Background
William Ferguson Massey was born in the village of Limavady a few miles from Londonderry, Ireland, on March 26, 1856. In 1870 he followed his father to New Zealand. His parents were were tenant farmers, who also owned a small property.
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William Ferguson Massey
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also known as
Bill Massey
Education
In New Zealand Massey gained farming experience.
Career
By 1890 Massey had set himself up near Auckland as a small farmer. He took to politics as a spokesman for the small farmers and was elected to Parliament in 1894.
For 18 years he sat on the opposition benches with the independent Conservatives and was elected opposition leader in September 1903. In February 1909 he announced that his party would thenceforth be known as the Reform party, and in 1912 he emerged from the political confusion to form a government, though lacking a clear majority of seats, and remained in office until his death 13 years later.
During World War I Massey showed his ability in organizing the country for the crisis. In August 1915 he led the Reform party into a coalition with the Liberal party under Sir Joseph Ward, leaving a small Labour minority as the opposition. Both Ward and Massey went to England twice to attend meetings of the imperial War Cabinet, and after the war Massey represented New Zealand at the peace conference. Massey did not work easily with Ward, who was minister of finance and not inclined to accept a subordinate role, and in 1919 the coalition was dissolved.
At the election in December the Reform party won a substantial majority, and Massey was able for the first time to govern without maneuvering among the other parties. He retained his majority in the election of 1922. In 1923 he was able to effect large reductions in income tax and a return to penny postage, but his health was failing, and he died at Wellington on May 10, 1925, just before an election in which his party was to triumph yet again.
Achievements
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William Ferguson Massey was the 19th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1912 to 1925. His talent for administration saw his country through World War I and led New Zealand to economic recovery.
Massey accepted appointment as a Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) from the King of Belgium in March 1921 and a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour by the President of France in October 1921.
Membership
The Privy Council of the United Kingdom, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Opposition (New Zealand), the Legion of Honour(France), the Order of the Crown(Belgium)
Personality
Massey was a large man with a homespun appearance and was an effective, if harsh and verbose, speaker. He was devoted to politics and was in some ways stubborn and narrow in outlook, but he gave the impression of sincerity, was respected by his opponents, and was admired for his courage, tenacity, and political acumen.
Connections
In 1882 Massey married Christina Allan Paul. They had seven children.
- Wife:
- Christina Allan Paul
- Son:
- Jack
- Son:
- Walter William
She was a supporter of the Victoria League, vice president of the New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross Society and the Lady Liverpool Fund, and was president of the Plunket Society.
He represented his father's Franklin electorate from 1928 to 1935, and from 1938 to 1957 for National
He represented Hauraki from 1931 to 1935.
References
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Born
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Died
May 10, 1925 (aged 69) -
Nationality
New Zealand -
Ethnicity
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Religion
Presbyterian -
Political Party
Reform Party