James Samuel Dickson (1870 – 18 October 1939) was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand. Born in

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdo ...

, County Antrim, in 1870, Dickson emigrated to New Zealand in about 1887. He won the

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

electorate of Parnell in the 1911 general election, winning on the second ballot against a senior Liberal from Wellington, Sir John Findlay, with some support from Labour. He held the seat until

1928 Events January * January – British bacteriologist Frederick Griffith reports the results of Griffith's experiment, indirectly proving the existence of DNA. * January 1 – Eastern Bloc emigration and defection: Boris Bazhanov, J ...

, when he was defeated. He was the chief government whip from 1919 to 1928, and also served as chair of the railways committee and the labour bills committee. Outside of parliament, Dickson served on the Remuera Road Board for 15 years, including five years as chairman. He was also a member of the Auckland City Council, the Auckland Drainage Board, the Auckland Hospital Board and the Manukau County Council. He was also a Grand Master of the

Orange Order The Loyal Orange Institution, commonly known as the Orange Order, is an international Protestant fraternal order based in Northern Ireland and primarily associated with Ulster Protestants, particularly those of Ulster Scots heritage. It also ...

. He died in Auckland in 1939, and was buried at Purewa Cemetery.

References

1870 births 1939 deaths Politicians from Belfast Irish emigrants to New Zealand Reform Party (New Zealand) MPs Unsuccessful candidates in the 1928 New Zealand general election Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives New Zealand MPs for Auckland electorates Auckland City Councillors Burials at Purewa Cemetery {{NewZealand-politician-stub