George John Smith

Colonel George John Smith CBE (1862–1946) was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for the City of Christchurch electorate in the South Island, and later a member of the Legislative Council.


George John Smith

George John Smith
Member of Parliament
for City of Christchurch
In office
1893  1899
Preceded byEbenezer Sandford
Succeeded byHarry Ell
In office
1901  1902
Preceded byCharles Lewis
Succeeded byThomas Davey
Personal details
Born1862
Consett
Died1946
Political partyIndependent
Spouse(s)married 1887 to the only daughter of the late Mr. R. Dawsson

Early life

Smith was born in Consett in County Durham and educated at the Wesleyan Church School in Newcastle upon Tyne. Following that, he worked at the office of the Government solicitors.[1]

He came to New Zealand in 1879. He was a lawyer and businessman in Christchurch. He was a councillor on the Sydenham Borough Council. A strong prohibitionist, Smith was elected to the Sydenham Licensing Committee in 1891, which was determined to refuse all licences in the borough. Several members including Smith were removed from this position by order of the Supreme Court for "incurable bias".[1]

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
18931896 12th Christchurch Independent
18961899 13th Christchurch Independent
19011902 14th Christchurch Independent Liberal

Smith then stood for parliament. In the 1893 election, he came second in the three-member City of Christchurch electorate, and thus entered the House of Representatives. He was re-elected in 1896 (coming second in the electorate), but defeated in 1899. He was returned to parliament again at the 1901 City of Christchurch by-election triggered by the resignation of Charles Lewis.[1][2] Smith was an Independent MP for his entire parliamentary career.[3]

He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1918 New Year Honours.

Legislative Council

Smith was appointed to the Legislative Council in 1907, and was a member from 1907 to 1914 and 1920 to 1932.[4]

Other activities

Riverlaw in Christchurch

Smith purchased Riverlaw from Hugh Murray-Aynsley in 1905, a substantial property and homestead on the Heathcote River at the bottom of Rapaki Track. He enlarged the house and added a third storey. After his death, Riverlaw was for many years used by the YWCA.[5] On 6 September 1984, the house was registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (since renamed to Heritage New Zealand) as a Category II heritage place, with registration number 3728;[6] Riverlaw was regarded as one of the finest colonial homes in Christchurch.[7] It was significantly damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and demolished soon after.[8]

Smith was for many years a member of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College (1903–1907, 1913–1917, 1920–1946).[9] He was Chairmen of the Board of Governors from 1928 to 1932.[10]

In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.[11]

Notes

  1. "The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]". Christchurch: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited. 1903. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  2. Wilson 1985, p. 235.
  3. Hamer 1988, p. 361.
  4. Wilson 1985, p. 164.
  5. Ogilvie 2009, pp. 168f.
  6. "Register Record for Riverlaw, 81 Aynsley Terrace, Christchurch". Christchurch: Ceismic. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  7. Ogilvie 2009, p. 169.
  8. "Lost heritage Christchurch City A-C". New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  9. Gardner et al 1973, p. 453.
  10. Gardner et al 1973, p. 451.
  11. "Official jubilee medals". Evening Post. CXIX (105). 6 May 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 6 September 2015.

References

  • Gardner, W. J.; Beardsley, E. T.; Carter, T. E. (1973). Phillips, Neville Crompton (ed.). A History of the University of Canterbury, 1873–1973. Christchurch: University of Canterbury.
  • Hamer, David (1988). The New Zealand Liberals: The Years of Power, 1891–1912. Auckland University Press. ISBN 1-86940-014-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Ogilvie, Gordon (2009). The Port Hills of Christchurch (2nd ed.). Christchurch: Phillips & King Publishers. ISBN 978-0-9583315-6-2.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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Ebenezer Sandford, William Pember Reeves, Richard Molesworth Taylor
Member of Parliament for Christchurch
18931899
19011902
Served alongside: William Pember Reeves (18931896), William Whitehouse Collins (18931896 and 19011902), Charles Lewis and Tommy Taylor (18961899), Harry Ell (19011902)
Succeeded by
Harry Ell, Charles Lewis, William Whitehouse Collins
Preceded by
Harry Ell, Charles Lewis, William Whitehouse Collins
Succeeded by
Harry Ell, Thomas Davey, Tommy Taylor
Academic offices
Preceded by
Henry Acland
chairman of the board of Governors of Canterbury College
1928–1932
Succeeded by
Christopher Thomas Aschman
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