James O'Brien (New Zealand politician)

The Honourable
James O'Brien
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Westland
In office
1922  1925
Preceded by Tom Seddon
Succeeded by Tom Seddon
In office
1928  1947
Preceded by Tom Seddon
Succeeded by Jim Kent
Personal details
Born 8 June 1874
Forest Creek, Victoria, Australia
Died 28 September 1947
Wellington, New Zealand
Political party Labour
Spouse(s) Kate Teresa Flaherty (m. 1909; wid. 1949)

Peter James O'Brien (8 June 1874 – 28 September 1947) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Early life

O'Brien was born in 1874 at Forest Creek, near Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia. His parents of Irish descent were Terence O’Brien, a miner, and Bridget O’Leary. He was christened Peter James, but his first name was never used; many knew him as Jim or Briney. After having worked as a miner in various Australian states, O'Brien emigrated to New Zealand in 1904 and found employment as a coalminer in Reefton.[1]

Political career

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate Party
19221925 21st Westland Labour
19281931 23rd Westland Labour
19311935 24th Westland Labour
19351938 25th Westland Labour
19381943 26th Westland Labour
19431946 27th Westland Labour
19461947 28th Westland Labour

O'Brien became active in the socialist circles that developed on the West Coast. He became president of the Westland Certificated Engine-drivers' and Firemen's Union, and was the president of the Runanga Co-operative Society. Standing on a socialist ticket, he was voted onto the inaugural Runanga Borough Council in 1912. In 1913, he supported Paddy Webb's successful by-election campaign in the Grey electorate for the Social Democratic Party, and later became the president of the Runanga branch of the party.[1]

He represented the Westland electorate in Parliament from the 1922 election, when he defeated Tom Seddon.[2] He lost the electorate in the 1925 election to Tom Seddon, but won it back in 1928, and held it to 1947, when he died.[2]

He was a Minister in the First Labour Government. He was Minister of Transport (9 December 1942 – 28 September 1947), Minister of Marine (9 December 1942 – 28 September 1947), Minister of Labour (27 June 1946 – 19 December 1946) and Minister of Mines (27 June 1946 – 19 December 1946).[3] He remained an MP until his death, which caused a by-election held in December 1947 that was won by Labour's James Begg Kent.[4]

In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.[5]

Family and death

O'Brien married Kate Teresa Flaherty on 29 June 1909 in Greymouth. He died in Wellington on 28 September 1947. His wife survived him; they had no children.[1]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Richardson, Len. "O'Brien, James". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  2. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 129.
  3. Scholefield 1950, p. 51.
  4. Wilson 1985, p. 210.
  5. "Official jubilee medals". The Evening Post CXIX (105). 6 May 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 17 November 2013.

References

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Tom Seddon
Member of Parliament for Westland
1922–1925
1928–1947
Succeeded by
Tom Seddon
Succeeded by
Jim Kent
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