William Thomas Jennings

William Thomas Jennings
Born	1854 Auckland, New Zealand
Died	1923
Nationality	New Zealand
Occupation	Member of Parliament (Liberal Party)

William Thomas Jennings (1854 – 6 February 1923) was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.

Early life

He was born in Auckland, where he attended St. Paul's school and subsequently became an apprentice printer in the offices of the New Zealander. Subsequently, he worked for a number of newspapers: the Thames Guardian and the Dunedin Guardian as foreman, then the Dunedin Age and The Oamaru Mail as manager, followed by a move back to Auckland in 1882 to become foreman on the Evening Star.^[1]

Political career

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1902–1905	15th	Egmont		Liberal
1905–1908	16th	Egmont		Liberal
1908–1911	17th	Taumarunui		Liberal
1914–1915	19th	Taumarunui		Liberal
1915–1919	19th	Taumarunui		Liberal
1919–1922	20th	Waitomo		Liberal

A social reformer, he worked hard to represent men and women of the labouring classes and to improve their conditions. He was called to a seat in the New Zealand Legislative Council on 15 October 1892 as a representative of labour, and was known for his common sense, ability and courtesy. He also worked with the secretary of the New Zealand Tailoresses' Union to improve working conditions for women in that industry.^[1] He resigned from the Legislative Council on 23 October 1902, three years into his second term.^[2]

He stood for the Liberal Party and won the Egmont electorate in the 1902 general election, and held it to 1908. In 1908 he won the Taumarunui electorate but was defeated in 1911 general election. He won the electorate back in 1914, but on 14 May 1915 the election was declared void. He regained the electorate in the subsequent 1915 by-election and held it to 1919. In 1919 he won the Waitomo electorate but was defeated in 1922 general election.^[3]

His death in Wellington on 6 February 1923 was reported in The Argus (Melbourne).^[4]

Other positions held

He also held the following positions at various times in his life:^[1]

• lieutenant in the Hobson Rifle Volunteer Corps
• past district grand president of the order of Druids
• honorary secretary to the Auckland Liberal Association
• chairman of the Auckland Typographical Association

Notes

1. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1902). The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Auckland Provincial District). Christchurch: The Cyclopedia Company Limited. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
2. Wilson 1985, p. 156.
3. Wilson 1985, p. 208.
4. "Former Politician Dead". The Argus. Melbourne, Australia: Argus Office: 19. 7 February 1923. Retrieved 30 April 2010.

References

• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.