George Davis (New Zealand politician) explained

George Davis
Office1:Auckland City Councillor
Term Start1:1919
Term End1:1923
Term Start2:1927
Term End2:1929
Birth Date:1876
Birth Place:England
Death Date:20 September 1937
Death Place:New Zealand
Party:IPLL (1904-1910)
Labour (1910-12)
United Labour (1912-16)
Labour (1916-37)
Profession:Trade unionist

George Davis (1876 – 20 September 1937) was a New Zealand politician and trade unionist.

Biography

Early life

Born in England in 1876, Davis sailed to New Zealand as a child settling in Auckland and eventually became a trade unionist. He became the Secretary of the Auckland Drivers' Union in 1899, a position he held until retiring just prior to his death due to ill health.[1] At 38 years of service he was the longest serving union secretary in Auckland. In 1909 he was made a Justice of the Peace.[1]

Political career

Davis contested the 1910 Auckland East by-election as the official candidate of the Labour Party where he came in second place.[2] George Irving McKnight had originally been chosen by the Labour Party, however he proved unsatisfactory. His endorsement was rescinded and Labour chose to sponsor Davis instead. The local prohibition league also endorsed Davis as the Liberal candidate (and eventual winner) Arthur Myers owned a brewery.

He stood for the Roskill electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives in for the Labour Party where he placed third out of four candidates.[3]

Davis was a member of the Auckland City Council serving from 1919 to 1923 and again between 1927 and 1929. Davis was also Chairman of the Auckland Labour Representation Committee.

Death

Davis died in 1937. He was survived by his wife and adult children.[1]

References

Notes and References

  1. News: Obituary . 20 September 1937 . . LXVIII . 223 . 3 . 6 November 2016.
  2. News: Auckland East by-election . 17 June 1910 . . L . 12539 . 5 . 5 December 2015.
  3. Book: J. . Hislop . The General Election, 1919 . . 6 December 2014 . 1–6 . 1921.