Charles Statham
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles Ernest Statham (10 May 1875 - 5 March 1946) was a New Zealand
politician
, and the ninth Speaker of the House of Representatives
, from 1923 to 1935.
He was born in Dunedin
, and trained in law
, practicing from 1904 in Dunedin. He married Lilias Harata te Aho Burnett of Dunedin in 1905, and they had one daughter.
He was on the Dunedin City Council 1911-13, and was the Reform Party
candidate in 1911 for the Dunedin Central
seat, which he held from 1911
to 1935
. He had differences with the Reform party leadership, and was returned as an Independent
member for the seat in 1919. He represented a city and working-class electorate, and his majority was gradually reduced by Labour
. His majority fell to 262 in 1931, and he decided to retire at the 1935 election
.
He was Speaker of the House of Representatives
from 1923 to 1935. He is one of only three people to have held the office despite not being from the governing party. In 1923, as an independent
, but formerly a member of the Reform Party
, he was backed by Reform so as not to endanger the party's slim majority, and later retained his position under the Liberal Party
. He was described as probably the greatest speaker the house has known (see reference), and was fair but firm during a stormy period.
He was created a Knight Bachelor
in 1926. He was appointed to the New Zealand Legislative Council
in 1936, but spoke rarely and did not take an active part in politics. He practiced law in Wellington after retiring, and died there in 1946.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and the ninth Speaker of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
, from 1923 to 1935.
He was born in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, and trained in law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, practicing from 1904 in Dunedin. He married Lilias Harata te Aho Burnett of Dunedin in 1905, and they had one daughter.
He was on the Dunedin City Council 1911-13, and was the Reform Party
New Zealand Reform Party
The Reform Party, formally the New Zealand Political Reform League, was New Zealand's second major political party, having been founded as a conservative response to the original Liberal Party...
candidate in 1911 for the Dunedin Central
Dunedin Central
Dunedin Central was a parliamentary electorate in the city of Dunedin in Otago, New Zealand from 1881 to 1890 and 1905 to 1984.The electorate was represented by nine Members of Parliament:* Thomas Bracken 1881-84 & 1886-87* James Benn Bradshaw 1884-86...
seat, which he held from 1911
New Zealand general election, 1911
The New Zealand general election of 1911 was held on Thursday, 7 and 14 December in the general electorates, and on Tuesday, 19 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 18th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
to 1935
New Zealand general election, 1935
The 1935 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 25th term. It resulted in the Labour Party's first electoral victory, with Michael Joseph Savage becoming the first Labour Prime Minister...
. He had differences with the Reform party leadership, and was returned as an Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
member for the seat in 1919. He represented a city and working-class electorate, and his majority was gradually reduced by Labour
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
. His majority fell to 262 in 1931, and he decided to retire at the 1935 election
New Zealand general election, 1935
The 1935 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 25th term. It resulted in the Labour Party's first electoral victory, with Michael Joseph Savage becoming the first Labour Prime Minister...
.
He was Speaker of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
from 1923 to 1935. He is one of only three people to have held the office despite not being from the governing party. In 1923, as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
, but formerly a member of the Reform Party
New Zealand Reform Party
The Reform Party, formally the New Zealand Political Reform League, was New Zealand's second major political party, having been founded as a conservative response to the original Liberal Party...
, he was backed by Reform so as not to endanger the party's slim majority, and later retained his position under the Liberal Party
New Zealand Liberal Party
The New Zealand Liberal Party is generally regarded as having been the first real political party in New Zealand. It governed from 1891 until 1912. Out of office, the Liberals gradually found themselves pressed between the conservative Reform Party and the growing Labour Party...
. He was described as probably the greatest speaker the house has known (see reference), and was fair but firm during a stormy period.
He was created a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1926. He was appointed to the New Zealand Legislative Council
New Zealand Legislative Council
The Legislative Council of New Zealand was the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament from 1853 until 1951. Unlike the lower house, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was appointed.-Role:...
in 1936, but spoke rarely and did not take an active part in politics. He practiced law in Wellington after retiring, and died there in 1946.