James Mackay (New Zealand politician)
Encyclopedia
James Mackay was a New Zealand
politician. He was a member of the 1st New Zealand Parliament
. He is remembered for the incident with Henry Sewell in Parliament in 1854.
on the Slains Castle in January 1845.
, the Town of Nelson was a two member electorate. On nomination day on 25 July 1853, William Travers and Mackay were the only candidates put forward. They were thus declared elected unopposed. Mackay served until the end of the first term in 1855, but did not serve in any subsequent Parliaments.
Mackay is noted for his support of the Acting Governor
, Robert Wynyard
, who argued that it was not possible for Parliament to assume responsibility for governing New Zealand without royal assent. When Parliament disagreed, Wynyard officially prorogued it. Parliament responded by suspending its own standing orders
. These orders required that messages from the Governor take precedence over other Parliamentary business.
With the standing orders overturned, Wynyard's message could remain officially "unopened" while Parliament continued to function. Mackay, part of the minority who supported Wynyard, attempted to bypass this tactic by presenting a copy of The New Zealand Gazette
which contained the prorogation order, shouting "you are no House, you are prorogued!". He then attempted to disrupt the business of Parliament until Henry Sewell
(later to become New Zealand's first Premier
) and another MP attempted to manhandle him out of the debating chamber. Mackay managed to escape, and (in the words of a contemporary) "beat an honourable retreat over the rail into the stranger's gallery, waving defiance to his assailants with his trusty umbrella." Mackay was later found guilty of "gross and premeditated contempt of the House".
Mackay was a member of the Nelson Provincial Council
from 1857 to 1861, representing the Town of Nelson electorate.
Mackay's first wife was Anne Mackay. She died in 1860, and Mackay married again. He died in 1875, and both he and his first wife are buried at St Andrew's Church in Wakapuaka. The church no longer exists, and the church yard was designated an historic site by Waimea District Council in 1975.
Their son, also James Mackay (1831–1912), was active in land purchase negotiations with Māori.
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. He was a member of the 1st New Zealand Parliament
1st New Zealand Parliament
The 1st New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. It opened on 24 May 1854, following New Zealand's first general election . It was dissolved on 15 September 1855 in preparation for that year's election...
. He is remembered for the incident with Henry Sewell in Parliament in 1854.
Early life
Mackay was born in Scotland in 1804. He came to NelsonNelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
on the Slains Castle in January 1845.
Political career
In the 1st New Zealand Parliament1st New Zealand Parliament
The 1st New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. It opened on 24 May 1854, following New Zealand's first general election . It was dissolved on 15 September 1855 in preparation for that year's election...
, the Town of Nelson was a two member electorate. On nomination day on 25 July 1853, William Travers and Mackay were the only candidates put forward. They were thus declared elected unopposed. Mackay served until the end of the first term in 1855, but did not serve in any subsequent Parliaments.
Mackay is noted for his support of the Acting Governor
Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
, Robert Wynyard
Robert Wynyard
Sir Robert Henry Wynyard was a New Zealand colonial administrator, serving at various times as Lieutenant Governor of New Ulster Province, Administrator of the Government, and was the first Superintendent of Auckland Province.-Lieutenant Governor of New Ulster:From 26 April 1851 to 7 March 1853,...
, who argued that it was not possible for Parliament to assume responsibility for governing New Zealand without royal assent. When Parliament disagreed, Wynyard officially prorogued it. Parliament responded by suspending its own standing orders
Parliamentary procedure
Parliamentary procedure is the body of rules, ethics, and customs governing meetings and other operations of clubs, organizations, legislative bodies, and other deliberative assemblies...
. These orders required that messages from the Governor take precedence over other Parliamentary business.
With the standing orders overturned, Wynyard's message could remain officially "unopened" while Parliament continued to function. Mackay, part of the minority who supported Wynyard, attempted to bypass this tactic by presenting a copy of The New Zealand Gazette
The New Zealand Gazette
The New Zealand Gazette - Te Kahiti o Aotearoa is the official newspaper of the Government of New Zealand. It is published every Thursday, and a Customs Edition is published each Tuesday. Special editions are published twice a year to cover the New Year Honours and Queen's Birthday Honours....
which contained the prorogation order, shouting "you are no House, you are prorogued!". He then attempted to disrupt the business of Parliament until Henry Sewell
Henry Sewell
Henry Sewell was a prominent 19th century New Zealand politician. He was a notable campaigner for New Zealand self-government, and is generally regarded as having been the country's first Premier, having led the Sewell Ministry in 1856.-Early life:Sewell was born on 7 September 1807 in the town of...
(later to become New Zealand's first Premier
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
) and another MP attempted to manhandle him out of the debating chamber. Mackay managed to escape, and (in the words of a contemporary) "beat an honourable retreat over the rail into the stranger's gallery, waving defiance to his assailants with his trusty umbrella." Mackay was later found guilty of "gross and premeditated contempt of the House".
Mackay was a member of the Nelson Provincial Council
Nelson Province
The Nelson Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-History:The Marlborough Province split away from the Nelson Province on 1 November 1859 because the majority of the income of the Provincial Council came from land sales in the...
from 1857 to 1861, representing the Town of Nelson electorate.
Outside politics
Mackay represented Lloyds in Nelson. He joined the volunteer forces and had the rank of captain. He farmed in Wakapuaka just north of Nelson until his death. He named his farm Drumduan.Mackay's first wife was Anne Mackay. She died in 1860, and Mackay married again. He died in 1875, and both he and his first wife are buried at St Andrew's Church in Wakapuaka. The church no longer exists, and the church yard was designated an historic site by Waimea District Council in 1975.
Their son, also James Mackay (1831–1912), was active in land purchase negotiations with Māori.