Background
Sidey was born on 27 May 1863, to John and Johan Murray Sidey, in the Dunedin suburb of Corstorphine. His father had come to wealth during the Otago Gold Rush as a storekeeper.
Sidey was born on 27 May 1863, to John and Johan Murray Sidey, in the Dunedin suburb of Corstorphine. His father had come to wealth during the Otago Gold Rush as a storekeeper.
Tom Sidey attended Otago Boys" High School and graduated from the University of Otago with a law degree (Bachelor of Laws) in 1889.
In the following decade, he worked as a solicitor. They had one son. He was elected Mayor of Caversham on three occasions: in 1894, 1899 and 1901. Sidey was elected to the House of Representatives in the Caversham by-election as an independent liberal in 1901.
The by-election was caused by the death of Arthur Morrison.
Sidey represented the Caversham electorate from 1901 to 1908, and then the Dunedin South electorate from 1908 to 1928, when he retired. He was then appointed to the Legislative Council from 1928 until 1933.
Sidey was Attorney-General (1928-1931) and Minister of Justice (1930-1931) in the United government. Sidey put forward a private member"s bill for putting clocks forward an hour in summer every year from 1909.
lieutenant was nearly passed in 1915.
lieutenant was passed in the House of Representatives but rejected by the Legislative Council in 1926. lieutenant was finally approved in 1927. Sidey died at home on 20 May 1933.
His widow, Helen, Lady Sidey, was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for social welfare services, especially in connection with women"s organisations, in the 1953 Coronation Honours.
The Royal Society of New Zealand awards the T. K. Sidey Medal at irregular intervals for "outstanding scientific research".
Sidey joined the Liberal Party as part of its left (radical) wing, and stayed with the party until the education
Sidey was a member of the Caversham Borough Council.