Career
He was a cabinet minister from 1957 to 1960 in the Second Labour Government. John Mathison served as Minister of Island Territories. He was born in Peebles, Scotland, and emigrated to New Zealand in 1925.
Originally a woollen worker (spinner), he joined the Christchurch Tramways in 1926, and later New Zealand Newspapers (publishers of the Christchurch Star-Sun).
He was the president of the Tramways Union 1928–1932, and later Chairman of the Tramways Board. He was on the Christchurch City Council 1933–1958.
He unsuccessfully stood for the Hurunui electorate in 1946. He represented the Christchurch electorate of Avon from a by-election in 1947 to 1972, when he retired.
He was awarded an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1973, for services to politics.
