Alexander Harris (New Zealand politician)

Alexander Harris (1878 – 24 August 1952) was a Member of Parliament for the Waitemata electorate in Auckland, New Zealand.

Birth and education

He was born in London in 1878, and educated at Dulwich College, London.[1][2]

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1911–1914 18th Waitemata Reform
1914–1919 19th Waitemata Reform
1919–1922 20th Waitemata Reform
1922–1925 21st Waitemata Reform
1925–1927 22nd Waitemata Reform
1927–1928 Changed allegiance to: Independent
1928–1931 23rd Waitemata Independent
1931–1935 24th Waitemata Independent

Alexander Harris represented Waitemata in the House of Representatives for 24 years from 1911 to 1935.[3][4]

Independent

In July 1927, Alex Harris publicly stated that he wanted more "freedom of action" and announced that he had "no intention of attending any caucuses of the Reform Party".[5][6]

Harris and his colleague, Vivian Potter, were opposed to Gordon Coates and his moves to introduce public ferries and buses to compete with private enterprise in Auckland; an approach they regarded as "socialist".[7] In retaliation, Coates removed Harris from his position as Chairman of the Commerce Select Committee.

Notes

  1. ^ The Evening Post (Wellington) 26 August 1952
  2. ^ The Daily Telegraph (Napier) 26 August 1952
  3. ^ Wilson 1985, p. 203.
  4. ^ Wood 1996, p. 92.
  5. ^ "Straying from Party". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LXIV, no. 19677. 1 July 1927. p. 10. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  6. ^ Bassett 1995, p. 124.
  7. ^ Bassett 1995, pp. 108f.

References

  • Bassett, Michael (1995). Coates of Kaipara. Auckland: Auckland University Press.
  • Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
  • Wood, G. Anthony, ed. (1996). Ministers and Members: In the New Zealand Parliament. Dunedin: Otago University Press.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Waitemata
1911–1935 		Succeeded by


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