Thomas Wilford
The Honourable Sir Thomas Wilford KCMG KC | |
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Thomas Wilford in 1928 | |
8th Leader of the Opposition | |
In office 8 September 1920 – 13 August 1925 | |
Preceded by | William MacDonald |
Succeeded by | George Forbes |
Constituency | Hutt |
18th Mayor of Wellington | |
In office 1910–1911 | |
Preceded by | Alfred Newman |
Succeeded by | David McLaren |
Personal details | |
Born | Lower Hutt, New Zealand | 20 June 1870
Died | 22 June 1939 69) Wellington, New Zealand | (aged
Relations | Thomas Mason (grandfather) George McLean (father-in-law) |
Sir Thomas Mason Wilford KCMG KC (20 June 1870 – 22 June 1939) was a New Zealand politician. He held the seats of Wellington Suburbs then Hutt continuously for thirty years, from 1899 to 1929. Wilford was leader of the New Zealand Liberal Party, and Leader of the Opposition from 1920 to 1925.
Early life
Wilford was born in Lower Hutt in 1870. His parents were the surgeon John George Frederick Wilford and his wife, Elizabeth Catherine Mason. His grandfather on his mother's side was Thomas Mason. He obtained his education at Wellington College in the Wellington suburb of Mount Victoria, followed by Christ's College in Christchurch. He passed his examinations as a lawyer at age 18, but could not be admitted to the bar until he had reached the legal age of 21.[1]
He married Georgia Constance McLean, daughter of George McLean, on 17 February 1892 at Dunedin. They had one son and one daughter.[1]
Member of Parliament
Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
1896–1897 | 13th | Wellington Suburbs | Liberal | |
1899–1902 | 14th | Wellington Suburbs | Liberal | |
1902–1905 | 15th | Hutt | Liberal | |
1905–1908 | 16th | Hutt | Liberal | |
1908–1911 | 17th | Hutt | Liberal | |
1911–1914 | 18th | Hutt | Liberal | |
1914–1919 | 19th | Hutt | Liberal | |
1919–1922 | 20th | Hutt | Liberal | |
1922–1925 | 21st | Hutt | Liberal | |
1925–1928 | 22nd | Hutt | Liberal | |
1928–1929 | 23rd | Hutt | United |
Wilford was elected to the Wellington Suburbs electorate in the 1896 general election, but the result was declared void after an election petition on the grounds of corrupt and illegal practices.[2] Charles Wilson was elected MP for that electorate following a by-election on 23 April 1897.[3]
Wilford then won the Wellington Suburbs electorate in the 1899 election and the new Hutt electorate from the 1902 election, which he held until he resigned on 18 November 1929.[3]
He was Chairman of Committees from 1909 to 1910.[4]
Wilford was a member of the Wellington Harbour Board from 1900 to 1910, and chaired the Board from 1908 onwards. He resigned from the Harbour Board when he became Mayor of Wellington in 1910 for one year.[1]
Minister
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He was Minister of Justice, Minister of Marine and Minister of Stamps in the World War I National government from 14 November 1917 to 22 August 1919.[5]
From 10 December 1928 to 10 December 1929 he was Minister of Justice for a second period, and also Minister of Defence in Ward's Ministry.[6] He "had a long-standing interest in naval policy, especially the Singapore Base, ... had travelled extensively in the Pacific and the Far East", and he "was regarded as something of a specialist in Far Eastern questions."[7]
He resigned from Parliament on 18 November 1929 to become High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.[8]
In the 1930 King's Birthday Honours, Wilford was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.[9]
In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.[10]
Death
Wilford died at Wellington on 22 June 1939, survived by his wife and two children.[1]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Butterworth, Susan. "Wilford, Thomas Mason - Biography". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
- ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 147.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Scholefield 1950, p. 148.
- ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 252.
- ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 44.
- ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 80.
- ↑ McGibbon 1981, pp. 181, 221.
- ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 245.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 33611. p. 3476. 3 June 1930. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ↑ "Official jubilee medals". The Evening Post. 6 May 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thomas Wilford. |
- McGibbon, I. C. (1981). Blue-Water Rationale: The Naval Defence of New Zealand 1914–1942. Wellington: GP Print. ISBN 0-477-01072-5.
- Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First published in 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.
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Roderick McKenzie |
Chairman of Committees of the House of Representatives 1909–1910 |
Succeeded by James Colvin |
Preceded by Alfred Newman |
Mayor of Wellington 1910–1911 |
Succeeded by David McLaren |
New Zealand Parliament | ||
Preceded by Alfred Newman |
Member of Parliament for Wellington Suburbs 1896 1899–1902 |
Succeeded by Charles Wilson |
Preceded by Charles Wilson |
In abeyance Title next held by John Luke | |
In abeyance Title last held by Alfred Newman |
Member of Parliament for Hutt 1902–1929 |
Succeeded by Walter Nash |
Diplomatic posts | ||
Preceded by James Parr |
High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom 1930–1935 |
Succeeded by James Parr |
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