Angus McLagan (1891 – 4 September 1956) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. He was a member of the Legislative Council and later Member of Parliament for

Riccarton Riccarton may refer to: New Zealand * Riccarton, New Zealand, a suburb of Christchurch ** Riccarton (New Zealand electorate), the electorate named after it ** The location of Riccarton Race Course * a locality on the Taieri Plains in Otago Scotlan ...

. He was a cabinet minister from 1942 to 1949 in the First Labour Government.

Biography

Early life and career

McLagan was born in the Scottish village of

Mid Calder Mid Calder ( sco, Mid Calder; gd, Caladar Mheadhain) is a village in West Lothian, Scotland. It is located on a steep hill overlooking the River Almond and Calder Wood, around west of Edinburgh. The settlement has been on a major crossroads s ...

, Midlothian, and left school at fourteen to work in the West Calder mines. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1911 and settled in

Greymouth Greymouth () (Māori: ''Māwhera'') is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The population of the whole Grey District is , which accounts for % of the West Coas ...

. He worked in the Grey Valley mines before briefly moving to

Brunner Brunner may refer to: Places * Brunner, New Zealand * Lake Brunner, New Zealand * Brunner Mine, New Zealand * Brunner, Houston, United States * Brunner (crater), lunar crater Other uses * Brunner (surname) * Brunner the Bounty Hunter, a character ...

, but he moved back to Greymouth in 1938. In 1940 he shifted again to

Rangiora Rangiora is the largest town and seat of the Waimakariri District, in Canterbury, New Zealand. It is north of Christchurch, and is part of the Christchurch metropolitan area. With an estimated population of Rangiora is the 30th largest urba ...

before finally moving to

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 River / ...

in 1947. He was an active trade unionist all his life. In 1927 he was elected as the first Secretary of the United Mine Workers of New Zealand, holding the position until 1935. In 1937 he was elected as the inaugural President of the New Zealand Federation of Labour (FOL) until 1946 when he resigned.

Political career

His political career began in local-body politics. He was a member of both the Greymouth Borough Council and

Brunner Borough The Brunner Borough was a borough on New Zealand's West Coast from 1887 to 1971. It was formed from an area that belonged to Grey County and, at disestablishment, merged back into Grey County. History In September 1887, some residents petition ...

Council. McLagan was appointed to the Legislative Council in 1942 by Prime Minister

Peter Fraser Peter Fraser (; 28 August 1884 – 12 December 1950) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 24th prime minister of New Zealand from 27 March 1940 until 13 December 1949. Considered a major figure in the history of the New Zealand Lab ...

until he resigned from it in 1946 to contest a seat in the lower house. From 1944 to 1947 he was Leader of the Legislative Council. 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 opposin ...

, from 1942 to 1946, he was Minister of National Service and Minister of Industrial Manpower. Following his resignation from the Legislative Council he was elected to the

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...

as member for the

electorate from the 1946 general election to 1956, when he died. Following the 1946 election he was appointed by Fraser as

Minister of Labour Minister of Labour (in British English) or Labor (in American English) is typically a cabinet-level position with portfolio responsibility for setting national labour standards, labour dispute mechanisms, employment, workforce participation, traini ...

, Minister of Immigration, Minister of Employment and Minister of Mines. Following Labour's defeat at the 1949 general election he was a member of the opposition frontbench under first Fraser and later

Walter Nash Sir Walter Nash (12 February 1882 – 4 June 1968) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 27th prime minister of New Zealand in the Second Labour Government from 1957 to 1960. He is noted for his long period of political service, havin ...

. In

1951 Events January * January 4 – Korean War: Third Battle of Seoul – Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul for the second time (having lost the Second Battle of Seoul in September 1950). * January 9 – The Government of the United ...

he was nominated to stand for the deputy leadership of the party, but he declined the nomination. A dour, squarely-built Scot, he was self-educated and well-read, and could write shorthand (which was useful in demolishing the speeches of opponents). He was grim and aloft; his speeches were cold, logical and often bitter; and some civil servants and others thought he had the best brain in Cabinet.

Death

McLagan was hospitalised in early August 1956 with a chest complaint. He died on 4 September 1956, survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.

Family

McLagan was married to Sophie McLagan (her second marriage). They had two daughters (Cissie Agnes McLagan, Margaret Bridget McLagan) and two sons (Angus and John Campbell (Jock) McLagan).

Notes

References

* , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:McLagan, Angus 1891 births 1956 deaths Local politicians in New Zealand New Zealand Labour Party MPs Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council New Zealand Labour Party MLCs New Zealand MPs for Christchurch electorates Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Scottish emigrants to New Zealand People from West Lothian 20th-century New Zealand politicians