Fred Gerbic
Minister without Portfolio | |
---|---|
In office 9 February 1990 – 2 November 1990 | |
Prime Minister | Geoffrey Palmer Mike Moore |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Onehunga | |
In office 7 June 1980 – 27 October 1990 | |
Preceded by | Frank Rogers |
Succeeded by | Grahame Thorne |
Personal details | |
Born | Frederick Miroslav Gerbic 10 March 1932 Kaitaia, New Zealand |
Died | 29 October 1995 Auckland, New Zealand | (aged 63)
Political party | Labour |
Spouse | Joy Nisbet |
Children | 3 |
Frederick Miroslav Gerbic
Biography
Early life and career
Gerbic was born in Kaitaia in 1932.[1] He became an electrical lineman and later married Joy Constance Nisbet and had three children together. He was a trade union organiser before being appointed as Auckland's industrial conciliator.[2]
He joined the Labour Party in 1961 and from 1962 to 1965 he was a member of the New Lynn Borough Council.[2] He became the chairman of Labour's New Lynn electorate committee but resigned as chairman in 1966 in protest of the party head office forcing the retirement of New Lynn MP Rex Mason.[3] His home shifted from New Lynn to Onehunga and became a member of the Onehunga electorate committee in 1971.[4] At the 1971 local-body elections he was a Labour candidate for the Auckland Electric-Power Board, but was unsuccessful.[5] At the 1972 election he was a campaign organiser for the MP for Onehunga Hugh Watt.[4]
Member of Parliament
Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1980–1981 | 39th | Onehunga | Labour | ||
1981–1984 | 40th | Onehunga | Labour | ||
1984–1987 | 41st | Onehunga | Labour | ||
1987–1990 | 42nd | Onehunga | Labour |
When
Soon after Gerbic became Shadow Minister of Labour there were serious discussions regarding the future of affiliated trade unions in the Labour Party. Labour was frequently attacked for being the 'party of unions' despite only 15% of unions being affiliated and providing just 8% of the annual party funds. In February 1982 Rowling gave a speech at a Labour regional conference in
He had a portfolio shift in 1983 when David Lange replaced Rowling as leader, being instead appointed as spokesperson for industrial conciliation and accident compensation.[15]
After the
Parliamentary colleague Michael Bassett described Gerbic as a "boss' man" who would always take the side of whoever was leader.[17] Jonathan Hunt said he had a very generous spirit and an infectious sense of humour.[2] He retired from politics in 1990, after he was defeated by National's Grahame Thorne.[1]
After leaving parliament Gerbic found himself centred in a political scandal when in September 1992 rebel National MP Gilbert Myles accused him of operating a graft while a minister. Myles, under Parliamentary privilege, alleged that Gerbic took financial donations in exchange for residency approvals in his capacity as associate Minister of Immigration and in support tabled a transcript of an alleged tape recorded conversation between two Auckland Labour Party members. Gerbic denied the allegations and maintained his innocence throughout. The claims were investigated by John McGrath QC who found no evidence of impropriety by Gerbic and dismissed Myles' claims.[18]
Later life and death
Following politics he worked for an immigration consultancy firm with former National MP Aussie Malcolm.[1][19] Malcolm described Gerbic as "very much part of the old Labour school that had the interests of the ordinary man at heart."[2]
In the
Gerbic died at his home in Hillsborough on 29 October 1995 whilst mowing his lawn.[1]
Notes
- ^ The Evening Post. 2 November 1995. p. 7.
- ^ a b c d "Fine New Zealander". The New Zealand Herald. 30 October 1995. p. 3.
- ^ Grant 2014, pp. 92–93.
- ^ a b Grant 2022, p. 48.
- ^ "Electric-Power Board". The New Zealand Herald. 11 October 1971. p. 2.
- ^ a b Wilson 1985, pp. 84.
- ^ "Labour's Onehunga line-up". The Evening Post. 9 May 1980. p. 1.
- ^ "Gerbic Nod". The Evening Post. 10 May 1980. p. 1.
- ^ "Mr Gerbic Warned Job on Line". The New Zealand Herald. 17 May 1980. p. 1.
- ^ "How They Line-up". The New Zealand Herald. 20 February 1982. p. 3.
- ^ Grant 2022, p. 79.
- ^ Grant 2022, pp. 80–1.
- ^ Grant 2022, p. 81.
- ^ Grant 2022, p. 80.
- ^ "Labour leader allocates responsibilities". The Press. 17 March 1983. p. 3.
- ^ Wood 1996, pp. 74.
- ^ Bassett 2008, p. 51.
- ^ "Law office clears Gerbic of graft". The New Zealand Herald. 11 November 1993. p. 3.
- ^ "For Gerbic, new role in immigration". Central Leader. 28 November 1990.
- ^ "No. 53334". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 12 June 1993. p. 38.
References
- Grant, David (2014). The Mighty Totara: The life and times of Norman Kirk. Auckland: ISBN 9781775535799.
- Grant, David (2022). Anderton: His Life and Times. Wellington: Te Herenga Waka University Press. ISBN 9781776920563.
- Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
- Wood, G. A. (1996) [1987]. Ministers and Members in the New Zealand Parliament (2 ed.). Dunedin: University of Otago Press. p. 74. ISBN 1-877133-00-0.
- ISBN 978-1-86971-094-1.