George Black

Background

Black was born in Reefton in 1904.

Career

He committed suicide and was succeeded as Member of Parliament by Keith Holyoake. In 1923, Black became a Parliamentary Clerk of Committees. George Black represented the Motueka electorate in the House of Representatives from 1928 to 1932.

He unexpectedly beat the Reform Party incumbent of 14 years, Richard Hudson, and became the youngest Member of Parliament at the time.

He was appointed junior whip by the United Party. In Parliament, George Black refused to support the Finance Bill that proposed cuts to public service salaries and voted with the Labour Party, and he also opposed the decision to suspend construction of the Kawatiri - Inangahua railway line that ran through his electorate.

Black was expelled from the United Party the day after voting against the Finance Bill in March 1931, saying: "no genuine supporter of the late Prime Minister", Sir Joseph Ward, could uphold such measures. Later in the year, at the 1931 election, the bright and well-regarded local Member of Parliament was elected as an independent.

He was associated with Harry Atmore, the independent Member of Parliament for the neighbouring Nelson electorate.

On 17 October 1932 aged 28, George Black committed suicide with cyanide poison at Makara Beach. The coroner found that Black had been mentally unstable for some months, and was also in financial difficulties.

Achievements

• Black"s death triggered the 1932 Motueka by-election, which was won by Keith Holyoake.

Connections

follower:

Joseph Ward