Jeremiah Connolly Explained

Jeremiah Connolly (1875 – 2 October 1935) was an Independent Liberal Member of Parliament for Mid-Canterbury, in the South Island of New Zealand.

Early life

Connolly was born in Geraldine in 1875 and educated at Hilton School. He was a farmer. In 1902 Connolly purchased the Raukapuka Estate, which he sold in 1919. He then acquired the Langley Estate at Rakaia.

During World War I Connolly was a member of the National Efficiency Board (1917–18) and of various patriotic societies.^[1]

Member of Parliament

Connolly stood as an Independent Coalition Liberal in support of the United/Reform Coalition in the and was successful.^[2] He represented the Mid-Canterbury electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives until his death in 1935.

In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.^[3]

Death

He collapsed and died in a taxi-cab in Wellington, when going from Parliament to his hotel. He was stated to have had heart problems.^[4]

Further reading

• p.7.

Notes and References

1. A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, edited by G.H. Scholefield, Volume 1 page 172, 1940, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington.
2. See Wilson (Book: Wilson, James Oakley . New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 . 4th . First published in 1913 . 1985 . V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer . Wellington . 154283103.). But Wood (Book: Wood . G. Anthony . Ministers and Members: In the New Zealand Parliament . 1996 . Otago University Press . Dunedin . 88.) described Connolly as a 'Liberal', and Dick Habershon ([Appendix p.xx]) noted him as United in 1928; and as a 'Liberal Coalitionist' in 1931.
3. News: Official jubilee medals . 6 May 1935 . . 2 July 2013 . 4.
4. News: Mr. J. Connolly, MP . 16 November 2013 . . 3 October 1935 . CXX . 82 . 11.