Sydney George Smith (19 January 1879 – 21 May 1943) was a New Zealand politician of the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...

and then the National Party, and a cabinet minister.

Early life

Smith was born in

New Plymouth New Plymouth ( mi, Ngāmotu) is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, Devon from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. ...

in 1879. His parents were the MHR

Edward Smith Ed, Eddie, Edgar, Edward, Edwin, and similar, surnamed Smith, may refer to: Military * Edward H. Smith (sailor) (1889–1961), United States Coast Guard admiral, oceanographer and Arctic explorer * Edward Smith (VC) (1898–1940), English recipien ...

and Mary Ann Golding. He enjoyed rugby during his youth, and later became an administrator for the sport for the

Taranaki Region Taranaki is a region in the west of New Zealand's North Island. It is named after its main geographical feature, the stratovolcano of Mount Taranaki, also known as Mount Egmont. The main centre is the city of New Plymouth. The New Plymouth Dist ...

. On 19 November 1901, he married Elsie Rose Herbert (known as Rose) at St Mary's Church in New Plymouth. She was a daughter of G H Herbert of the

Royal Engineers The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is a corps of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces and is heade ...

. They had three children: Rosa Maud (b. 1902), Ethel Mary (b. 1905), and Edward George (b. 1906). His wife died on 3 April 1913, aged 35. Smith remarried on 25 February 1915, to Catherine (Kate) Bint, again at St Mary's Church. Kate Bint was born in July 1892 at Tarata in Taranaki, some by road west of Inglewood. He had a further three children from his second marriage: Raymond Sydney (1916–1944), Harry Allman (1918–1998), and Lorna Hazel (b. 1922). He worked in the New Zealand Railways for 20 years, and for 13 years held office in the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants.

Political career

Smith held various offices with trade unions. He was on the New Plymouth Borough Council. He had interests in education. Smith successfully contested the

Taranaki Taranaki is a region in the west of New Zealand's North Island. It is named after its main geographical feature, the stratovolcano of Mount Taranaki, also known as Mount Egmont. The main centre is the city of New Plymouth. The New Plymouth Dist ...

electorate in a by-election in (following the death of Henry Okey) as an

Independent Labour An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or bureaucratic association. There are numerous reasons why someone may stand for office as an independent. Some politicians have political views th ...

candidate. Smith sat together with the other Labour MPs in Parliament but always stressed his independence. Soon after entering the house MP

Charles Wilkinson Charles Wilkinson may refer to: * Charles Wilkinson (MP) (1725–1782), English Member of Parliament *Charles Edmund Wilkinson (1807–1870), acting Governor of British Ceylon * Charles Wilkinson (cricketer) (1813–1889), English cricketer and cle ...

referred to Labour Party leader

Alfred Hindmarsh Alfred Humphrey Hindmarsh (18 April 1860 – 13 November 1918) was a New Zealand politician, lawyer and unionist. He died in the 1918 influenza epidemic. He served as the first leader of the modern New Zealand Labour Party. Early life Hindmars ...

as the "leader" of Smith. In reply Smith said "You leave the member for Taranaki alone, he will choose his own leader." He was confirmed at the , and in successfully stood as a Liberal–Labour candidate. In 1925 he stood unsuccessfully for

for the

. He was successful in and returned to Parliament for the United Party until he was defeated at the by

Labour Labour or labor may refer to: * Childbirth, the delivery of a baby * Labour (human activity), or work ** Manual labour, physical work ** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer ** Organized labour and the labour ...

candidate Fred Frost. Smith was

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 ...

and Minister of Mines in the United Government from 28 May 1930 to 22 September 1931. He was Minister of Education in the

United–Reform Coalition The United–Reform Coalition, also known as the National Political Federation from 1935, was a coalition between two of the three major parties of New Zealand, the United and Reform parties, from 1931 to 1936. The Coalition formed the Governme ...

from 22 November 1934 to 6 December 1935. He was Chairman of Committees from 11 December 1928 to 28 May 1930, and again from 27 October 1931 to 12 February 1935. In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.

Death

Smith, who was known as Sid to his friends, died on 21 May 1943 at New Plymouth, and was buried at

Te Henui Cemetery Te Henui Cemetery, also known as New Plymouth Cemetery, is the oldest public cemetery in New Plymouth, New Zealand. It was first used in 1861. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "the great mistake" for . ...

. He was survived by his second wife and his six children. All three of his sons were at the time serving overseas in World War II. His son Raymond was killed on 24 December 1943 by a sniper in Italy.

Notes

References

* * , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Sydney George 1879 births 1943 deaths Independent MPs of New Zealand New Zealand Liberal Party MPs New Zealand National Party MPs Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand United Party (New Zealand) MPs New Zealand education ministers New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Unsuccessful candidates in the 1938 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1925 New Zealand general election Burials at Te Henui Cemetery