Peter Gordon (politician)
John Bowie Gordon QSO (23 July 1921 – 17 March 1991), known as Peter Gordon, was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.
Peter Gordon | |
|---|---|
| 10th Minister of Transport | |
| In office 12 December 1966 – 8 December 1972 | |
| Prime Minister | Keith Holyoake Jack Marshall |
| Preceded by | John McAlpine |
| Succeeded by | Basil Arthur |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Clutha | |
| In office 1960–1978 | |
| Preceded by | James Roy |
| Succeeded by | Robin Gray |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Bowie Gordon 23 July 1921[1] Stratford, New Zealand |
| Died | 17 March 1991 (aged 69) |
| Political party | National |
| Parent(s) | William Gordon Doris Gordon |
| Relatives | Graham Gordon (brother) |
Biography
Gordon was born in Stratford in 1921 to Stratford doctors William and Doris Gordon. Like his two brothers, he attended St Andrew's College, Christchurch, where he was a boarder from 1935 to 1937.[2] He then attended Lincoln College and the Nuffield School in farming in Crookston, Minnesota.[3]
In World War II, he was a flight lieutenant and pilot for the Royal New Zealand Air Force.[3] After the war, he was a farmer and joined many organisations, where he had leading roles with the West Otago A & P Association (president), Farmers' Mutual Insurance (director, 1952–1960), and Shaw, Savill & Company (member of the New Zealand Advisory Board, 1956–1960).[3]
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960–1963 | 33rd | Clutha | National | ||
| 1963–1966 | 34th | Clutha | National | ||
| 1966–1969 | 35th | Clutha | National | ||
| 1969–1972 | 36th | Clutha | National | ||
| 1972–1975 | 37th | Clutha | National | ||
| 1975–1978 | 38th | Clutha | National | ||
Gordon was the Member of Parliament for Clutha from 1960 to 1978, when he retired for health reasons.[3][4] With Robert Muldoon and Duncan MacIntyre he was one of the three 'Young Turks' of the National Party, a "ginger group" who entered Parliament in 1960.[5]
In 1966 the Prime Minister at the time Keith Holyoake promoted Gordon to the Cabinet,[6] along with several other backbenchers including future Prime Minister Robert Muldoon.[7] In the Second National Government under Keith Holyoake, he was made Minister of Railways (1966–1972), Minister of Transport (1966–1972), and Minister of Civil Aviation (1966–1968).[8] He maintained the transport and railways portfolios under Jack Marshall in 1972, and was made Minister of Marine and Fisheries.[9]
In the Third National Government under Muldoon, Gordon was from 1975 Minister of Labour and Minister of State Services until his retirement in 1978.[10] He was made a Privy Councillor in 1978,[4] and a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services in the 1990 New Year Honours.[11] He died in 1991.
Notes
- Who's who in the World (Volume 18 ed.). Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, Inc. 1982.
- St Andrew’s College 1916-1966 (1968, Christchurch) No 1058 p. 208
- Gustafson 1986, p. 315.
- Wilson 1985, p. 200.
- "Obituary: Duncan MacIntyre". The New Zealand Herald. 16 June 2001. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- James, Colin (20 January 2004). "Clark's Cabinet must be refreshed to maintain its vigour". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- James, Colin (12 September 2005). "New blood needed to hold on to power". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- Wilson 1985, p. 90.
- Wilson 1985, p. 91.
- Wilson 1985, p. 94.
- "No. 51982". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 30 December 1989. p. 31.
References
- Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
- Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.