Clifton Webb (politician)

Sir Thomas Clifton Webb KCMG QC (8 March 1889 – 6 February 1962), known as Clifton Webb, was a New Zealand politician and diplomat.

Webb in 1949

Early life

He was born in Te Kōpuru in the Kaipara District, studied at Auckland University College, and practised law in Dargaville. He was in the army from 1917 to 1919, then returned to his practice in Dargaville and was a borough councillor there from 1921 to 1923. He moved to Auckland in 1927 and established a new law firm there.[1]

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate	Party
1943–1946	27th	Kaipara	Independent
1946	Changed allegiance to:		National
1946–1949	28th	Rodney	National
1949–1951	29th	Rodney	National
1951–1954	30th	Rodney	National

He sat in Parliament from 1943 until 1954: first as an Independent National MP for Kaipara (1943–1946) and then as the National Party MP for Rodney (1946–1954).[2] A key aide to party leader Sidney Holland, he was appointed to Attorney-General upon National gaining power in 1949. As Minister of Justice, he was responsible for drafting the legislation that resulted in the abolition of the Legislative Council.[1]

In 1951, he took his first step into diplomacy by adding Minister for External Affairs and Minister of Island Territories to his other duties; portfolios which he held from 1951 to 1954.[3] In 1955, Webb was granted the use of the title of "Honourable" for life, having served more than three years as a member of the Executive Council.[4] He served as the country's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom between 1955 and 1958, and was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1956 New Year Honours.[5]

References

Templeton, Hugh. "Webb, Thomas Clifton". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer. p. 147.
New Zealand Parliamentary Debates, Vols. 296-304 (1951-1954).
"No. 40421". The London Gazette. 1 March 1955. p. 1269.
"No. 40671". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1956. p. 43.

Biography in 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand

Political offices
Preceded by Rex Mason	Minister of Justice 1949–1954	Succeeded by Jack Marshall
Preceded by Rex Mason	Attorney-General 1949–1954	Succeeded by Jack Marshall
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Frederick Doidge	High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom 1955–1958	Succeeded by Dick Campbell (acting) George Laking (acting) Tom Macdonald

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[DNZB_Webb-1] Templeton, Hugh. "Webb, Thomas Clifton". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 5 January 2012.

[Scholefield_1950-2] Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer. p. 147.

[3] New Zealand Parliamentary Debates, Vols. 296-304 (1951-1954).

[4] "No. 40421". The London Gazette. 1 March 1955. p. 1269.

[5] "No. 40671". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1956. p. 43.