Norman Jones (politician)
Norman Philip Hastings Jones QSM (15 August 1923 – 19 November 1987) was a New Zealand National Party politician, who represented the Invercargill electorate in Parliament.
Norman Jones | |
---|---|
Member of Parliament for Invercargill | |
In office 1975–1987 | |
Preceded by | J. B. Munro |
Succeeded by | Rob Munro |
Personal details | |
Born | Norman Philip Hastings Jones 15 August 1923 Invercargill, New Zealand |
Died | 19 November 1987 64) Invercargill, New Zealand | (aged
Resting place | Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill |
Political party | National Party |
Spouse(s) | Marjory Millicent Moffat ( m. 1950) |
Children | 6 |
Military service | |
Allegiance | |
Branch/service | 23rd Battalion |
Years of service | 1941–1942 |
Rank | Private |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Biography
Jones was born on 15 August 1923 in Invercargill. He was one of six brothers and two sisters and the only one of the brothers to complete primary school, although he left secondary school shortly before his 15th birthday.[1] From that point on he held a number of short-term jobs, working principally as a farm labourer before he joined the New Zealand Army in 1941 after lying about his age. He served as a private in the 23rd Infantry Battalion during World War II and lost his right leg to tank-fire at the age of 19 in North Africa.[1] After his war service he attended Otago and Victoria Universities and Dunedin Teachers' College. He taught at Wanganui for some time before returning south to become assistant master at Southland College. Subsequently he worked at James Hargest High School and at Southland Boys' High School.[2]
Jones and his wife Marjorie were committee members of the Save Manapouri campaign.[3]
Jones was an Invercargill city councillor for 18 years, and served one term as deputy mayor. In the 1975 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for public services, for services to civil defence and the community.[4] He became particularly notable for his vehement opposition to the Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986. Owing to his outspokenness on this and other issues, the media dubbed him "the mouth from the south".
Norman Jones referring to homosexuals in 1985
When the Labour Party won office in 1984, an economic summit took place in the parliamentary debating chamber. Representatives from industry, unions and community groups attended. Jones refused to vacate his seat, saying he would not give up his chair for some communist to sit down.
New Zealand Parliament | ||||
Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
1975–1978 | 38th | Invercargill | National | |
1978–1981 | 39th | Invercargill | National | |
1981–1984 | 40th | Invercargill | National | |
1984–1987 | 41st | Invercargill | National |
Jones first stood for Parliament at a by-election in 1945. He had contested seven elections before being chosen as the National candidate for Invercargill in 1975, when he beat the incumbent Labour representative, J. B. Munro.[2][6] He remained in Parliament until shortly before his death in 1987.
Jones died on 19 November 1987[7][8] from a brain tumour at the age of 64. His autobiography, Jonesy, published five years earlier in 1982, detailed his wartime service and his political career. A number of the most controversial aspects and events of his public service occurred after the book's publication.
Notes
- Jones 1981, p. ?.
- Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
- Fallow, Michael (29 February 2020). "The genesis of the Guardians". Stuff. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- "No. 46595". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 14 June 1975. p. 7407.
- "Reforming the law - homosexual law reform". nzhistory.net.nz. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
- Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 (4 ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. pp. 209, 222. OCLC 154283103.
- "PART 5 - From Law Reform to the present". Queer History New Zealand. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- "Obituary---N. P. H. Jones". VDIG group. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
References
- Jones, Norman (1981). Jonesy. Invercargill: Craig Publishing. ISBN 0-9597554-8-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Thomson, Jane (editor) (1998). Southern People: a dictionary of Otago Southland biography. Dunedin: Longacre Press. p. 261. ISBN 1-877135-11-9.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
External links
- New Zealand History online: "Norman Jones speaking against homosexual law reform" (photograph included)
- New Zealand History online: "Homosexual law reform in New Zealand"
New Zealand Parliament | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by J. B. Munro |
Member of Parliament for Invercargill 1975–1987 |
Succeeded by Rob Munro |