James Donald (politician)

Donald in 1928.

Sir James Bell Donald (13 October 1879 – 4 December 1971) was a United Party Member of Parliament in Auckland, New Zealand. He was a cabinet minister from 1928 to 1931 in the United Government (Postmaster-General, Minister of Telegraphs, and Minister in charge of Public Service Superannuation, Friendly Societies, and National Provident Fund Departments).^[1]

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1928–1931	23rd	Auckland East		United

He won the Auckland East electorate off Labour’s John A. Lee in 1928, by 37 votes.^[2] According to Olsen, Lee's opponent was "a staunch anti-militarist who had been gaoled during the [Great] war".^[3]

When he retired in 1931, the electorate went back to Labour.^[4] In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.^[5] He was appointed a Knight Bachelor for services to the community in the 1969 New Year Honours.^[6]

Notes

1. Wilson 1985, p. 80.
2. Wilson 1985, p. 193.
3. Olsen 1977.
4. Wilson 1985, p. 233.
5. "Official jubilee medals". The Evening Post. 6 May 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
6. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 44742. p. 41. 1 January 1969. Retrieved 18 January 2015.

References

• Olsen, Erik (1977). John A. Lee. Dunedin: University of Otago Press. ISBN 0-908569-04-1.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.