POLITICAL FAMILIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20882, 26 May 1931, Page 13

POLITICAL FAMILIES.

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. FATHERS AND SONS. SOME NOTABLE RECORDS.

BY A. H. CARMAN.

With the entry of Mr. W. W. Massey into the contest for the vacant Hauraki seat in Parliament, the fact is brought to mind that to date 30 men have become nienlbers of the House of Representatives in which their fathers had previously sat.

Of this number, however, only four directly succeeded their fathers. Mr. F. M. B. Fisher was elected for Wellington City in ISOS, with 4692 votes to Mr. C. 11. Izard's 3441, at the by-election occasioned by the death of his father, Mr. George Fisher, who had been a member from 1884 to 1893, and 1896 to 1905. Just over a year later the Premier, Mr. R. J. Scddon, died, and was succeeded for the Westland seat by his son, Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon, who polled 2281 votes to Mr 11. L. Michel's 1634.

The third instance is that of Mr. Taarc Parata, who followed his father as representative for Southern Maori, in 1911. Mr. Tame Parata, who died in 1917, had held the seat since 1885, and his son held it till his own death in 1918. Then wo have the instance of Mr. Vincent Ward following bis father as Invercargill's representative just a few mouths ago.

The only other instance of a son standing in liis father's stead was in 1879, when, on Mr. Patrick Dignan resigning the Auckland West scat, consequent on his elevation to the Legislative Council, his son, Mr. Peter Dignan, offered himself to the electors, but polled only 261 votes to Mr. David Goldie's 776.

Altogether 30 sons have become members of the House of which their 28 fathers had also been members. The shortage in fathers is accounted for by the interesting fact that the two Buckland brothers followed their father, Mr. W. T. Buckland, who had represented Raglan and Franklin from 1865 to 1866 and from 1871 to 1875, respectively. Mr. J. C. Buckland sat for Waikouaiti from 1884 to 1887, and Mr. W. F. Buckland sat for Franklin North during the same three years, and for Manukau from 1890 to 1893'.

In 1922 two Rolleston brothers were elected, Mr. J. C. Rolleston for Waitomo and Mr. F. J. Rolleston for Timaru. Both were defeated at the last election. Their father, the Hon. William Rolleston, represented Avon 1863-1884 (being at each election returned unopposed), Gcraldine 1884-1887, Halswell 1890-1893, and Riecarton 1896-1899.

Sons Sit With Fathers. On only three occasions have sons sat in tho House at the same time as their fathers. Mr. R. F. Bollard sat for Raglan from 1911 to 1927, his father, Mr. John Bollard, representing Eden from 1896 to 1914. Mr. E. Jerningham Wakefield sat for Christchurch County from 1853 to 1855, his father, Mr. E. Gibbon Wakefield, representing Hutt for the same period. Mr. George Hutchison, who died a year ago, sat for Wailolara and Patea from 1887 to 1901, while his father, Mr. William Hutchison, represented Wellington from 1879 to 1884, and Dunedin from 1890 to 1896. The only instance of members of three generations following each other is that of the Bell family. Sir F. Dillon Bell represented Hutt, Wallace and Mataura during the years 1855-56, 1860-75 (and was Agent-General in London 1881-1891); his son, Mr. F. 11. I). (now Sir Francis) Bell, represented Wellington City from 1893 to 1896; and Mr. W. 11. D. Bell, son of Sir Francis, represented Wellington Suburbs f4'om 1911 to 1914, when he went to the front, and was killed in action in 1917. Other Notable Instances. It may be of interest to record the remaining cases where fathers and sons have both taken their places among the country's legislators, but space forbids more than a mere mention. The Hon. \V. Pember Reeves sat for Christchurch from 1887 to 1896, his father, Mr. William Reeves, representing Avon and Selwyn from 1867 to 1868, and 1871 to 1875. Mr. H. S. Fitzherbert, from 1884 to 13S0, sat for the same seat that his father, Sir William Fitzherbert, had held from 1858 to - 1879. namely, Ilutt. Sir William also represented Wellington City 1855-1858. Mr. William Hugh Montgomery represented Ellesmere for six years to 1899, when he was defeated by Sir R. lleaton Rhodes. His father, the Hon. William Montgomery, was a prominent Liberal leader in his day, ami was returned by the Akaroa electorate from ]874 to iBB7, when he was elevated to the Legislative Council, . and for three years, at a later dale, represented the Seddon Ministry there. Sir R. Hcaton Rhodes, who held the Ellesmere seat for 26 years, followed his father, Mr. 11. 11. Rhodes, who had represented Akaroa from 1871 to 1874.

