Alfred Murdoch
Alfred James (Fred) Murdoch (1877–1960) was a New Zealand politician, first as an Independent Liberal then of the United Party, and from 1943 the National Party. He was Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Mines from 1930 to 1931 in the United Government of New Zealand.
Biography
Early life
Murdoch was born in 1877 in Onehunga. He trained as a school teacher and taught at Onehunga, Northcote, Hikurangi, Mata, and Ruataka. He retired from teaching in 1919 and became a farmer, breeding Jersey cattle. For a time, he was the chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board, and he belonged to the Chamber of Commerce in Whangarei.[1]
Political career
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1922–1925 | 21st | Marsden | Independent Liberal | |
| 1928–1931 | 23rd | Marsden | United | |
| 1931–1935 | 24th | Marsden | United | |
| 1943–1946 | 27th | Marsden | National | |
| 1946–1949 | 28th | Marsden | National | |
| 1949–1951 | 29th | Marsden | National | |
| 1951–1954 | 30th | Marsden | National | |
Murdoch unsuccessfully contested the Marsden electorate in the 1919 election as an independent Liberal against the incumbent from the Reform Party, Francis Mander.[1][2] Mander retired at the 1922 election,[2] and Murdoch was elected.[3] At the next election in 1925, Murdoch was defeated by William Jones of the Reform Party, but he defeated Jones in turn in 1928 when he stood for the United Party.[4] Murdoch was Minister of Agriculture, and Minister of Mines, in the United Government under George Forbes from May 1930 to September 1931.[5]
After two parliamentary terms, Murdoch was defeated in 1935 by James Barclay of the Labour Party.[6] In 1943, Murdoch, now standing for the National Party, defeated Barclay and won the electorate back, and held it until he retired in 1954.[6]
Murdoch died in 1960.[1]
Notes
- 1 2 3 Gustafson 1986, p. 335.
- 1 2 Wilson 1985, p. 218.
- ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 222.
- ↑ Wilson 1985, pp. 209, 222.
- ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 81.
- 1 2 Wilson 1985, pp. 182, 222.
References
- Bassett, Michael (1982). Three party politics in New Zealand, 1911-1931. n.p.: Historical Publications. ISBN 0-86870-006-1.
- Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
- 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.A., ed. (1996). Ministers and Members of the New Zealand Parliament. Dunedin: Otago University Press.
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Francis Mander |
Member of Parliament for Marsden 1922–1925 1928–1935 1943–1954 |
Succeeded by William Jones |
| Preceded by William Jones |
Succeeded by James Barclay | |
| Preceded by James Barclay |
Succeeded by Donald McKay | |