Ronald Algie
Encyclopedia
Sir Ronald Macmillan Algie (22 October 1888 – 23 July 1978) was a New Zealand
politician
who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives
for six years in the 1960s. He described himself as "a Tory
in the old tradition".
a small town in New Zealand's Southland region. He was educated in Arrowtown
and Balclutha
before attending the University of Auckland
. He gained an LLB
in 1913 and an LLM
in 1915. In 1920, he became the University of Auckland's first Professor of Law, aged thirty-one. He was noted for his strong intellectual performance, and also for his conservative
views.
government of the time. The Freedom Association quickly became linked to the new National Party
, and Algie became one of the party's more prominent supporters. In the 1943 elections
, Algie was selected as the National Party's candidate for the Remuera
seat, controversially displacing sitting National MP William Endean. Algie won the seat and entered Parliament
.
Algie proved to be a skilled Parliamentary debater, and has been described by Hugh Templeton
as the best debater of his time. Even opponents such as Bob Semple
respected Algie's rhetoric
al abilities. He was also noted for remaining polite throughout debates, and for his willingness to apologise for any offence he accidentally gave.
, when Sidney Holland
formed the first National government, Algie was immediately elevated to Cabinet
. He was initially appointed Minister of Education
, and later became Minister of Broadcasting and Minister of Scientific and Industrial Research. He also co-led the committee that looked into the future of the Legislative Council
, the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament, which was abolished from 1951. In the end, however, Algie's proposals for a Senate were not pursued, and New Zealand's parliament has not had an upper house since that time.
, which National lost. When National regained power after the 1960 election
, Algie is believed to have wanted the post of Minister of External Affairs
, but was not given it (possibly because of his age; he was seventy-two). Instead, he was convinced to take up the Speakership. He officially assumed office at the beginning of the 1961 parliamentary term.
As Speaker
, Algie was known for his strong insistence on politeness
in debates. He also undertook a number of reforms of Parliamentary procedure to accommodate the changing nature of politics
. He served six years as Speaker, retiring at the 1966 election
. He was generally praised for his performance in the role, and had been given a knighthood in 1964. Algie was succeeded in the Remuera seat by Allan Highet
.
Algie died in Auckland
on 23 July 1978.
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...
who served as 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...
for six years in the 1960s. He described himself as "a Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
in the old tradition".
Early life
Algie was born on 22 October 1888, in WyndhamWyndham, New Zealand
Wyndham is a rural town of 550 people in the South Island of New Zealand in the Southland region, 45 km east of Invercargill and 25 km south of Gore. The original Māori name of the locality was Mokoreta .Wyndham was named for General Sir Charles Ashe Windham who fought in the Crimean War...
a small town in New Zealand's Southland region. He was educated in Arrowtown
Arrowtown
Arrowtown is a historic gold mining town in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. Arrowtown is located on the banks of the Arrow River approximately 5 km from State Highway 6...
and Balclutha
Balclutha, New Zealand
Balclutha is a town in Otago, it lies towards the end of the Clutha River on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is about halfway between Dunedin and Invercargill on the Main South Line railway, State Highway 1 and the Southern Scenic Route...
before attending the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
. He gained an LLB
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
in 1913 and an LLM
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
in 1915. In 1920, he became the University of Auckland's first Professor of Law, aged thirty-one. He was noted for his strong intellectual performance, and also for his conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
views.
Member of Parliament
In 1937, Algie became the director of the Freedom Association, an organization which strongly opposed the left-wing Labour PartyNew 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....
government of the time. The Freedom Association quickly became linked to the new National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
, and Algie became one of the party's more prominent supporters. In the 1943 elections
New Zealand general election, 1943
The 1943 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 27th term. With the onset of World War II, elections were initially postponed, but it was eventually decided to hold a general election in September 1943, around two years after it...
, Algie was selected as the National Party's candidate for the Remuera
Remuera
Remuera is a residential suburban area within Auckland city, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located four kilometres to the southeast of the city centre...
seat, controversially displacing sitting National MP William Endean. Algie won the seat and entered Parliament
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
.
Algie proved to be a skilled Parliamentary debater, and has been described by Hugh Templeton
Hugh Templeton
Hugh Campbell Templeton QSO AO is a former New Zealand diplomat, politician and member of parliament for the National Party.-Early life and family:Templeton was born in Southland...
as the best debater of his time. Even opponents such as Bob Semple
Bob Semple
Robert "Bob" Semple was a union leader and later Minister of Public Works for the first Labour Government of New Zealand....
respected Algie's rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
al abilities. He was also noted for remaining polite throughout debates, and for his willingness to apologise for any offence he accidentally gave.
Cabinet minister
After the 1949 electionNew Zealand general election, 1949
The 1949 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 29th term. It saw the governing Labour Party defeated by the opposition National Party...
, when Sidney Holland
Sidney Holland
Sir Sidney George Holland, GCMG, CH was the 25th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957.-Early life:...
formed the first National government, Algie was immediately elevated to Cabinet
New Zealand Cabinet
The Cabinet of New Zealand functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system...
. He was initially appointed Minister of Education
Minister of Education (New Zealand)
The Minister of Education is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the country's schools, and is in charge of the Ministry of Education.The present Minister is Anne Tolley, a member of the National Party.-History:...
, and later became Minister of Broadcasting and Minister of Scientific and Industrial Research. He also co-led the committee that looked into the future of the 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:...
, the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament, which was abolished from 1951. In the end, however, Algie's proposals for a Senate were not pursued, and New Zealand's parliament has not had an upper house since that time.
Speaker of the House
Algie briefly returned to Opposition after the 1957 electionNew Zealand general election, 1957
The 1957 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 32nd term. It saw the governing National Party narrowly defeated by the Labour Party...
, which National lost. When National regained power after the 1960 election
New Zealand general election, 1960
The 1960 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 33rd term. It saw the governing Labour Party defeated by the National Party, putting an end to the short second Labour government.-Background:...
, Algie is believed to have wanted the post of Minister of External Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs is a major ministerial portfolio in the government of New Zealand.The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Murray McCully, who was National Party Spokeperson of Foreign Affairs and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs. There are also Associate Minister roles...
, but was not given it (possibly because of his age; he was seventy-two). Instead, he was convinced to take up the Speakership. He officially assumed office at the beginning of the 1961 parliamentary term.
As Speaker
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...
, Algie was known for his strong insistence on politeness
Politeness
Politeness is best expressed as the practical application of good manners or etiquette. It is a culturally-defined phenomenon, and therefore what is considered polite in one culture can sometimes be quite rude or simply eccentric in another cultural context....
in debates. He also undertook a number of reforms of Parliamentary procedure to accommodate the changing nature of politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
. He served six years as Speaker, retiring at the 1966 election
New Zealand general election, 1966
The 1966 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 35th term. It saw the governing National Party win a third consecutive term in office...
. He was generally praised for his performance in the role, and had been given a knighthood in 1964. Algie was succeeded in the Remuera seat by Allan Highet
Allan Highet
David Allan Highet QSO was a New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1966 to 1984, representing the National Party for Remuera, holding the then largest majorities in the House.-Early life and family:...
.
Algie died in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
on 23 July 1978.
Further reading
- This tract lists the views of several prominent politicians and educators, including Algie.