James Thorn
Encyclopedia
James Thorn was a New Zealand
politician of the Social Democratic Party
and the Labour Party
.
He was born in Christchurch
, educated at Christchurch Boys' High School
. He was a bugler in the third New Zealand Contingent to the Boer War
in 1900–1901; the experience turned him into a pacifist.
He worked in the Addington Workshops
and as a journalist. He was engaged in union and party activity, including 1909–1913 in England and Scotland. He became an organiser and candidate for the Social Democratic Party then the Labour Party. He was imprisoned for opposing conscription in World War I.
He represented the electorate of Thames
from 1935 to 1946 when the seat was abolished. From 1947 to 1950 he was High Commissioner to Canada, and was President of UNESCO
in 1949.
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 of the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (New Zealand)
The Social Democratic Party of New Zealand was an early left-wing political party. It existed only a short time before being amalgamated into the new Labour Party...
and the Labour Party
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....
.
He was born 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...
, educated at Christchurch Boys' High School
Christchurch Boys' High School
Christchurch Boys' High School is a single sex state secondary school in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is situated on a 12 hectare site between the suburbs of Riccarton and Fendalton, 4 kilometres to the west of central Christchurch. The school also provides boarding facilities for 130 boys, in a...
. He was a bugler in the third New Zealand Contingent to the Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
in 1900–1901; the experience turned him into a pacifist.
He worked in the Addington Workshops
Addington Workshops
The Addington Railway Workshops was a major railway facility established in the Christchurch suburb of Addington in May 1880 by the New Zealand Railways Department. The workshops were previously in Carlyle Street and closed in 1990.-Description:...
and as a journalist. He was engaged in union and party activity, including 1909–1913 in England and Scotland. He became an organiser and candidate for the Social Democratic Party then the Labour Party. He was imprisoned for opposing conscription in World War I.
He represented the electorate of Thames
Thames (New Zealand electorate)
Thames is a former New Zealand electorate, in the Thames-Coromandel District. It existed from 1871 to 1946.-Geographic coverage:The electorate is based on the town of Thames. At times, it covered the Coromandel Peninsula.-History:...
from 1935 to 1946 when the seat was abolished. From 1947 to 1950 he was High Commissioner to Canada, and was President of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in 1949.