Edward Withy was a Member of Parliament in 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...

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He represented the Auckland electorate of Newton

Newton (New Zealand electorate)

Newton was a 19th century parliamentary electorate in Auckland, New Zealand.-History:Newton existed from 1861 to 1893. It was created for the 3rd New Zealand Parliament and ran to the end of the 11th Parliament, and was represented by seven MPs:...

 from 1887

New Zealand general election, 1887

The New Zealand general election of 1887 was held on 26 September to elect 95 MPs to the tenth session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 7 September. 175,410 votes were cast....

 to 1890

New Zealand general election, 1890

The New Zealand general election of 1890 was one of New Zealand's most significant. It marked the beginning of party politics in New Zealand with the formation of the First Liberal government, which was to enact major welfare, labour and electoral reforms, including giving the vote to women.It was...

, when he retired.

He was a shipbuilder in England and in 1869 cofounded a shipbuilding partnership at Hartlepool

Hartlepool

Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...

 that eventually became part of Furness Withy

Furness Withy

Furness Withy was a major British transport business. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange.-History:The Company was founded by Christopher Furness and Henry Withy in 1891 in Hartlepool. This was achieved by the amalgamation of the Furness Line of steamers with the business of Edward Withy and...

. He sold the firm in 1884 and emigrated from England.

He was the father of Arthur Withy

Arthur Withy

-Political activity:Born in England in 1870, Withy arrived in New Zealand in 1884. He was a journalist and prominent single-taxer and follower of Henry George...

, journalist and political activist. Like his son, he was a single-taxer (i.e. a land tax) and follower of Henry George

Henry George

Henry George was an American writer, politician and political economist, who was the most influential proponent of the land value tax, also known as the "single tax" on land...

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