Edward Healy

Edward Healy
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Wairau
In office 14 November 1928 – 1 November 1935
Preceded by	William Girling
Succeeded by	Edwin Meachen
Personal details
Born	28 September 1869 near Blenheim, New Zealand
Died	23 August 1954 (aged 84) New Zealand
Political party	United

Edward Francis Healy (28 September 1869 – 23 August 1954) was a United Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.

Business interests

Healy was born near Blenheim in 1869. He was educated at a state school and initially was a blacksmith for 16 years. He then imported bicycles, and became a stock and station agent, and an auctioneer. He sold his business to Dalgety and worked for them for the next five years. Afterwards, he purchased a sheep and cattle farm, but retired from that venture in 1920.^[1]

Public offices

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1928–1931	23rd	Wairau		United
1931–1935	24th	Wairau		United

Healy was a member of a number of organisations. He was on the Pelorus Road Board, Wairau Licensing Committee, various school committees in both Canterbury and Marlborough, and the Marlborough Patriotic Committee. At the time of election to the House of Representatives, he was a member of the Wairau Hospital Board.^[1]

He won the Wairau electorate in 1928, but was defeated in 1935^[2] by Labour's Edwin Meachen.^[3] In the 1938 election, Meachen and Healy (this time standing for National) contested the Marlborough electorate, but Meachen was again successful.^[3][4]

During the Great Depression, the government stopped work on the Main North Line between Wharanui and Parnassus. A 500-strong protest march by Marlborough residents was led by Healy, and he later crossed the floor in Parliament on the issue.^[5]

In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.^[6]

Other interests

Healy was involved with many sporting codes, including horse racing, trotting, football, bowling, and cycling. He represented Marlborough and Canterbury in rugby union. He held executive positions with the Wairau Valley Racing Club, the Pelorus Hack Racing Club, the Nelson Jockey Club, and the Nelson Trotting Club. In earlier years, he raced horses himself. Later on, he acted as a judge of horses and stock at agricultural shows.^[1]

Family and death

Healy married Mary Jane Bishop in 1895.^[7] He died on 23 August 1954 and is buried at Tuamarina Cemetery near Blenheim.^[8] His wife died in 1966.^[9]

References

1. "The New Members". The New Zealand Herald LXV (20105). 16 November 1928. p. 14. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
2. Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 204. OCLC 154283103.
3. "Candidates for tomorrow's election". The Evening Post. CXXVI (91). 14 October 1938. p. 18. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
4. "The General Election, 1938". National Library. 1939. p. 3. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
5. Howie, Cherie (26 May 2010). "Battling the leanest times". The Marlborough Express. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
6. "Official jubilee medals". Evening Post CXIX (105). 6 May 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
7. "Marriage Search". Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 17 March 2015. Search for registration number "1895/2630"
8. "Cemetery records search". Marlborough District Council. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
9. "Death Search". Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 17 March 2015. Search for registration number "1966/32718"