David Buick (politician)
David Buick JP | |
---|---|
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Palmerston | |
In office 1908–1918 | |
Preceded by | William Wood |
Succeeded by | Jimmy Nash |
Personal details | |
Born | Wellington | 29 April 1848
Died | 18 November 1918 | (aged 70)
Political party | Reform Party |
Profession | Farmer, politician |
David Buick (29 April 1848 – 18 November 1918) was a New Zealand politician of the Reform Party. A New Zealand-born sheep breeder, he represented farming interests in Parliament. He owned racing horses and won various high-profile races. He died in office in the 1918 influenza epidemic.
Early life
Buick was born in Wellington in 1848. His father, William Buick, had come to Wellington in 1841 on the Arab from England. Buick senior farmed in the Hutt Valley, with Buick junior taking over the farm in 1867.[1] On 5 June 1876, he married Mary Ann (Polly[2]) Buick (née Hill), daughter of I. M. Hill from Nelson.[3]
In 1881, Buick junior bought land in the Manawatū's Kairanga Block.[1] Living at a time when many New Zealanders were immigrants, Buick was proud of his birth in the colony and referred to it on occasions.[1]
Political career
In 1885, he started making submissions to the Road Board over access issues. In 1887, he joined the Road Board and within months, he became its chairman. The Road Board ran into financial difficulties over a court case concerning stormwater run off, and ratepayers thus petitioned for the establishment of the Manawatu Land Drainage Board (MLDB), which was established in 1894. In December 1895, Buick became the MLDB's second chairman and held that position until 1898.[1]
Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1908–1909 | 17th | Palmerston | Independent | ||
1909–1911 | Changed allegiance to: | Reform | |||
1911–1914 | 18th | Palmerston | Reform | ||
1914–1918 | 19th | Palmerston | Reform |
He first stood for
The next election contested by Buick was the 1908 general election.[1] William Wood had won the 1902 and 1905 elections, and Buick representing the opposition stood against the incumbent Liberal. The 1908 general election was held under the Second Ballot Act, contested by three candidates. Buick, Wood and William Milverton received 2675, 2626 and 123 votes, respectively. As Buick did not receive an absolute majority, a second ballot was required.[5] Buick won the second ballot with a majority of 93 votes (2811 versus 2718 votes for Buick and Wood, respectively).[1]
In 1909, the opposition started calling itself the Reform Party, and Buick contested the 1911 election under that banner. The Liberal Party put Robert McNab forward. Milverton contested the electorate again, and William Thomson was the fourth candidate. Buick won just over half the votes (3374 of 6732 votes cast, with 3367 votes required to achieve an absolute majority) and a second ballot was thus not required.[1]
The 1914 election was again contested by four candidates. Buick stood again for the Reform Party. Jim Thorn represented the Social Democratic Party.[6] Hugh Crabb was the official candidate for the Liberal Party and the Mayor of Palmerston North, Jimmy Nash, was also a member of the Reform Party. Buick, Thorn, Crabb and Nash received 2739, 1686, 1476 and 1077 votes, respectively.[7][8] He represented the electorate until his death.[9]
His political interests centred on farming issues. Buick had a conservative outlook, but rejected that label. During the war, he was a stern critic of conscientious objectors.[1]
Life outside politics and death
Buick was a successful breeder of
Buick's wife died on 1 August 1917.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "David Buick : Member of Parliament for Palmerston North 1908–1918" (PDF). New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- ^ a b "Untitled". Palmerston North City Council. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "Marriages". Colonist. Vol. XVIII, no. 2093. 27 June 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "1890s". Palmerston North City Council. Archived from the original on 9 January 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
- ^ "Palmerston". The Wanganui Herald. Vol. XXXXIII, no. 12621. 18 November 1908. p. 5. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
- ^ McAloon, Jim. "Thorn, James – Biography". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "North Island". Hawera & Normanby Star. Vol. LXVIII. 11 December 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "The Election Cup". Marlborough Express. Vol. XLVIII, no. 286. 9 December 1914. p. 7. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer. p. 98.
- ^ a b "Death of Mr Buick, M.P." Poverty Bay Herald. Vol. XLV, no. 14765. 19 November 1918. p. 5. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "The Late Mr. D. Buick, M.P." The Evening Post. Vol. XCVI, no. 123. 20 November 1918. p. 4. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ a b "Obituary". The Evening Post. Vol. XCVI, no. 122. 19 November 1918. p. 6. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "Personal". Feilding Star. Vol. XIII, no. 3307. 1 August 1917. p. 2. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "Personal". Feilding Star. Vol. XIV, no. 35190. 29 April 1918. p. 2. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "Adjourned for a week". Marlborough Express. Vol. LII, no. 285. 20 November 1918. p. 4. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "Untitled". Palmerston North City Council. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "Obituary". Feilding Star. Vol. XIV, no. 3636. 19 November 1918. p. 2. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "Untitled". Palmerston North City Council. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "Untitled". Palmerston North City Council. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.