Frederick William Schramm (28 March 1886 – 28 October 1962) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. He was the eleventh Speaker of the House of Representatives, from 1944 to 1946.

Biography

Early life

Schramm was born in

Hokitika Hokitika is a town in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island, south of Greymouth, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika River. It is the seat and largest town in the Westland District. The town's estimated population is as of . ...

in 1886. His Danish parents had arrived in New Zealand in the 1860s. He received his education at Hokitika High School and at

Canterbury College Canterbury College may refer to: * Canterbury College (Indiana), U.S. * Canterbury College (Waterford), Queensland, Australia * Canterbury College (Windsor, Ontario), Canada * Canterbury College, Kent, England * Canterbury College, Oxford, England ...

. He was a prominent sports person in his younger years in athletics, cricket, and hockey, and represented Canterbury College in the New Zealand University championships for two years. He married Alice Amelia Peard in 1918; they had two daughters. Schramm started his professional career as a clerk with the

Justice Department A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...

and held positions in

Wanganui Whanganui (; ), also spelled Wanganui, is a city in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The city is located on the west coast of the North Island at the mouth of the Whanganui River, New Zealand's longest navigable waterway. Whangan ...

and Te Kuiti before

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, and Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland after the war. He then became deputy-registrar and deputy-sheriff of the Auckland Supreme Court but resigned in 1922 to enter private practice. He was a solicitor and barrister for the last nine years before his election to Parliament.

Political career

In 1927 he stood unsuccessfully for the

Auckland City Council Auckland City Council was the local government authority for Auckland City, New Zealand, from 1871 to 1 November 2010, when it and Auckland's six other city and district councils were amalgamated to form the Auckland Council. It was an elected b ...

on a Labour Party ticket. Schramm was a member of the

Auckland University The University of Auckland is a public university, public research university based in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest, most comprehensive and highest-ranked university in New Zealand and consistently places among the top 100 universit ...

College Council until his resignation in 1942. In the , he contested the electorate but came third. He was the Member of Parliament for

Auckland East Auckland East was a New Zealand electorate, situated in the east of Auckland. It existed between 1861 and 1887, and again between 1905 and 1946. History The Auckland East electorate was established for the 1860–1861 election, when the City ...

from to 1946; when he was defeated for the new electorate of . Originally an ally of

John A. Lee John Alfred Alexander Lee (31 October 1891 – 13 June 1982) was a New Zealand politician and writer. He is one of the more prominent avowed socialism in New Zealand, socialists in New Zealand's political history. Lee was elected as a me ...

, they fell out and Schramm moved for Lee's expulsion at the 1940 Labour conference. Lee supported the National candidate

Duncan Rae Duncan McFadyen Rae (2 June 1888 – 3 February 1964) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. Biography Rae was born in Mataura in 1888. He received his education at Knox College and at Otago University, where he gained an ...

who defeated Schramm in the electorate in 1946. In early 1947 he was a nominee for the Mount Albert by-election but was not selected as the candidate. Soon afterwards Schramm, who was originally from Hokitika, was also speculated as a possible candidate at another by-election in Westland but suggestion of him seeking the candidacy was later dismissed. In November 1947 he was Labour's candidate for the Auckland mayoralty, placing second behind sitting mayor Sir

John Allum Sir John Andrew Charles Allum (27 January 1889 – 16 September 1972) was a New Zealand businessman and engineer, and was Mayor of Auckland City from 1941 to 1953. Biography Early life and career Allum was born in London and educated at Goldsm ...

. Schramm wished to stand for the mayoralty again in

1950 Events January * January 1 – The International Police Association (IPA) – the largest police organization in the world – is formed. * January 5 – 1950 Sverdlovsk plane crash, Sverdlovsk plane crash: ''Aeroflot'' Lisunov Li-2 cr ...

, but was beaten for the Labour nomination by former city councillor John Stewart. In he stood in Parnell once more and was again defeated. He was then President of the Auckland Labour Representation Committee from 1955 to 1957.

Awards and death

In 1935, Schramm was awarded the

King George V Silver Jubilee Medal The King George V Silver Jubilee Medal is a commemorative medal, instituted to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the accession of King George V. Issue This medal was awarded as a personal souvenir by King George V to commemorate his Silver J ...

. He died in Auckland in 1962 and was buried at Purewa Cemetery.

Notes

References

*''Who’s Who in New Zealand'', 4th Edition 1941 *New Zealand Herald 1962, 30 October (death notice) , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Schramm, Bill 1886 births 1962 deaths Speakers of the New Zealand House of Representatives New Zealand Labour Party MPs 20th-century New Zealand lawyers New Zealand people of Danish descent Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives People from Hokitika People from Auckland New Zealand MPs for Auckland electorates Burials at Purewa Cemetery Unsuccessful candidates in the 1928 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1946 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1949 New Zealand general election People educated at Westland High School, Hokitika