George John Smith
Encyclopedia
George John Smith CBE
was a New Zealand
Member of Parliament
for the City of Christchurch electorate
in the South Island
, and later a member of the Legislative Council.
in County Durham
and educated at the Wesleyan Church
School in Newcastle upon Tyne
. Following that, he worked at the office of the Government solicitors.
He came to New Zealand
in 1879. He was a lawyer
and businessman in Christchurch
. He was a councillor on the Sydenham Borough Council. A strong prohibitionist, Smith was elected to the Sydenham
Licensing Committee in 1891, which was determined to refuse all licenses in the borough. Several members including Smith were removed from this position by order of the Supreme Court for "incurable bias".
, he came second in the three-member City of Christchurch electorate, and thus entered the New Zealand House of Representatives
. He was re-elected in 1896
(coming second in the electorate), but defeated in 1899
. He was returned to parliament again at the 1901 City of Christchurch by-election triggered by the resignation of Charles Lewis
. Smith was an Independent
MP for his entire parliamentary career.
He was awarded a CBE in 1918.
in 1907, and was a member from 1907 to 1914 and 1920 to 1932.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
was a New Zealand
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...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the City of Christchurch electorate
Christchurch (New Zealand electorate)
Christchurch was a parliamentary electorate in Christchurch, New Zealand. It existed three times. Originally it was the Town of Christchurch from 1853 to 1860. From the 1860–61 election to the 1871 election, it existed as City of Christchurch. It then existed from the 1875–76 election until the...
in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
, and later a member of the Legislative Council.
Early life
Smith was born in ConsettConsett
Consett is a town in the northwest of County Durham, England, about southwest of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is home to 27,394 .Consett sits high on the edge of the Pennines. In 1841, it was a village community of only 145, but it was about to become a boom town: below the ground was coking coal and...
in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
and educated at the Wesleyan Church
Wesleyan Church
"Wesleyan" has been used in the title of a number of historic and current denominations, although the subject of this article is the only denomination to use that specific title...
School in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
. Following that, he worked at the office of the Government solicitors.
He came to New Zealand
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...
in 1879. He was a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and businessman in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. He was a councillor on the Sydenham Borough Council. A strong prohibitionist, Smith was elected to the Sydenham
Sydenham, New Zealand
Sydenham is an inner suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, located two kilometres south of the city centre, on and around the city’s main street, Colombo Street...
Licensing Committee in 1891, which was determined to refuse all licenses in the borough. Several members including Smith were removed from this position by order of the Supreme Court for "incurable bias".
Member of Parliament
Smith then stood for parliament. In the 1893 electionNew Zealand general election, 1893
The New Zealand general election of 1893 was held on Tuesday, 28 November in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 20 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 12th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
, he came second in the three-member City of Christchurch electorate, and thus entered the New Zealand House of Representatives
New Zealand House of Representatives
The New Zealand House of Representatives is the sole chamber of the legislature of New Zealand. The House and the Queen of New Zealand form the New Zealand Parliament....
. He was re-elected in 1896
New Zealand general election, 1896
The New Zealand general election of 1896 was held on Wednesday, 4 December in the general electorates, and on Thursday, 19 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 13th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
(coming second in the electorate), but defeated in 1899
New Zealand general election, 1899
The New Zealand general election of 1899 was held on Wednesday, 6 December in the general electorates, and on Tuesday, 19 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 14th session of the New Zealand Parliament. A total number of 373,744 voters turned out to...
. He was returned to parliament again at the 1901 City of Christchurch by-election triggered by the resignation of Charles Lewis
Charles Lewis (New Zealand)
Charles Lewis was an independent conservative Member of Parliament in New Zealand.-Early life:Lewis was born in Christchurch and attended Christ's College in his home city, and Clifton and Malvern Colleges in England. He inherited his father's farm in Halswell. Lewis retired to Waipukurau, in the...
. Smith was 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...
MP for his entire parliamentary career.
He was awarded a CBE in 1918.
Legislative Council
Smith was appointed to the Legislative CouncilNew 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 1907, and was a member from 1907 to 1914 and 1920 to 1932.