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Suicide Squad (New Zealand)
The "suicide squad" was the group of New Zealand Legislative Councillors appointed in 1950 by Prime Minister Sidney Holland tasked with voting the New Zealand Legislative Council out of existence. The Legislative Council was a body appointed by the Prime Minister since the colonial days, and by the 1940s it was seen as ineffectual and obsolete. However, its abolition would involve a complex constitutional process, so Holland appointed new councillors with the task to draft the laws that would eventually dissolve the body, hence the nickname. On 1 December 1950, the Legislative Council met for the last time, and by a majority of ten voted itself out of existence; the Council was formally abolished on 1 January 1951. Abolition of the Upper House By the mid-20th century, the New Zealand Legislative Council was increasingly being looked on as ineffectual and making little difference to the legislative process, as it rarely criticised bills sent to it by the House. Many believed tha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sidney Holland
Sir Sidney George Holland (18 October 1893 – 5 August 1961) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 25th prime minister of New Zealand from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957. He was instrumental in the creation and consolidation of the New Zealand National Party, which was to dominate New Zealand politics for much of the second half of the 20th century. Holland was elected to parliament in , and became the second Leader of the National Party, and Leader of the Opposition, in 1940. He served briefly (1942) in a war cabinet but thereafter attacked the Labour government for its interventionist economic policies. Holland led the National Party to its first election victory in . His National government implemented moderate economic reforms, dismantling many state controls. Holland's government also undertook constitutional change in 1950, by abolishing the Legislative Council, the upper house of parliament, on the grounds that it was ineffectual. In 1951, Holland, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
William Polson
Sir William John Polson (6 June 1875 – 8 October 1960) was a New Zealand politician, first as an Independent and then in the National Party. He joined the National Party on its formation in 1936, and "later acted effectively as Holland's deputy". Biography Early life and career Polson was born in Wanganui to Scottish immigrants Donald Gunn Polson and Janet Campbell Gillies, and was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School. After finishing school he worked on his father's farm until ill health caused him to cease work. During his recuperation he taught himself shorthand and later became a journalist. He was Wellington provincial president of New Zealand Farmers' Union from 1920 to 1921 and became dominion president from 1921 to 1936. Polson's position as president meant he became prominent in national politics. He clashed with the Reform government over meat marketing in 1919, monopolistic marketing trusts in the face of a produce price slump in 1921. He initiated the Meat E ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ethel Gould
Ethel Marion Gould (née Hirst; 2 February 1895 – 9 March 1992) from Auckland was appointed a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council on 22 June 1950. Early life Ethel Marion Hirst was born in Auckland on 2 February 1895. Her father was Frank Hirst. She received her education at the Diocesan School for Girls. Awards and recognitions She was one of three female members of the suicide squad appointed by the First National Government in 1950 to vote for its abolition. Other women appointed in 1950 were Cora Louisa Burrell and Agnes Weston. Only two other women, Mary Anderson and Mary Dreaver, had ever been appointed to the Council (in 1946). In the 1946 New Year Honours Gould was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was est ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
William Girling
William James Girling (9 March 1882 – 7 September 1973) was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand. He was elected to the Wairau electorate in the 1922 general election, but was defeated in 1928 by Edward Healy of the United Party by a 3% vote margin. He was elected as Mayor of Blenheim and served from 1945 to 1950. For the , the Reform and United parties formed a coalition. Part of the agreement was that all incumbents would become the coalition's candidate. Girling stood as an independent in 1931 in opposition to Healy but was again unsuccessful, this time by a 15% vote margin. In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal. In November 1947, he was elected Grand Master of the Masonic Order in New Zealand. In the 1950 King's Birthday Honours, Girling was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for public services, especially in the Marlborough provincial district. He was appointed to the Legislative Council on 22 Ju ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Alexander Finlayson
John Alexander Finlayson (1890–1960) of Whangarei was appointed a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council on 22 June 1950. He was appointed as a member of the suicide squad nominated by the First National Government The Anniversary of the First National Government ( es, Primer gobierno patrio) is a public holiday of Argentina, commemorating the May Revolution and the creation of the Primera Junta on May 25, 1810, which is considered the first patriotic govern ... in 1950 to vote for the abolition of the Council. Most of the new members (like Finlayson) were appointed on 22 June 1950, and served until 31 December 1950 when the Council was abolished. References 1890 births 1960 deaths Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council New Zealand National Party MLCs 20th-century New Zealand politicians {{NewZealand-politician-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bill Endean
