The Right Honourable Sir William Joseph Jordan KCMG | |
---|---|
7th High Commissioner from New Zealand to the United Kingdom | |
In office 1 September 1936 –31 August 1951 | |
Preceded by | James Parr |
Succeeded by | Frederick Doidge |
11th President of the Labour Party | |
In office 1932–1933 | |
Leader | Harry Holland† Michael Joseph Savage |
Preceded by | Rex Mason |
Succeeded by | Frank Langstone |
Personal details | |
Born | Ramsgate, Kent, England | 9 May 1879
Died | 8 April 1959 79) Auckland, New Zealand | (aged
Political party | Labour Party |
Military service | |
Allegiance | New Zealand Army |
Rank | |
Battles/wars | World War I |
Sir William "Bill" Joseph Jordan KCMG PC (19 May 1879 – 8 April 1959) was a New Zealand Labour Party Member of Parliament, and New Zealand's longest-serving High Commissioner to Great Britain from 1936 to 1951.
The New Zealand Labour Party, or simply Labour, is a centre-left political party in New Zealand. The party's platform programme describes its founding principle as democratic socialism, while observers describe Labour as social-democratic and pragmatic in practice. It is a participant of the international Progressive Alliance.
Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of 209,331 km2 (80,823 sq mi), it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island, and the ninth-largest island in the world. In 2011, Great Britain had a population of about 61 million people, making it the world's third-most populous island after Java in Indonesia and Honshu in Japan. The island of Ireland is situated to the west of Great Britain, and together these islands, along with over 1,000 smaller surrounding islands, form the British Isles archipelago.
Jordan was born in Ramsgate, Kent, the son and grandson of sea captains. His father William Joseph Jordan was a member of the lifeboat crew that earned fame and exploits on the Goodwin Sands. His mother was Elizabeth Ann Catt. The decline of the local fishing industry forced the Jordan family to move to London. [1] William then attended St Lukes Parochial School, Old Street in London and wore the characteristic old-fashioned uniform which was well known. Aged 12 he left school (1892) and became an apprentice coach painter, from which he resigned on account of the scourge of lead poisoning. He then entered the postal service in 1896 and reached a responsible position at Mount Pleasant (headquarters of the Postal service). While there, he showed his preference in politics by joining the Fawcett Association. Jordan later joined the London Metropolitan Police and underwent training at Scotland Yard, afterwards being stationed at Limehouse in East End of London. He was also a member of the part-time 3rd London Rifle Volunteer Corps, rising to the rank of sergeant. [2]
Ramsgate is a seaside town in the district of Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century. In 2001 it had a population of about 40,000. Ramsgate’s main attraction is its coastline, and its main industries are tourism and fishing. The town has one of the largest marinas on the English south coast, and the Port of Ramsgate provided cross-channel ferries for many years.
Jordan emigrated to New Zealand in 1904, initially working as a labourer and bush farming. He joined the Labour Party in 1907, as the first secretary of the Wellington branch of the Party.
Unlike many other early Labour Party leaders, e.g. Harry Holland, Michael Joseph Savage and Peter Fraser, Jordan was not a conscientious objector. He enlisted in the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force in France in 1917. In March 1918, Jordan saw action for the first time, and suffered serious wounds in action two weeks later. He transferred to the Army Education Service, where he served as an instructor until the end of the war, returning to New Zealand in 1919.
Henry Edmund Holland was an Australian-born newspaper owner, politician and unionist who relocated to New Zealand. He was the second leader of the New Zealand Labour Party.
Michael Joseph Savage was a New Zealand politician who served as the 23rd Prime Minister of New Zealand, heading the First Labour Government from 6 December 1935 until his death.
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, or religion.
New Zealand Parliament | ||||
Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
1922 –1925 | 21st | Manukau | Labour | |
1925 –1928 | 22nd | Manukau | Labour | |
1928 –1931 | 23rd | Manukau | Labour | |
1931 –1935 | 24th | Manukau | Labour | |
1935 –1936 | 25th | Manukau | Labour |
In 1922, Jordan was surprisingly elected as one of 17 Labour Party MPs elected that year, winning the seat of Manukau increasing his majority at each of the four subsequent elections, until he had one of the largest votes and majorities. Jordan had an earlier unsuccessful attempt to win the Raglan seat for Labour in the 1919 general election. [3]
Manukau is a former New Zealand parliamentary electorate in the south Auckland Region. It existed from 1881 to 1978, with a break from 1938 to 1954. It was represented by nine Members of Parliament. Two by-elections were held in the electorate.
Raglan is a former New Zealand parliamentary electorate. It existed for three periods between 1861 and 1996 and during that time, it was represented by 13 Members of Parliament.
