Careers Of New Northland Members

Northern Advocate, 27 September 1943, Page 1 (Supplement)

Careers Of New Northland Members

MR. A. J. MURDOCH Former Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Mines, Mr. A. J. Murdoch has been successful in regaining for the National Party the Marsden seat from the present Minister for Agriculture (Mr. J. G. Barclay). Born at Onehunga 66 years ago, Mr. Murdoch has lived in Northland since he was seven years of age, when his father, a stationmaster in the Railway Department, was transferred north. He joined the Education Department when he was 15 and was a pupil teacher at Onehunga and Northcote before being sent to Hikurangi. where he remained for three years, then taking charge of country schools in the district, including Mata and Ruakaka. In 1896 he purchased a farm at Ruakaka and later another property on the borough boundary at Otaika. After 27 years he retired from the teaching profession in 1919 to contest the Marsden seat as an Independent Progressive, being defeated by Mr. F. Mander, who had held the seat for 17 years, by 130 votes. In the 1932 elections. Mr. Mander having retired, Mr. Murdoch, standing as a Liberal, defeated Mr. W. Jones (Reform) and Mr. A. H. Curtis (Inde-

pendent). Three years later in the Reform tide which swept the country, Mr. Jones secured the seat, but in 1928 Mr. Murdoch iwas again successful. He was appointed senior whip under the Ward administration and under the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes was given the portfolio of Agriculture and Mines, holding the offices until 1931 when he was among those who put country before self and relinquished his seat in Cabinet to facilitate the formation of a Coalition. In 1935 he was defeated by Mr. Barclay and again in 1938, the present contest being the third in which the same opponents have participated.

Always prominent in questions concerning the dairying industry, Mr. Murdoch has for many years been northern ward member of the New Zealand Dairy Board and a member of the Dairy Industry Council, taking a ‘notable part in the negotiations concerning the guaranteed price and other negotiations with the Labour Government.

MR. S. W. SMITH

Successful in securing the Bay of Islands seat for the National Party, Mr. S. W v Smith is well-known throughout Northland, principally for his activities in connection with the dairying industry. \ Born in Ashburton 50 years ago, he attended primary and high schools there, and had business training. In 1913 he went to Greymouth but in 1915 enlisted for service, returning invalided in 1918. After recuperating he commenced farming in the Bay of Islands,

but after four years again entered business as manager of a Kawakawa store. In 1930 he i-ecommenced farming, operaling a property of 220 acres at Pakaraka. He is chairman of directors of the Bay of Islands Dairy Co., Ltd., and of the Bay of Islands Transport Company, and a member of the executive of the Northland Dairy Association the Bay of Islands County Council and the Bay of Islands Hospital Board. MR. T. C. WEBB Making his first bid in politics, Mr. T. C. Webb, Independent National candidate, has been successful. Although not a resident of the district, Mr. Webb was born at Te Kopnru 54 years ago and educated at the Te Kopuru school and the Auckland Grammar School, qualifying as a solicitor in 1910. After practising in Auckland he ivvent to Dargaville in 1913 where he was in business until entering military- service. From 1919 to 1927 he continued the practice of his profess? on at Daren vibe hut went to Auckland 16 years ago. Mr. Webb was a member of the Dargaville Borough Council and the Dargaville Chamber of Commerce, and was one of the original committee which investigated electricity reticulation in the Northern Wairoa district.