Background
Acland was born in 1904 in Christchurch.
Acland was born in 1904 in Christchurch.
He was educated at Waihi School and Christ"s College.
His great-grandfather was Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 10th Baronet. On 12 June 1935, Acland married Katherine "Kit" Wilder Ormond, daughter of John Davies Ormond, Junior. and granddaughter of John Davies Ormond, Senior The wedding was held at Street Mary"s Church at Waipukurau.
He injured his leg and spent a year in England for treatment.
He worked on farms in South Canterbury, was a stockman and a driver. Due to his leg injury, he was rejected by the army.
He was elected to Parliament in the Canterbury electorate of Temuka in the 1942 by-election, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Thomas Burnett. He was confirmed in the 1943 general election.
The Temuka electorate was abolished for the 1946 election, when he stood in the Timaru electorate and was defeated by the incumbent from the Labour Party, Clyde Carr.
Acland gained prominence in the wool industry. He chaired the New Zealand Wool Board (1960–1972) and was vice-president of the International Wool Secretariat. He was made a Knight Commander (Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1968 for services to the wool industry.
He died on 27 January 1981.
Ackland is referred to as "Celtic Jack" in the song Celtic Jack and Temuka Tom by the Lyttelton band The Eastern, from the album, The Territory.
