George Black (New Zealand politician)

George Black
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Motueka
In office
14 November 1928 – 17 October 1932
Preceded by Richard Hudson
Succeeded by Keith Holyoake
Personal details
Born 1904
Reefton, New Zealand
Died 17 October 1932 (aged 28)
Makara
Nationality  New Zealand
Political party United

George Charles Cecil Black (1904 – 17 October 1932) was a member of the House of Representatives for Motueka electorate, in the South Island of New Zealand, initially as a representative of the United Party and from early 1931 as an Independent. He committed suicide and was succeeded as MP by Keith Holyoake.

Early life

Black was born in Reefton in 1904. In 1923, Black became a Parliamentary Clerk of Committees.[1]

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1928–1931 23rd Motueka United
1931 Changed allegiance to: Independent
1931–1932 24th Motueka Independent

George Black represented the Motueka electorate in the House of Representatives from 1928 to 1932.

In the 1928 election, aged only 24, he stood as a United Party candidate and follower of Sir Joseph Ward and was successful.[2] He unexpectedly beat the Reform Party incumbent of 14 years,[3] Richard Hudson, and became the youngest MP at the time.[1] He was appointed junior whip by the United Party.[4]

In Parliament, George Black refused to support the Finance Bill that proposed cuts to public service salaries and voted with the Labour Party,[5] and he also opposed the decision to suspend construction of the Kawatiri - Inangahua railway line that ran through his electorate.[6] Black was expelled from the United Party the day after voting against the Finance Bill in March 1931,[7] saying: "no genuine supporter of the late Prime Minister", Sir Joseph Ward, could uphold such measures.

Later in the year, at the 1931 election, the bright and well-regarded local MP was elected as an independent. He was associated with Harry Atmore, the independent MP for the neighbouring Nelson electorate.[8]

On 17 October 1932 aged 28, George Black committed suicide with cyanide poison at Makara Beach.[4][9] He was survived by his wife and their child.[4] The coroner found that Black had been mentally unstable for some months, and was also in financial difficulties.[9]

Black's death triggered the 1932 Motueka by-election, which was won by Keith Holyoake.[10]

Further reading

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "The Next Parliament". The New Zealand Herald. LXV (20104). 15 November 1928. p. 13. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 184. OCLC 154283103.
  3. ↑ Stade, Karen (12 August 2013). "Kiwi Keith - Portrait of a PM". The Nelson Mail. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "Obituary". The Evening Post. CXIV (94). 18 October 1932. p. 11. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  5. ↑ "More Heat". The Evening Post. CXI (76). 31 March 1931. p. 10. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  6. ↑ New Zealand Parliamentary Debates, 227: 277 Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ "Expelled by Party". The Evening Post. CXI (68). 21 March 1931. p. 10. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  8. ↑ Courtney, Simon (n.d.). Harry Atmore: Independent in Politics (BA Hons Research Paper). University of Canterbury. p. 3.
  9. 1 2 "Death by Poisoning". The Evening Post. CXIV (101). 26 October 1932. p. 10. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  10. ↑ "Nelson and Motueka". The Evening Post. CXX (97). 21 October 1935. p. 11. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Richard Hudson		 Member of Parliament for Motueka
1928–1932 		Succeeded by
Keith Holyoake
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