and 'the member for roads and bridges' in Parliament. He was known for his devotion to the interests of his district, which was desperately in need of good roads, and his only reason for being a Liberal was that the government was the only source of funding for roads and bridges. He was pro-freehold (land), and was opposed to Liberal policies such as labour legislation and old age pensions. In 1908, when he stood unsuccessfully for Auckland West against a sitting Liberal member, he was once more an Independent, and his programme – freehold (land), acquisition of Maori land and opposition to prohibition had not altered.^[3]

Death

He died on 21 April 1922 at his residence, Pentland House, in Whangarei, and was buried at Kamo. His wife had died some 18 years before him. He was survived by one daughter.^[1]

References