Roderick McKenzie (1852 – 9 October 1934) was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for Buller and Motueka, in the South Island. He was a member of the Liberal Party.
Roderick McKenzie | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 25th Minister of Customs | |
| In office 4 September 1911 – 28 March 1912 | |
| Prime Minister | Sir Joseph Ward |
| Preceded by | George Fowlds |
| Succeeded by | George Laurenson |
| 13th Minister of Public Works | |
| In office 6 January 1909 – 28 March 1912 | |
| Prime Minister | Sir Joseph Ward |
| Preceded by | William Hall-Jones |
| Succeeded by | William MacDonald |
| 10th Minister of Mines | |
| In office 6 January 1909 – 28 March 1912 | |
| Prime Minister | Sir Joseph Ward |
| Preceded by | James McGowan |
| Succeeded by | James Colvin |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Motueka | |
| In office 4 December 1896 – 11 December 1914 | |
| Preceded by | John Kerr |
| Succeeded by | Richard Hudson |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Buller | |
| In office 28 November 1893 – 4 December 1896 | |
| Preceded by | Eugene O'Conor |
| Succeeded by | Patrick O'Regan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1852 Ross-shire, Scotland |
| Died | 9 October 1934 Wellington, New Zealand |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Occupation | Engineer |
Biography
editEarly life and career
editHe was born in Ross-shire, Scotland in 1852. He was educated at the Glasgow Academy and became a builder by trade. He then began two years of employment with the London and Glasgow Engineering and Ironship Building Company before deciding to move to Canada. He did not reside there long before emigrating to New Zealand in 1869. He sailed on the ship City of Dunedin and after arriving in Otago he became a miner.[1]
McKenzie left his mining job in Otago to move to the West Coast and enter the construction industry as an engineer and bridge builder.[2] He was involved in building infrastructure in the area. His projects included construction of the Westport Staiths at a cost of 22,000 pounds, the railway bridge at Arahura, laying rails to Hokitika and years later the Jervois Quay wharf in Wellington.[1]
He became involved in community affairs on the West Coast. He was elected a member of the Westport Harbour Board, Nelson Harbour Board and Kumara Hospital Board.[1][3]
Member of Parliament
edit| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1893–1896 | 12th | Buller | Liberal | ||
| 1896–1899 | 13th | Motueka | Liberal | ||
| 1899–1902 | 14th | Motueka | Liberal | ||
| 1902–1905 | 15th | Motueka | Liberal | ||
| 1905–1908 | 16th | Motueka | Liberal | ||
| 1908–1911 | 17th | Motueka | Liberal | ||
| 1911–1914 | 18th | Motueka | Liberal | ||
McKenzie was the MP for Buller between 1893 and 1896 and the MP for Motueka from 1896 to 1914. He was a "strong supporter of the Seddon administration". In Parliament he helped to pass a Loan Bill which allowed the Westport Harbour Board to borrow £50,000 in order to fund extensive and long overdue improvements.[1] In July 1905 a group of "country" Liberal members formed a ginger group and proclaimed their intention to advocate country interests in the Government caucus. MacKenzie was one of the group's members and was elected as their leader.[4] He was Chairman of Committees from 1906 to 1908.[5]
He was Minister of Public Works, Minister of Customs and Minister of Mines from 1909 to 1912 under Sir Joseph Ward.[6] The practical experience he had as an engineer and builder made him an effective minister as the period featured great activity in public works schemes, particularly in roading improvements.[7] However, in 1912 McKenzie would have nothing to do with Thomas Mackenzie's (no relation) Liberal Ministry stating that: John Millar should have been prime minister, Mackenzie's ministers were political novices and had forsaken their liberal principles.[8]
In 1932, when he was 80 years old, McKenzie contested the Motueka seat once again at the by-election following the death of George Black.[9] Standing as an Independent Liberal–Labour candidate he placed third out of three candidates.[10]
Later life and death
editFollowing his exit from Parliament, McKenzie resumed his career as an engineer and contractor in Wellington. He was also a prominent member of the West Coast Association.[7]
McKenzie died on 9 October 1934 in Wellington aged 82.[7]
Notes
edit- ^ a b c d McKee, Arthur, ed. (1905). "Present and Past Members of Parliament". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Vol. Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ Hamer 1988, p. 364.
- ^ McKee, Arthur, ed. (1905). "Nelson Harbour Board". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Vol. Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ Foster, John (1966). "Liberal Party". In McLintock, A. H. (ed.). An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 252.
- ^ Wilson & Wood
- ^ a b c "Obituary". The Evening Post. Vol. CXVIII, no. 87. 10 October 1934. p. 13. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
- ^ Bassett 1982, pp. 12–3.
- ^ Scholefield 1940, p. 71.
- ^ "Govt. wins Motueka by-election". Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle. Vol. XXVIII, no. 1402. 6 December 1932. p. 2. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
References
edit- Bassett, Michael (1982). Three Party Politics in New Zealand 1911–1931. Auckland: Historical Publications. ISBN 0-86870-006-1.
- Hamer, David A. (1988). The New Zealand Liberals: The Years of Power, 1891–1912. Auckland: Auckland University Press. ISBN 1-86940-014-3.
- Scholefield, Guy, ed. (1940). A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : A–L (PDF). Vol. I. Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
- Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
- Wood, G. Anthony, ed. (1996). Ministers and Members: In the New Zealand Parliament. Dunedin: Otago University Press.
External links
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