George Davis (New Zealand politician)

George Davis JP (1876 – 20 September 1937) was a New Zealand politician and trade unionist.

George Davis
Auckland City Councillor
In office
1919–1923
In office
1927–1929
Personal details
Born1876
England
Died20 September 1937
New Zealand
Political partyIPLL (1904-1910)
Labour (1910-12)
United Labour (1912-16)
Labour (1916-37)
ProfessionTrade unionist

Biography

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Early life

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Born in England in 1876, Davis sailed to New Zealand as a child settling in Auckland and eventually became a trade unionist.[1] He became the Secretary of the Auckland Drivers' Union in 1899, a position he held until retiring just prior to his death due to ill health.[2] At 38 years of service he was the longest serving union secretary in Auckland. In 1909 he was made a Justice of the Peace.[2]

Political career

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Davis contested the 1910 Auckland East by-election as the official candidate of the Labour Party where he came in second place.[3] George Irving McKnight had originally been chosen by the Labour Party, however he proved unsatisfactory. His endorsement was rescinded and Labour chose to sponsor Davis instead.[4] The local prohibition league also endorsed Davis as the Liberal candidate (and eventual winner) Arthur Myers owned a brewery.[5]

He stood for the Roskill electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives in 1919 for the Labour Party where he placed third out of four candidates.[6]

Davis was a member of the Auckland City Council serving from 1919 to 1923 and again between 1927 and 1929.[7] Davis was also Chairman of the Auckland Labour Representation Committee.[8]

Death

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Davis died in 1937. He was survived by his wife and adult children.[2]

Notes

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  1. ^ Gustafson 1980, p. 155.
  2. ^ a b c "Obituary". Auckland Star. Vol. LXVIII, no. 223. 20 September 1937. p. 3. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  3. ^ "Auckland East by-election". Wanganui Chronicle. Vol. L, no. 12539. 17 June 1910. p. 5. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  4. ^ Gustafson 1980, p. 22.
  5. ^ Gustafson 1980, p. 24.
  6. ^ Hislop, J. (1921). The General Election, 1919. National Library. pp. 1–6. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  7. ^ Gustafson 1980, p. 159.
  8. ^ Gustafson 1986, p. 279.

References

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