Jack Acland

Jack Acland in 1956

Sir Hugh John "Jack" Dyke Acland, KBE JP (17 January 1904 – 26 January 1981) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Early life

Acland was born in 1904 in Christchurch.^[1] His parents was Sir Hugh Acland (1874–1956), a prominent surgeon in New Zealand, and Evelyn Mary Acland (née Ovans). His great-grandfather was Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 10th Baronet. His brother-in-law was Sir John Ormond. His cousin was Felicity Lusk, headmistress. He was educated at Waihi School and Christ's College.^[2]

When riding his motorbike, Acland was hit by a car on Christchurch's Park Terrace in October 1924. He suffered a complex break of his leg just above the ankle, and spent over a month in bed at his parent's house, Chippenham Lodge. With Frederick Wilding KC as his lawyer, he won a substantial compensation from the driver, and used the money to have his leg reset in England, where he spent one year. Despite this, he limped for the rest of his life.^[3][4]

On 12 June 1935, Acland married Katherine "Kit" Wilder Ormond, daughter of John Davies Ormond, Jr. and granddaughter of John Davies Ormond, Sr. The wedding was held at St Mary's Church at Waipukurau.^[5][6]

He worked on farms in South Canterbury, was a stockman and a driver. He worked in various jobs in Australia for some time before taking on the management of Mount Peel Station, which had been established by his grandfather, John Acland.^[1][7] Due to his leg injury, he was rejected by the army.^[1]

Political career

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1942–1943	26th	Temuka		National
1943–1946	27th	Temuka		National

He was elected to Parliament in the Canterbury electorate of Temuka in the 1942 by-election,^[8] filling the vacancy caused by the death of Thomas Burnett.^[9] He was confirmed in the 1943 general election.^[8] The Temuka electorate was abolished for the 1946 election, when he stood in the Timaru electorate and was defeated by the incumbent from the Labour Party, Clyde Carr.^[10]

Acland gained prominence in the wool industry. He chaired the New Zealand Wool Board (1960–1972) and was vice-president of the International Wool Secretariat. He was made a Knight Commander (KBE) in 1968 for services to the wool industry. He died on 27 January 1981.^[1]

In Media

• Ackland is referred to as "Celtic Jack" in the song Celtic Jack and Temuka Tom by the Lyttelton band The Eastern, from the album, The Territory.

Notes

1. Gustafson 1986, p. 295.
2. "Sir Hugh John Dyke Acland" (PDF). Timaru District Council. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
3. "A broken leg". The Press LXI (18309). 17 February 1925. p. 3. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
4. Welch, David (June 2015). Chippenham Lodge: Linked in History. Christchurch: Heartwood Community Inc. Te Ngakau O Te Rakau. p. 35.
5. "Picturesque Wedding". Evening Post CXIX (138). 13 June 1935. p. 18. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
6. "Parochial Notes". Waiapu Church Gazette 26 (7). 1 July 1935. p. 5. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
7. A. H. McLintock, ed. (22 April 2009) [1966]. "ACLAND, John Barton Arundel". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
8. Wilson 1985, p. 179.
9. Gustafson 1986, p. 302.
10. Wilson 1985, pp. 179, 188, 273.

References

• 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 (4 ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.