James O'Brien (New Zealand politician)

James O'Brien
The Honourable; James O'Brien
5th Minister of Transport
	In office; 9 December 1942 – 28 September 1947
Prime Minister	Peter Fraser
Preceded by	Bob Semple
Succeeded by	Fred Hackett
Member of the New Zealand Parliament; for Westland
	In office; 7 December 1922 – 4 November 1925
Preceded by	Tom Seddon
Succeeded by	Tom Seddon
	In office; 14 November 1928 – 28 September 1947
Preceded by	Tom Seddon
Succeeded by	Jim Kent
Personal details
Born	Peter James O'Brien; 8 June 1874; Forest Creek, Victoria, Australia
Died	28 September 1947 (aged 73); Wellington, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Spouse(s)	Kate Teresa Flaherty (m. 1909)

Peter James O'Brien (8 June 1874 – 28 September 1947) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Early life

O'Brien was born in 1874 at Forest Creek, near Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia. His parents of Irish descent were Terence O’Brien, a miner, and Bridget O’Leary. He was christened Peter James, but his first name was never used; many knew him as Jim or Briney. After having worked as a miner in various Australian states, O'Brien emigrated to New Zealand in 1904 and found employment as a coalminer in Reefton.[1] O'Brien became active in the socialist circles that developed on the West Coast. He became president of the Westland Certificated Engine-drivers' and Firemen's Union, and was the president of the Runanga Co-operative Society.

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate	Party
1922–1925	21st	Westland	Labour

1928–1931	23rd	Westland	Labour
1931–1935	24th	Westland	Labour
1935–1938	25th	Westland	Labour
1938–1943	26th	Westland	Labour
1943–1946	27th	Westland	Labour
1946–1947	28th	Westland	Labour

Standing on a socialist ticket, he was voted onto the inaugural Runanga Borough Council in 1912. In 1913, he supported Paddy Webb's successful by-election campaign in the Grey electorate for the Social Democratic Party, and later became the president of the Runanga branch of the party.[1] He was a member of the Greymouth Borough Council for eight years and he was deputy mayor for three of them. He was also a member of the Grey Power Board. O'Brien was twice president of the Grey branch of the Labour Party and helped to establish the Grey River Argus as a Labour daily newspaper.[2]

He represented the Westland electorate in Parliament from the 1922 election, when he defeated Tom Seddon.[3] He lost the electorate in the 1925 election to Tom Seddon, but won it back in 1928, and held it to 1947, when he died.[3] He was the senior Government whip from 1939 until his promotion to the cabinet in 1942.[4]

He was a Minister in the First Labour Government. He was Minister of Transport (9 December 1942 – 28 September 1947), Minister of Marine (9 December 1942 – 28 September 1947), Minister of Labour (27 June 1946 – 19 December 1946) and Minister of Mines (27 June 1946 – 19 December 1946).[5] He remained an MP until his death, which caused a by-election held in December 1947 that was won by Labour's Jim Kent.[6]

In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.[7]

Family and death

O'Brien married Kate Teresa Flaherty on 29 June 1909 in Greymouth. He died in Wellington on 28 September 1947. His wife survived him; they had no children.[1]

Notes

Richardson, Len. "O'Brien, James". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
"Political Career". Otago Daily Times (26578). 29 September 1947. p. 4.
Scholefield 1950, p. 129.
Wilson 1985, pp. 280–281.
Scholefield 1950, p. 51.
Wilson 1985, p. 210.
"Official jubilee medals". The Evening Post. CXIX (105). 6 May 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 17 November 2013.

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References

Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Political offices
Preceded by Bob Semple	Minister of Transport 1942–1947	Succeeded by Fred Hackett
Preceded by Paddy Webb	Minister of Labour 1946	Succeeded by Angus McLagan
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Tom Seddon	Member of Parliament for Westland 1922–1925 1928–1947	Succeeded by Tom Seddon
Preceded by Tom Seddon	Member of Parliament for Westland 1922–1925 1928–1947	Succeeded by Jim Kent
Party political offices
Preceded by Robert McKeen	Senior Whip of the Labour Party 1939–1942	Succeeded by Arthur Shapton Richards

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[DNZB_O'Brien-1] Richardson, Len. "O'Brien, James". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 21 January 2012.

[obituary-2] "Political Career". Otago Daily Times (26578). 29 September 1947. p. 4.

[FOOTNOTEScholefield1950129-3] Scholefield 1950, p. 129.

[FOOTNOTEWilson1985280–281-4] Wilson 1985, pp. 280–281.

[FOOTNOTEScholefield195051-5] Scholefield 1950, p. 51.

[FOOTNOTEWilson1985210-6] Wilson 1985, p. 210.

[7] "Official jubilee medals". The Evening Post. CXIX (105). 6 May 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 17 November 2013.