In early 1935 the Jordan affair pitted Jordan against the Auckland Labour Representation Committee when he proposed to stand for the Auckland Electric Power Board as an independent when the LRC decided not to nominate an official Labour candidate, but he was supported by Savage (Gustafson page 160).
Jordan was a diligent local MP, and held his seat until Labour won the Government benches in 1935. Jordan had expected to be elevated to Cabinet; instead he was appointed to the post of New Zealand High Commissioner to London, which had until that point been traditionally a retirement post for former Cabinet ministers; Labour being first elected to power in 1935 had no MPs with previous cabinet experience.
Jordan served as New Zealand's High Commissioner to London from September 1936 to 1951. Until 1941, London was New Zealand's only diplomatic posting, and Jordan became prominent as New Zealand's official representative overseas. Jordan was actively involved as New Zealand's representative to the League of Nations. Jordan served as President of the League of Nations in 1938. While Europe was heading towards War, Jordan's public position was that war was inconceivable. In 1938 Jordan wrote to Prime Minister Savage, stating that "we shall not see war involving our Empire in our lifetime". Just before war broke out he spoke in similar terms in a broadcast to New Zealand. As he said six months later, right up to that date, "I could not believe that the world was so mad as to go to war." During his time on the League of Nations, he suggested in 1937 that the organization should intervene on Spain during the Spanish Civil War and then hold free and fair elections on the country, but the proposal has fallen on deaf ears within the organization. [4] [5]
Jordan was highly regarded during the War for his loyalty to New Zealand servicemen and women, and his care for soldiers.
Jordan's reputation among officials and Cabinet colleagues was much less warm. He frequently refused instructions from Wellington on the basis that remote officials at home could not accurately assess New Zealand's position. Jordan was loathed by his deputies, Major General W. G. Stevens and Dick Campbell. Secretary of External Affairs Alister McIntosh had frequent difficulties with Jordan. Deputy Prime Minister Walter Nash had feuds with Jordan, stemming from Nash's position representing the Prime Minister at international gatherings that Jordan felt was his own right to represent.
Despite this, Jordan remained a popular figure among the public in New Zealand. In 1949, with the Labour Party defeated from office, the incoming National Government decided to retain Jordan in his post, until 1951. He was knighted in 1952. He was a Christian Socialist and Methodist home missionary. He died in Auckland on 8 April 1959.
Sir Sidney George Holland was a New Zealand politician who served as the 25th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957. He was instrumental in the creation and consolidation of the New Zealand National Party, which was to dominate New Zealand politics for much of the second half of the 20th century.
Peter Fraser was a New Zealand politician who served as the 24th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 27 March 1940 until 13 December 1949. Considered a major figure in the history of the New Zealand Labour Party, he was in office longer than any other Labour prime minister, and is to date New Zealand's fourth-longest-serving head of government.
Sir Arnold Henry Nordmeyer, born Heinrich Arnold Nordmeyer, was a New Zealand politician. He served as Minister of Finance (1957–1960) and later as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition (1963–1965).
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Sir Thomas Lachlan Macdonald was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. He served in both World Wars. He was a High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
William Edward Parry was a New Zealand Minister and trade unionist.
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Sir Ernest Hyam Davis was a New Zealand businessman, and was Mayor of Auckland City from 1935 to 1941. He was also on other Auckland local bodies and on various philanthropic and sporting organisations. He was Mayor of Newmarket 1909–1910.
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Thomas Brindle was a British-born early activist for the New Zealand Labour Party who was jailed during World War I for speaking out against conscription. He was a member of Wellington City Council and stood for election to the House of Representatives five times. He was a member of the Legislative Council from 1936 until March 1950.
The New Zealand Labour Party leadership election, 1933 was held on 12 October 1933 to choose the third leader of the New Zealand Labour Party. The election was won by Auckland West MP and incumbent deputy-leader Michael Joseph Savage.
The Lee Affair was an event that transpired in the late 1930s in New Zealand revolving around Labour Party MP John A. Lee's repeated vocal, public critiquing of his party's leadership. The affair culminated with Lee's expulsion from the Labour Party who then formed his own Democratic Labour Party causing a sizeable rift in party membership.
New Zealand Parliament | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Frederic Lang | Member of Parliament for Manukau 1922–1936 | Succeeded by Arthur Osborne |
Party political offices | ||
Preceded by Rex Mason | President of the Labour Party 1932–1933 | Succeeded by Frank Langstone |
Preceded by Dan Sullivan | Senior Whip of the Labour Party 1935–1936 | Succeeded by Robert McKeen |
Diplomatic posts | ||
Preceded by James Parr | High Commissioner to the United Kingdom 1936–1951 | Succeeded by Frederick Doidge |