William Phillips Endean (26 September 1883 – 19 June 1957) was a New Zealand politician, first of the Reform Party then from 1935 the National Party. He failed to be selected for the and was the first sitting National MP with that fate, but was called to the Legislative Council in 1950 as part of the Suicide squad. He was a lawyer by trade. Early life Endean was born in 1883 in Auckland. He was the son of John Endean, who made his money in gold mining in Australia, California and New Zealand. His father was later the proprietor of the Waitemata Hotel on the corner of Queen and Customs Street. His father built the Endeans Building on the corner of Queen and Quay Streets in Auckland in 1905, which was replaced after a fire in 1914–15; it is listed as a Category II heritage building. They lived in a large house in Symonds Street, which is listed as a Category I heritage building. His mother, Ellen Endean (née Phillips), was the first woman who stood for election to Auck ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harold Dickie
Harold Galt Dickie (1874 – 15 August 1954) was a New Zealand politician of the Reform Party and from 1936 of the National Party. Biography Dickie was born at Waverley, Taranaki in 1874. He attended the local school and farmed in the area until World War I, when he joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. After the war, he was instrumental in the development of the bobby calf industry. He represented the Patea electorate in Parliament from 1925 to 1943, when he retired. In 1950 he was appointed to the Legislative Council by National, as a member of the so-called suicide squad charged with voting for the abolition of the Council (or Upper House). In 1935, Dickie was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for public and local government services, in the 1953 New Year Honours. The investiture was held almost a year later, on 29 December 1953, at the Auckland Town Hall and the honour wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cyril Croker
Cyril Hendry Croker (27 March 1888 – 16 October 1958) was a New Zealand solicitor and member of the Legislative Council. He was a leading sportsman in his youth. He went to World War I in France in 1918 and returned to England sick within days. Active in the National Party, he was a electorate chairman for many years. In 1950, when the first First National Government wanted to disestablish the Legislative Council, Croker was appointed to that body as part of the suicide squad. Early life Croker was born in Christchurch on 27 March 1888. His parents were Diana Valentine and James Taylor Croker. His father spent his entire working life with the Loan and Mercantile Company and until 1899, he was based in Blenheim. Croker Jr attended Blenheim Borough School. When the family moved to Dunedin, Croker Jr attended Otago Boys' High School. He then attended law school at the University of Otago and sat his examinations in 1908. Croker was a sportsmen in his younger years and wo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Allan Cockerell
Allan Richmond Cockerell (21 November 1891 – 7 February 1975) was a New Zealand soldier and politician. He was appointed a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council on 22 June 1950. He was appointed as a member of the suicide squad nominated by the First National Government in 1950 to vote for the abolition of the Council. Most of the new members (like Cockerell) were appointed on 22 June 1950, and served until 31 December 1950 when the Council was abolished. As a second lieutenant serving with the Otago Battalion during 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 ..., Cockerell was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, for actions at Passchendaele on 12 October 1917. References 1891 births 1975 deaths New Zealand military personne ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cora Louisa Burrell
Cora Louisa Burrell (née Keetley, 19 June 1889 – 20 October 1962) from Christchurch was a National Party activist, on the Canterbury Division executive and a Dominion councillor. National Party historian Barry Gustafson said that she was "one of the most important and influential women in the party's early history." She was appointed a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council on 22 June 1950, one of three woman members of the suicide squad appointed by the First National Government in 1950 to vote for its abolition. The other women appointed in 1950 were Ethel Gould and Agnes Weston. Only two other women, Mary Anderson and Mary Dreaver, had ever been appointed to the Council (by Labour, in 1946). In the 1956 Queen's Birthday Honours, Burrell was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cheviot Bell
Cheviot Wellington Rangi Dillon Bell (18 August 1892 – 26 September 1960) was a New Zealand lawyer. He was appointed a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council in 1950 as part of National's suicide squad. Biography Bell was born in Wellington on 18 August 1892. His father was Sir Francis Bell, a Reform Party leader and later the first New Zealand-born Prime Minister. His mother was Caroline Bell (née Robinson), and his maternal grandfather was William Robinson. He was educated at Christ's College and the University of Cambridge, from where he graduated with a BA. Bell trained as a lawyer. In World War I he was in the 10th Royal Hussars and the Royal Flying Corps, and in World War II was Commandant of the RNZAF Training School at Woodbourne. He was appointed as a member of the suicide squad by the First National Government in 1950 to vote for the abolition of the Council. Most of the new members were appointed on 22 June 1950, but three more members, including Bell, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Allen Alexander
Leonard Allen Alexander (26 September 1903 – 21 August 1968) was a New Zealand politician, appointed a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council on 22 June 1950. He was appointed as a member of the suicide squad nominated by the First National Government The Anniversary of the First National Government ( es, Primer gobierno patrio) is a public holiday of Argentina, commemorating the May Revolution and the creation of the Primera Junta on May 25, 1810, which is considered the first patriotic govern ... in 1950 to vote for the abolition of the Council. Most of the new members (like Alexander) were appointed on 22 June 1950, and served until 31 December 1950 when the Council was abolished. In 1953, Alexander was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal. References 1903 births 1968 deaths Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council New Zealand National Party MLCs 20th-century New Zealand politicians {{NewZealand-politician-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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