James Donald (politician)

The Honourable
Sir James Donald
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Auckland East
In office
14 November 1928  2 December 1931
Preceded by John A. Lee
Succeeded by Frederick Schramm
Personal details
Born 13 October 1879
Auckland, New Zealand
Died 4 December 1971
New Zealand
Political party United

Sir James Bell Donald JP (13 October 1879 – 4 December 1971) was a United Party Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister in Auckland, New Zealand.

Biography

Early life

Donald was born in Auckland on 13 October 1879.[1] He was the second son of Mr. A. B. Donald, a local merchant and trader, who owned the firm of Donald and Edeuborough. Donald studied at Queen's College and then entered his father's profession and would later become the firm's managing director. By the age of 48 he became a justice of the peace.[1]

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
19281931 23rd Auckland East United

He won the Auckland East electorate off Labour’s John A. Lee in 1928, by 37 votes.[2] According to Olsen, Lee's opponent was "a staunch anti-militarist who had been gaoled during the [Great] war".[3] He was a cabinet minister from 1928 to 1931 in the United Government (Postmaster-General, Minister of Telegraphs, and Minister in charge of Public Service Superannuation, Friendly Societies, and National Provident Fund Departments).[4]

When he retired in 1931, the electorate went back to Labour.[5] In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.[6] In 1935 he stood again for the Auckland East seat as the newly formed Democrat Party's candidate. He placed third out of four candidates.[7]

He was later appointed a Knight Bachelor for services to the community in the 1969 New Year Honours.[8]

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Biographical Sketches". New Zealand Herald. LXV (20104). 15 November 1928. p. 13. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  2. Wilson 1985, p. 193.
  3. Olsen 1977.
  4. Wilson 1985, p. 80.
  5. Wilson 1985, p. 233.
  6. "Official jubilee medals". The Evening Post. 6 May 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  7. The General Election, 1935. National Library. 1936. pp. 1–35. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  8. "No. 44742". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1969. p. 41.

References

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
John A. Lee
Member of Parliament for Auckland East
1928–1931
Succeeded by
Frederick Schramm
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