Rex Mason

This article is about a New Zealand politician. For the comic character of the same name, see Metamorpho.
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 (1975-04-03) (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
19261928 22nd Eden Labour
19281931 23rd Auckland Suburbs Labour
19311935 24th Auckland Suburbs Labour
19351938 25th Auckland Suburbs Labour
19381943 26th Auckland Suburbs Labour
19431946 27th Auckland Suburbs Labour
19461949 28th Waitakere Labour
19491951 29th Waitakere Labour
19511954 30th Waitakere Labour
19541957 31st Waitakere Labour
19571960 32nd Waitakere Labour
19601963 33rd Waitakere Labour
19631966 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

  1. "HGR Mason: Father of New Zealand's decimal currency system". We Love Pukekohe. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  2. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 44212. p. 43. 1 January 1967. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  3. "Cemeteries search (cremation)". Wellington City Council. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  4. "Cemeteries search (burial)". Wellington City Council. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
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
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