Donald Reid (1855 – 25 August 1920) was a

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, New Zealand solicitor and partner in his father's stock and station agency. For two consecutive terms he was an independent conservative

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

in New Zealand. His father had represented the same electorate for three terms a generation earlier.

Early life

Eldest son of Donald Reid and his wife born Frances Barr, he was their first child and was born at Caversham 15 October 1855 where his 22-year-old Scots-born father had purchased his first block of land two years before. The next year they moved to Salisbury, North Taieri.Obituary, Mr Donald Reid. ''New Zealand Herald'', Volume LVII, Issue 17559, 26 August 1920, Page 6

The Law and the stock & station agency

Educated at North Taieri District School Donald Reid junior studied law while an articled clerk with Dunedin's Smith, Anderson & Co. He was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in 1879 while still at Smith, Anderson & Co. A year later he went out on his own and, until 1888, practised as a solicitor with his brother, J S Reid (1857-1894), on his own account. Then he entered as a partner in his father's stock and station agency business, Donald Reid & Co, but after almost ten years retired from that in 1897 to resume practice as a solicitor. He was joined in this new practice in 1900 by partner P S K Macassey — Reid & Macassey — and later by a Mr Bundle. When he died in 1920 his law partnership was known as Reid & Lemon. He remained a director of Donald Reid & Co until his death.

Economics

Donald Reid junior had an interest in the study of economics and was expert in some branches. He was secretary of the New Zealand Bimetallic League a movement related to international currencies, the gold standard and the re-monetisation of silver. He was president of the Roslyn branch of the Workers Educational Association.

Otago Early Settlers Association

He succeeded his father as president.

Political career

Donald Reid junior represented the Taieri electorate from 1902 to 1908, when he retired.

Death

On the afternoon of Wednesday 25 August 1920 Reid came in from watching the university students' Capping Carnival procession, had his lunch, returned to his practice and suddenly died in his clerk's officeObituary, Mr Donald Reid. ''Otago Daily Times'' , Issue 18024, 26 August 1920, Page 6 He was near the end of his 65th year. Married in 1906 he was survived by his wife, born Catherine McMillan, and their two young sons. At his memorial service in

Knox Church, Dunedin Knox Church is a notable building in Dunedin, New Zealand. It houses the city's second Presbyterian congregation and is the city's largest church (in terms of building size, rather than congregation size) of any denomination. Situated close to th ...

led by a former minister of that church it was noted amongst his many other attributes that "

Otago University , image_name = University of Otago Registry Building2.jpg , image_size = , caption = University clock tower , motto = la, Sapere aude , mottoeng = Dare to be wise , established = 1869; 152 years ago , type = Public research collegiate u ...

and

Columba College Columba College (Irish language, Irish: Coláiste Choilm) is an integrated Presbyterian school in Roslyn, Otago, Roslyn, Dunedin, New Zealand. The roll is made up of pupils of all ages. The majority of pupils are in the girls' secondary, day ...

lost a good friend by his death"Memorial service at Knox Church. ''Otago Daily Times'', Issue 18027, 30 August 1920, Page 7 Reid was a Deacon of Knox Church. Parliament adjourned as a mark of respect on 31 August 1920.To-day's business. ''Evening Post'', Volume C, Issue 53, 31 August 1920, Page 8

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reid, Donald 1855 births 1920 deaths New Zealand stock and station agents Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives New Zealand MPs for Dunedin electorates