Arthur George Osborne (14 March 1891 – 15 November 1953) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Biography

Early life and career

Osborne was born in

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon Rive ...

in 1891. He lived most of his life in Northcote on the North Shore of

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about ...

. He first found employment as a boot maker before entering the fruit business. He was a prominent member of the Ancient Order of Foresters and held the highest office in the order, that of High District Chief Ranger. He likewise became a member of various local school committees. In his youth he was a keen athlete. He played rugby union, rugby league and soccer at competitive levels. He was later a representative member of the Waitemata Bowling Club, and won several trophies.

Political career

In the , , and s, he unsuccessfully contested the electorate against the incumbent, Alexander Harris. In the , he unsuccessfully contested the electorate against the incumbent, Bill Endean of the Reform Party. From 1933 to 1936 he was a member of the Northcote Borough Council. He resigned upon his election to Parliament. He represented the Manukau electorate from a (after the resignation of Bill Jordan) to 1938, and then the Onehunga electorate from 1938 to 1953, when he died. He was succeeded in Onehunga by

Hugh Watt Hugh Watt (19 March 1912 – 4 February 1980) was a New Zealand politician who was a Labour member of Parliament and the acting prime minister of New Zealand between 31 August and 6 September 1974, following the death of Prime Minister Norm ...

. Osborne was Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Prime Minister from 1943 to 1949. As Under-Secretary he was given responsibilities for the administration of New Zealand's island territories. In 1948 he represented New Zealand at the second session of the

Cook Islands ) , image_map = Cook Islands on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , capital = Avarua , coordinates = , largest_city = Avarua , official_languages = , lan ...

Legislative Council, initiating discussions with the island administration on issues of agricultural development, public health and education, leading to their improvement.

Death

In early November 1953, Osborne announced he was not seeking re-election and would retire at the 1954 general election due to ill health. His health had declined through the year and he spent most of October and November confined to his bed. Osborne died at his home in Onehunga on 15 November 1953 after a long illness, aged 62. He was survived by his wife, son, daughter and four grandchildren. One son, Gordon Bert Osborne, had predeceased him; he was killed in action at Tobruk during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

Notes

References

* * , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Osborne, Arthur 1891 births 1953 deaths Local politicians in New Zealand New Zealand Labour Party MPs Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives New Zealand MPs for Auckland electorates Unsuccessful candidates in the 1925 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1928 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1931 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1935 New Zealand general election