Richard Mayson

Charles Richard Mayson (born 13 October 1941), generally known as Richard Mayson, is a former New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

For the British author and wine expert, see Richard Mayson (writer).

Biography
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1972–1975 37th Hastings Labour

Mayson was born in Nelson in 1941, the son of Charles Samuel Mayson.[1][2] He received his education at Nelson Central School, Nelson College, and Hastings Boys' High School. On 8 February 1964, he married Shirley Annette Schofield, the daughter of Edward Schofield. They had one son and one daughter.[1]

After school, Mayson worked as a farm hand (1957–1959), a labourer (1959–1960), a salesman and window display artist (1960–1964), and a radio salesman (1965–1970). He was a New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC) advertising executive in 1970 and 1971, and a lay preacher in the Methodist Church.[1]

He joined the Labour Party in his youth and was a member and delegate from the party's Grey Lynn branch and later was secretary of the Porirua branch.[3] He was a radical Christian socialist.[4]

Mayson represented the Hastings electorate from 1972 to 1975, when he was defeated by National's Bob Fenton.[5] He had previously stood unsuccessfully for Hastings in the 1969 election. During the 1975 election campaign Mayson received a threatening letter containing a live .22 caliber round, the third time he had received such a letter. The third letter stated "We've had enough of your kind of Commie lot [Labour] ... you're selling out on democracy and you will be the first to get a .308 through your stomach." Mayson made a complaint to the police.[6]

After losing his seat in Parliament he travelled to Tanzania to visit former parliamentary colleague Phil Amos who was living there. Mayson commented that Amos was living the life of a 20th-century version of David Livingstone.[7]

Mayson was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal. For his recreation, he enjoys tennis, squash, swimming, reading, and spending time with his family.[1]

Notes
  1. Traue 1978, p. 193.
  2. Wilson 1985, p. 219.
  3. "21 new members in House". The Press. 27 November 1972. p. 3.
  4. Trotter, Chris (10 February 2017). "Labour's broad church still got strong support". The Timaru Herald. p. 6.
  5. Wilson 1985, pp. 195, 219.
  6. "Bullet, threats for Labour hopeful". The Auckland Star. 28 November 1975. p. 2.
  7. Schouten, Hank (14 June 2007). "Politician turned into a Dr Livingstone". The Dominion Post. p. B7.

References
  • Mayson, Richard (2016). Not So Silent: The Life of Richard Mayson. New Zealand: White Stone Publishing. ISBN 978-0-473-36652-0.
  • Traue, James Edward, ed. (1978). Who's Who in New Zealand (11th ed.). Wellington: Reed.
  • Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 (4 ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Duncan MacIntyre		 Member of Parliament for Hastings
1972–1975		 Succeeded by
Bob Fenton
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