Rex Mason
The Honourable Rex Mason CMG QC | |
---|---|
17th Attorney-General of New Zealand | |
In office 1935–1949 | |
Preceded by | George Forbes |
Succeeded by | Clifton Webb |
In office 1957–1960 | |
Preceded by | Jack Marshall |
Succeeded by | Ralph Hanan |
30th Minister of Justice of New Zealand | |
In office 1935–1949 | |
Preceded by | John Cobbe |
Succeeded by | Clifton Webb |
In office 1957–1960 | |
Preceded by | Jack Marshall (1957) |
Succeeded by | Ralph Hanan (1960) |
10th President of the Labour Party | |
In office 1931–1932 | |
Leader | Harry Holland |
Preceded by | Jim Thorn |
Succeeded by | Bill Jordan |
Personal details | |
Born |
Henry Greathead Rex Mason 3 June 1885 Wellington, New Zealand |
Died |
2 April 1975 (aged 89) Wellington, New Zealand |
Political party | Labour Party |
Spouse(s) | Dulcia Martina Rockell |
Henry Greathead Rex Mason CMG QC (3 June 1885 – 2 April 1975) was a New Zealand politician. He served as Attorney General, Minister of Justice, Minister of Education, and Minister of Native Affairs, and had a significant influence on the direction of the Labour Party. He was one of New Zealand's longest-serving MPs, sitting for over 40 years.
Early life
Mason was born in Wellington, to a South African father and an Australian mother. He attended Wellington College (where he was dux) and Victoria University College, from which he graduated with MA in mathematics and an LLB. Moving to Pukekohe, he became a lawyer.
Political career
Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
1926–1928 | 22nd | Eden | Labour | |
1928–1931 | 23rd | Auckland Suburbs | Labour | |
1931–1935 | 24th | Auckland Suburbs | Labour | |
1935–1938 | 25th | Auckland Suburbs | Labour | |
1938–1943 | 26th | Auckland Suburbs | Labour | |
1943–1946 | 27th | Auckland Suburbs | Labour | |
1946–1949 | 28th | Waitakere | Labour | |
1949–1951 | 29th | Waitakere | Labour | |
1951–1954 | 30th | Waitakere | Labour | |
1954–1957 | 31st | Waitakere | Labour | |
1957–1960 | 32nd | Waitakere | Labour | |
1960–1963 | 33rd | Waitakere | Labour | |
1963–1966 | 34th | New Lynn | Labour |
Mason was elected Mayor of Pukekohe in 1915. He was left-wing in his political outlook, and joined the Labour Party on its foundation in 1916. In the 1919 general election, he was Labour's candidate for the seat of Manukau, but was defeated. Later, he shifted his attention to the seat of Eden — he contested it in the 1922 election and 1925 election. He finally won Eden in a 1926 by-election, assisted by the fact that the Reform Party's vote was split by a defeated nominee, Ellen Melville.
Throughout his parliamentary career, Mason remained highly involved in the organisation of the Labour Party. He served as its president from 1931 to 1933, and played a major role in policy formulation. Mason was regarded as a social democrat rather than a socialist, and he played a part in moving the Labour Party closer to the political centre. He did, however, believe that the state should have exclusive control over the country's financial system, influenced by social credit monetary reform theories. Other causes supported by Mason include the establishment of a comprehensive old-age pension system and the granting of full state services to naturalised immigrants (the latter making him extremely popular with his electorate's substantial Yugoslavian community).
Cabinet Minister
When Labour won the 1935 general election, Mason became Attorney General and Minister of Justice, reflecting his legal background. When disputes arose between the party leadership and John A. Lee's more radical faction, Mason remained on good terms with both sides — while he sympathised with some of Lee's points, particularly regarding monetary reform, he did not join Lee's breakaway Democratic Labour Party. Mason later served as Minister of Education (where he worked closely with C.E. Beeby to implement educational reforms) and as Minister of Native Affairs. In 1941 the Public Service Commissioner Thomas Mark died in (or just outside) the minister's office, during a confrontation with Mason who wanted the resignation of the head of a department.
He was not returned to Cabinet after the 1946 election, but returned to fill a vacancy the following year. After Labour lost office, he continued to agitate on a number of issues, notably decimal currency. In 1953 several Mason was among several Labour MPs who attempted an abortive coup to remove the 71-year-old Walter Nash as party leader, others included Bill Anderton and Arnold Nordmeyer. Mason informed Nash that several members were complaining to him about the party's leadership to him and thathe thought that the majority wanted a new leader to take over. By 1954 a majority of the caucus was in favour of leadership change but pressure from unions and continued support from Party branches allowed Nash to survive the subsequent caucus vote.[1] After Labour won the 1957 election, Mason returned to his original roles of Attorney General and Minister of Justice. He was also made Minister of Health.
Rex Mason represented the seat of Eden in the 22nd parliament (1926–28), Auckland Suburbs in the 23rd to 27th parliaments (1928–46), Waitakere in the 28th to 33rd parliaments (1946–63), and New Lynn in the 34th parliament (1963–66).
Mason eventually retired from politics at the 1966 election, under a certain amount of pressure from colleagues who wished to "rejuvenate" the Labour Party. Mason was now in his eighties, and was one of the longest serving New Zealand MPs ever, with a career of 40 years from 15 April 1926 to 25 October 1966.
In the 1967 New Year Honours, Mason was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for public services.[2]
Personal life
Mason married Dulcia Martina Rockell on 27 December 1912, and had three children. Through his wife's influence, Mason become interested in Indian religion and spirituality, and beliefs derived from it (particularly Theosophy). He was a vegetarian and a teetotaller.
Mason died in Wellington on 2 April 1975, aged 89, and his ashes were buried in Karori Cemetery.[3][4]
References
- ↑ "HGR Mason: Father of New Zealand's decimal currency system". We Love Pukekohe. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 44212. p. 43. 1 January 1967. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
- ↑ "Cemeteries search (cremation)". Wellington City Council. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ↑ "Cemeteries search (burial)". Wellington City Council. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
External links
New Zealand Parliament | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by James Parr |
Member of Parliament for Eden 1926–1928 |
Succeeded by Arthur Stallworthy |
New constituency | Member of Parliament for Auckland Suburbs 1928–1946 |
Constituency abolished |
Member of Parliament for Waitakere 1946–1963 |
Succeeded by Martyn Finlay | |
Member of Parliament for New Lynn 1963–1966 |
Succeeded by Jonathan Hunt | |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by John Cobbe |
Minister of Justice 1935–1949 1957–1960 |
Succeeded by Clifton Webb |
Preceded by Jack Marshall |
Succeeded by Ralph Hanan | |
Preceded by George Forbes |
Attorney-General 1935–1949 1957–1960 |
Succeeded by Clifton Webb |
Preceded by Jack Marshall |
Succeeded by Ralph Hanan | |
Preceded by Peter Fraser |
Minister of Education 1940–1947 |
Succeeded by Terry McCombs |
Preceded by Frank Langstone |
Minister of Native Affairs 1943–1946 |
Succeeded by Peter Fraser |
Preceded by Ralph Hanan |
Minister of Health 1957–1960 |
Succeeded by Norman Shelton |
Party political offices | ||
Preceded by Jim Thorn |
President of the Labour Party 1931–1932 |
Succeeded by Bill Jordan |