John O'Brien (New Zealand politician)

For other people of the same name, see John O'Brien (disambiguation).

John O'Brien


4th Leader of the Social Credit Party
In office 1970–1972
Deputy	Tom Weal
Preceded by	Vernon Cracknell
Succeeded by	Bruce Beetham
Personal details
Born	John Bernard O'Brien (1925-07-31)31 July 1925 Palmerston North, New Zealand
Died	12 October 1990(1990-10-12) (aged 65) Nelson, New Zealand
Political party	Social Credit

John Bernard O'Brien (31 July 1925 – 12 October 1990) was a political candidate and party leader of Social Credit in New Zealand.

Political career

In the late 1960s, O'Brien was deputy-leader to Vernon Cracknell, leader and sole MP of the Social Credit Party. Following the sudden death of Bill Brown, O'Brien unsuccessfully contested the Palmerston North electorate in the 1967 by-election.^[1]

Cracknell lost his seat in the 1969 election, and the following year, O'Brien challenged him for the leadership. The contest was bitter, even resulting in brawling between supporters of the two camps. Eventually, O'Brien was successful.

Although a powerful speaker and an energetic organiser, O'Brien was accused by his opponents of being abrasive and overly confrontational. He quickly antagonised many party members, particularly those in the Christchurch branch. O'Brien's leadership of the party lasted only until 1972, when, with Tom Weal, the deputy leader, and others, he quit the party and was replaced by Bruce Beetham.^[2]

O'Brien then formed his own group, the New Democratic Party. The New Democrats were one of the larger parties to contest the 1972 election, standing candidates in all but one electorate. In the end, they placed fifth overall, winning 0.66% of the vote. They did not win any seats.

He was from the Palmerston North area. After politics, he ran a shop in Nelson then retired and later died there, aged 65.

References

↑ Hancock, Mervyn (December 2005). "Joseph Albert Walding : Member of Parliament for Palmerston North 1967–1975 1978–1981" (PDF). Palmerston North Library. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
↑ Bryant 1981, p. 25.

Obituary in Dominion (Wellington) of 15 October 1990 page 3.
Bryant, George (1981). Beetham. Palmerston North: The Dunmore Press. ISBN 0-908564-73-2.

Democrats for Social Credit

Party Leaders	Wilfrid Owen P. H. Matthews Vernon Cracknell John O'Brien Bruce Beetham Neil Morrison John Wright Grant Gillon Stephnie de Ruyter

Party presidents	M. J. Hayes Frank Needham Don Bethune George Bryant Stefan Lipa Chris Leitch Margaret Cook Peter Kane John Pemberton Neville Aitchison David Wilson John Pemberton

Former Parliamentarians	Vernon Cracknell Bruce Beetham Gary Knapp Neil Morrison Grant Gillon John Wright

Noted activists	Jeremy Dwyer Terry Heffernan Frank Langstone Roly Marks Tom Weal Les Hunter

Related articles	John A. Lee Country Party New Democratic Party Alliance Progressive Coalition

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