Kenneth Williams (politician)
Kenneth Stuart Williams (13 September 1870 – 25 November 1935) was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand. He was Minister of Public Works from 1926 to 1928 in the Reform Government.
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Early life
Williams was born in Pakaraka in the Bay of Islands in 1870 to parents John William Williams and Sarah Busby. He was a grandson of the missionary Henry Williams and of James Busby. He was educated at Heretaunga School in Hastings and Christ's College in Christchurch.[1]
Political career
New Zealand Parliament | ||||
Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
1920–1922 | 20th | Bay of Plenty | Reform | |
1922–1925 | 21st | Bay of Plenty | Reform | |
1925–1928 | 22nd | Bay of Plenty | Reform | |
1928–1931 | 23rd | Bay of Plenty | Reform | |
1931–1935 | 24th | Bay of Plenty | Reform |
In 1903–09, he was chairman of Waiapu County. He won the Bay of Plenty electorate in a 1920 by-election[2] after the death of the previous MP, William MacDonald;[3] and held it [1] until 1935.[2] He was elected unopposed three times; in 1922, 1925 & 1931; in 1928 he was opposed by Alexander Moncur for Labour.
He was Minister of Public Works (12 June 1926 – 10 December 1928) in the Reform Government under Gordon Coates, and briefly Minister of Lands, and Commissioner of State Forests (28 November 1928 – 10 December 1928).[4]
In 1934, he had decided to retire at the end of the term because of health problems from an accident, but died on 25 November 1935 at a garden party held in his honour, just two days before the 1935 general election.[1]
In 1935, Williams was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.[5]
Notes
- Robinson, Sheila. "Williams, Kenneth Stuart 1870–1935". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
- Scholefield 1950, p. 148.
- Scholefield 1950, p. 122.
- Scholefield 1950, p. 47.
- "Official jubilee medals". Evening Post. CXIX (105). 6 May 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
References
- Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
New Zealand Parliament | ||
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Preceded by William MacDonald |
Member of Parliament for Bay of Plenty 1920–1935 |
Succeeded by Gordon Hultquist |