Eddie Isbey

Edward Emanuel Isbey QSO (3 August 1917 – 25 July 1995) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Eddie Isbey QSO
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Papatoetoe
In office 25 November 1978 – 15 August 1987
Preceded by	Constituency created
Succeeded by	Ross Robertson
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Grey Lynn
In office 29 November 1969 – 25 November 1978
Preceded by	Ritchie Macdonald
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	Edward Emanuel Isbey 3 August 1917 London, England
Died	25 July 1995 Auckland, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Spouse(s)	Annette Constance Graham
Children	3

Biography

Early life and career

Isbey was born in London in 1917, the son of Alec Isbey a tailor who immigrated from Lithuania. He received his education in London and gained a diploma in industrial management. During World War II, he served in the Merchant Navy.[1] He emigrated to New Zealand in 1947.

Isbey was a factory manager from 1948 to 1953, then went into dairy farming, before working on the waterfront (1954–1969). He was the president of the New Zealand Watersiders Union for 11 years from 1959 to 1970, and the Auckland president for 12 years from 1956 to 1967.[1] As president he led the Auckland Watersiders to affiliate with the Labour Party. In 1963 the union voted with a two-to-one majority to formally affiliate via a postal ballot.[2]

He was also the vice-president of New Zealand Rugby League and an administrator of several theatres in Auckland including the board of the Mercury Theatre and the Auckland Theatre Trust.[3]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1969–1972	36th	Grey Lynn		Labour
1972–1975	37th	Grey Lynn		Labour
1975–1978	38th	Grey Lynn		Labour
1978–1981	39th	Papatoetoe		Labour
1981–1984	40th	Papatoetoe		Labour
1984–1987	41st	Papatoetoe		Labour

He represented the electorates of Grey Lynn from 1969 to 1978, and then Papatoetoe from 1978 to 1987, when he retired.[4] He was replaced in the Papatoetoe electorate by Ross Robertson. In the lead up to the 1972 election Labour leader Norman Kirk sent Isbey to Tokoroa to pacify striking timber workers and prevent the issue interfering with the election.[5] The next year he was elected vice-president of the Labour Party. His win was something of a surprise with Stan Rodger, President of the Public Service Association, seen as the front-runner. Other aspirants were Ron Barclay, Roger Drayton, Jonathan Hunt, Gerald O'Brien and Trevor Young (all MPs).[6]

During the Third Labour Government he was appointed as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Labour, Minister of Civil Aviation & Meteorological Services and Minister of Transport from 1973 to 1974 by Norman Kirk. When Bill Rowling became Prime Minister he appointed Isbey Under-Secretary to the Minister of Railways.[7]

When Labour was in opposition (1975–84) Isbey was shadow minister for Labour, Immigration, the Arts and Sport and Recreation. He was one of the earliest proponents of nuclear-free legislation. He introduced a bill to make New Zealand nuclear-free in 1976 but it was voted down by the Muldoon Government.[3]

During the Fourth Labour Government he was appointed as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Labour, Minister of Employment and Minister of Immigration by David Lange.[8]

Later life and death

In the 1988 New Year Honours, Isbey was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.[9]

Isbey died in Auckland on 25 July 1995 aged 77.[3]

Personal life

On 9 June 1953, he married Annette Constance Graham, the daughter of Walter (Mick) Graham. They had two sons and one daughter.[1] His pastimes included theatre, boats, reading, art, watching football, and boxing. In 1978, he lived in Herne Bay, Auckland.[1]

His brother Dave Isbey (1915–1994) was likewise a unionist and Labour politician. He crewed a whaling ship to Antarctica in 1939 before joining Merchant Navy (like his brother) during World War II. After the war he came to New Zealand and got job with Auckland Harbour Board.[10] He was president of the Auckland Labour Representation Committee and stood twice for the Auckland City Council in 1959 and 1962, but was unsuccessful.[11][12]

Notes

1. Traue, James Edward (1978). Who's Who in New Zealand (11th ed.). Wellington: Reed Publishing. p. 153.
2. "Affiliation To Labour Approved". The Evening Post. 16 May 1963. p. 14.
3. "Former MP Eddie Isbey dies, 77". The New Zealand Herald. 26 July 1995. p. 4.
4. Wilson 1985, pp. 207, 264.
5. Grant 2014, pp. 192.
6. Grant 2014, pp. 251.
7. Wilson 1985, pp. 94.
8. Wilson 1985, pp. 98.
9. "No. 51173". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 31 December 1987. p. 35.
10. Franks & McAloon 2016, p. 165.
11. "Declaration of Result of Poll". The New Zealand Herald. 5 December 1959. p. 31.
12. "Declaration of Result of Election". The New Zealand Herald. 27 October 1968. p. 10.

References

• Grant, David (2014). The Mighty Totara: The life and times of Norman Kirk. Auckland: Random House. ISBN 9781775535799.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Franks, Peter; McAloon, Jim (2016). Labour: The New Zealand Labour Party 1916-2016. Wellington: Victoria University Press. ISBN 978-1-77656-074-5.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.

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Ritchie Macdonald	Member of Parliament for Grey Lynn 1969–1978	Constituency abolished
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Papatoetoe 1978–1987	Succeeded by Ross Robertson
Party political offices
Preceded by Charles Bennett	Vice-President of the New Zealand Labour Party 1973–1974	Succeeded by Gerald O'Brien