A Great Native Minister. One of tlic greatest Native Ministers New Zealand lias had—indeed, considering that even opposing Leaders were anxious to retain him in office 011 a change of Ministry, we may say the greatest — Sir Donald McLean, who represented Napier from 1866 till his early death in 1877, was later succeeded by his son, Mr. 11. D. D. McLean (Sir Douglas, as lie later became), who held the Napier seat for three vears from 1896.

Another Hawke's Buy example is 5 that of the late Sir George Hunter, representative of Waipawa from 1896 to 1899, and 1911 till his death last year, whose father, Mr. George Ilunter, represented Wellington City from 1371 to 1879. Mr. Donald lteid, junr., represented Taieri from 1902 to 1908, his father having held the same seat for 12 years from 1866 onward. The father died in 1919, and llie son passed away 12 months later. Mr. E. G. 13. Moss, member for Ohineniuri from 1902 to 1905, was the son of Parnell's representative from 18781890, Mr. F. J. Moss, who, in the latter year, was appointed First British Resident in the Cook Islands.

Mr. C. B. Izard represented Wellington South from 1887 to 1890, and his son, 'Mr. C. 11. Izard, held the Wellington North seat from 1905 to 1908, being defeated by Mr. A. L. (now His Honor Sir Alexander) Herd man. Mr. Thomas Huston, representative of Temuka, 1908-1914, is the son of Mr. Searly Buxton, who sat for Rangitata for tiiree years from 1887. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart, who has represented Dunedin West sinco 1914, is the son of Mr. W. D. Stewart, who sat for Dunedin City from 1879 to 1881. The latter had three " hot" contests for Dunedin West with the Hon. Thomas Dick, and (lie figures arc well worth recording. In 1884 Dick secured 459 votes and Stewart, 451; In 1887 Stewart polled 504 votes to Dick's 480; and in 1887 Stewart was again successful with 708 votes to Dick's 695.

Mr. IC. S. Williams, ex-Minister of Public Works, who has held Bay of l'lenty_since 1920, is the son of Mr. W. O, vVUliamsj who sat for Bay of Islands 1873 to 1879.

Sir Thomas Mackenzie represented Clutha, Waikouaiti, Waihemo, Taieri and Egmont during the years 1887-1896 and 1900-1912. His son, Mr. Clutha Mackenzie, blinded at the war, successfully contested the Auckland East seat in 1921 on the resignation of Sir Arthur Myers, but was defeated at the general election a year later. The present Minister of Labour, the Hon. S. G. Smith, member for Taranakt since 1918, except for the three years prior to the last general election, also claims an ex-nietnber as his father. Mr. E. M. Smith was a well-known figure as New Plymouth's representative during 1890-1896, and from 1899 till his death in 1907.

The Inst general election gives two more instances in the Hon. A. Jv Stallworthy, representative for Eden, and Mr. J. N. Mnssey, Franklin's choice. Mr. John Stalhvorthy, the former's father, held the Kaiparn seat from 1905 to 1911, when lie was defeated by the present Loader of tlie Opposition, the lit. Hon. J. G. Coates. The late Rt. Hon. W. I". Mnssey, first elected for Waitemata in 1894, represented Franklin from 1896 till his death in 1925. . Will he now 7 have another son in the House? It is a peculiar point to note that where two sons of an ex-member have themselves become members, thev htive in both cases, the Bucklnnds and the Rollestons, sat in the House together. Will there now be two Masseys in the House at the one time? A further interesting point in connection with these thoughts is to note the cases in which fathers and sons have both been Ministers of the Grown. Mr. William Reeves was member without portfolio of the Fox Ministrv from November, 1871, to September, 1872. The Hon. W. Pember Reeves was Minister of Education, Justice and Labour in the Ballanee and Seddon Ministries from January, 1891, to January, 3896, when bp was appointed Agent-General for New Zealand in London, holding.that position for 13 years. The Hon. William Folleston was Minister of Lands, Mines, .Education and Immigration in the Hall, Whitakor and Atkinson Ministries from October, 1879, to August, 1884, and was Leader of the Opposition from 1891 to 1893. One of his sons, Mr. F. J. Rolleston, was Minister of Justice and Defence and Attornev-General in the Oontes Ministry from January, 1926, to December, 1928. Mr. George Fisher was Minister of Education in the last Atkinson Ministry from October. 1387, till his resignation, owing to a disagreement, in April, 1889. Mr. F. INT. B. Fisher was Minister of Customs and Marine in the Massey Ministry from July, 1912, to January, 1915 - . • • r ni . The onlv other instance is in a slightly different category, as although Sir I . P Bell was a member of the House wlien Colonial Treasurer in the first Ministry under responsible Government in May. 1856, and later was Minister _ of Native Affairs in the Domett Ministry from August, 1862, to October, 1863, and member without portfolio in the J'ox Ministry from July, 1869, to August, 1871, his son, Sir F. IT. D. Bell, did not become a Minister in the Mnssey Government until he was a member of the Upper House in 1912.