William Lee Martin
Encyclopedia
William Lee Martin, known as Lee Martin (1870–1950) was a New Zealand
politician of the Labour Party
.
He was unsuccessful when he stood for Hamilton
in 1925
, but in the Raglan by-election 1927 won Raglan
, which he held to 1931. He then lost it to Daniel Stewart Reid
of Reform, but won the seat back in the 1935 general election
.
He was Minister of Agriculture
from 1935 to 1940 in the First Labour Government
, but in 1940 resigned as an MP on health grounds.
He was appointed to the Legislative Council
in 1946, and served there until 1950.
Born in Oamaru, he was a painter and Secretary of the Wanganui Painters’ Union 1909-12, and was also a dairy farmer at Matangi in the Waikato and involved in the Farmers’ Union. He was in the Salvation Army and Methodist Church.
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 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 unsuccessful when he stood for Hamilton
Hamilton (New Zealand electorate)
Hamilton is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, which was replaced by Hamilton East and Hamilton West electorates.-Population centres:The electorate was mainly urban, covering the city of Hamilton.-History:...
in 1925
New Zealand general election, 1925
The New Zealand general election of 1925 was held 4 November to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 22nd session of the New Zealand Parliament...
, but in the Raglan by-election 1927 won Raglan
Raglan (New Zealand electorate)
-History:The Raglan electorate existed from 1861 to 1870, from 1911 to 1978, and then from 1984 to 1996.In 1996, Simon Upton who was then the MP for Raglan chose to become a list MP...
, which he held to 1931. He then lost it to Daniel Stewart Reid
Daniel Stewart Reid
Daniel Stewart Reid was a New Zealand politician of the Reform Party.He represented the Waikato electorate from 1925 to 1928, when he was defeated by Frederick Lye of the Liberal Party...
of Reform, but won the seat back in the 1935 general election
New Zealand general election, 1935
The 1935 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 25th term. It resulted in the Labour Party's first electoral victory, with Michael Joseph Savage becoming the first Labour Prime Minister...
.
He was Minister of Agriculture
Minister of Agriculture (New Zealand)
The Minister of Agriculture is a ministerial portfolio in the government of New Zealand. the Minister of Agriculture is David Carter, of the New Zealand National Party...
from 1935 to 1940 in the First Labour Government
First Labour Government of New Zealand
The First Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1935 to 1949. It set the tone of New Zealand's economic and welfare policies until the 1980s, establishing a welfare state, a system of Keynesian economic management, and high levels of state intervention...
, but in 1940 resigned as an MP on health grounds.
He was appointed to 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:...
in 1946, and served there until 1950.
Born in Oamaru, he was a painter and Secretary of the Wanganui Painters’ Union 1909-12, and was also a dairy farmer at Matangi in the Waikato and involved in the Farmers’ Union. He was in the Salvation Army and Methodist Church.