Thomas Mason Wilford
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Mason Wilford, KC (20 June 1870 – 22 June 1939) was a New Zealand
politician. He held the seats of Wellington Suburbs
then Hutt
continuously for thirty years, from 1899 to 1929. Wilford was leader of the New Zealand Liberal Party
, and Leader of the Opposition
from 1920 to 1925.
continuously for thirty years, from 1899 to 1929, and also served briefly as Mayor of Wellington
in 1910-11.
He was elected to the Wellington Suburbs
seat in the 1896 General Election
, but the result was declared void after an election petition on the grounds of corrupt and illegal practices. Charles Wilson
was elected MP for that electorate following a by-election on 23 April 1897.
Wilford then won the Wellington Suburbs
seat in 1899 and the new Hutt
seat from 1902, which he held until he resigned on 18 November 1929.
National government from 14 November 1917 to 22 August 1919, and also Minister in Charge of Police and Inspection of Machinery from 9 April 1918.
From 10 December 1928 to 28 May 1930 he was Minister of Justice
, Minister of Defence
and Minister in Charge of the Police, Prisons and War Pensions Department in Ward
's Ministry. He "had a long-standing interest in naval policy, especially the Singapore Base, ... had travelled extensively in the Pacific and the Far East", and he "was regarded as something of a specialist in Far Eastern questions."
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 held the seats of Wellington Suburbs
Wellington Suburbs
Wellington Suburbs was a parliamentary electorate in Wellington, New Zealand from 1893 to 1946.The electorate was represented by six Members of Parliament.-Members of Parliament for Wellington Suburbs:-References:...
then Hutt
Hutt (New Zealand electorate)
Hutt was a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It was one of the original electorates in 1853 and existed during two periods until 1978. It was represented by 13 Members of Parliament.-Population centres:...
continuously for thirty years, from 1899 to 1929. Wilford was leader of the New Zealand Liberal Party
New Zealand Liberal Party
The New Zealand Liberal Party is generally regarded as having been the first real political party in New Zealand. It governed from 1891 until 1912. Out of office, the Liberals gradually found themselves pressed between the conservative Reform Party and the growing Labour Party...
, and Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand)
The Leader of the Opposition in New Zealand is the politician who, at least in theory, commands the support of the non-government bloc of members in the New Zealand Parliament. In the debating chamber the Leader of the Opposition sits directly opposite the Prime Minister...
from 1920 to 1925.
Member of Parliament
He represented the seat of HuttHutt (New Zealand electorate)
Hutt was a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It was one of the original electorates in 1853 and existed during two periods until 1978. It was represented by 13 Members of Parliament.-Population centres:...
continuously for thirty years, from 1899 to 1929, and also served briefly as Mayor of Wellington
Mayor of Wellington
The Mayor of Wellington is the head of the municipal government of Wellington, New Zealand, and presides over the Wellington City Council. The Mayor of Wellington administers only Wellington City itself — other municipalities in adjacent areas of the Wellington Region such as Lower Hutt, Upper...
in 1910-11.
He was elected to the Wellington Suburbs
Wellington Suburbs
Wellington Suburbs was a parliamentary electorate in Wellington, New Zealand from 1893 to 1946.The electorate was represented by six Members of Parliament.-Members of Parliament for Wellington Suburbs:-References:...
seat in the 1896 General Election
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...
, but the result was declared void after an election petition on the grounds of corrupt and illegal practices. Charles Wilson
Charles Wilson (New Zealand)
Charles Wilson was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party.Thomas Wilford of the Liberal Party won the Wellington Suburbs seat in the 1896 election, but he was declared guilty of corrupt practices after an electoral petition and the election was declared void.At the...
was elected MP for that electorate following a by-election on 23 April 1897.
Wilford then won the Wellington Suburbs
Wellington Suburbs
Wellington Suburbs was a parliamentary electorate in Wellington, New Zealand from 1893 to 1946.The electorate was represented by six Members of Parliament.-Members of Parliament for Wellington Suburbs:-References:...
seat in 1899 and the new Hutt
Hutt (New Zealand electorate)
Hutt was a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It was one of the original electorates in 1853 and existed during two periods until 1978. It was represented by 13 Members of Parliament.-Population centres:...
seat from 1902, which he held until he resigned on 18 November 1929.
Minister
He was Minister of Justice, Marine and Stamps in the World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
National government from 14 November 1917 to 22 August 1919, and also Minister in Charge of Police and Inspection of Machinery from 9 April 1918.
From 10 December 1928 to 28 May 1930 he was Minister of Justice
Minister of Justice (New Zealand)
The Minister of Justice is a minister in the government of New Zealand. The minister has responsibility for the formulation of justice policy and for the administration of law courts....
, Minister of Defence
Minister of Defence (New Zealand)
The Minister of Defence is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the New Zealand armed forces and the Ministry of Defence.The present Minister is Dr...
and Minister in Charge of the Police, Prisons and War Pensions Department in Ward
Joseph Ward
Sir Joseph George Ward, 1st Baronet, GCMG was the 17th Prime Minister of New Zealand on two occasions in the early 20th century.-Early life:...
's Ministry. He "had a long-standing interest in naval policy, especially the Singapore Base, ... had travelled extensively in the Pacific and the Far East", and he "was regarded as something of a specialist in Far Eastern questions."