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Suicide Squad (New Zealand)
The "suicide squad" was the group of New Zealand Legislative Councillors appointed in 1950 by Prime Minister Sidney Holland tasked with voting the New Zealand Legislative Council out of existence. The Legislative Council was a body appointed by the Prime Minister since the colonial days, and by the 1940s it was seen as ineffectual and obsolete. However, its abolition would involve a complex constitutional process, so Holland appointed new councillors with the task to draft the laws that would eventually dissolve the body, hence the nickname. On 1 December 1950, the Legislative Council met for the last time, and by a majority of ten voted itself out of existence; the Council was formally abolished on 1 January 1951. Abolition of the Upper House By the mid-20th century, the New Zealand Legislative Council was increasingly being looked on as ineffectual and making little difference to the legislative process, as it rarely criticised bills sent to it by the House. Many believed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of island countries, sixth-largest island country by area and lies east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and south of the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. The Geography of New Zealand, country's varied topography and sharp mountain peaks, including the Southern Alps (), owe much to tectonic uplift and volcanic eruptions. Capital of New Zealand, New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, and its most populous city is Auckland. The islands of New Zealand were the last large habitable land to be settled by humans. Between about 1280 and 1350, Polynesians began to settle in the islands and subsequently developed a distinctive Māori culture. In 1642, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight and record New Zealand. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Queensland Legislative Council
Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south, respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and the Pacific Ocean; to the state's north is the Torres Strait, separating the Australian mainland from Papua New Guinea, and the Gulf of Carpentaria to the north-west. With an area of , Queensland is the world's sixth-largest subnational entity; it is larger than all but 16 countries. Due to its size, Queensland's geographical features and climates are diverse, and include tropical rainforests, rivers, coral reefs, mountain ranges and white sandy beaches in its tropical and sub-tropical coastal regions, as well as deserts and savanna in the semi-arid and desert climatic regions of its interior. Queensland has a population of over 5.5 million, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Alexander Finlayson
John Alexander Finlayson (1890–1960) of Whangarei was appointed a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council on 22 June 1950. He was appointed as a member of the suicide squad The Suicide Squad is an antihero/supervillain team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first version of the Suicide Squad debuted in ''The Brave and the Bold'' #25 (September 1959) and the second and modern version, cre ... nominated by the First National Government in 1950 to vote for the abolition of the Council. Most of the new members (like Finlayson) were appointed on 22 June 1950, and served until 31 December 1950 when the Council was abolished. References 1890 births 1960 deaths Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council New Zealand National Party MLCs 20th-century New Zealand politicians {{NewZealand-politician-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bill Endean
William Phillips Endean (26 September 1883 – 19 June 1957) was a New Zealand politician, first of the Reform Party (New Zealand), Reform Party then from 1935 New Zealand general election, 1935 the New Zealand National Party, National Party. He failed to be selected for the and was the first sitting National MP with that fate, but was called to the New Zealand Legislative Council, Legislative Council in 1950 as part of the Suicide squad (New Zealand), Suicide squad. He was a lawyer by trade. Early life Endean was born in 1883 in Auckland. He was the son of John Endean, who made his money in gold mining in Australia, California and New Zealand. His father was later the proprietor of the Waitemata Hotel on the corner of Queen and Customs Street. His father built the Endeans Building on the corner of Queen and Quay Streets in Auckland in 1905, which was replaced after a fire in 1914–15; it is listed as a Category II heritage building. They lived in a large house in Symonds St ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harold Dickie
Harold Galt Dickie (1874 – 15 August 1954) was a New Zealand politician of the Reform Party and from 1936 of the National Party. Biography Dickie was born at Waverley, Taranaki in 1874. He attended the local school and farmed in the area until World War I, when he joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. After the war, he was instrumental in the development of the bobby calf industry. He represented the Patea electorate in Parliament from 1925 to 1943, when he retired. In 1950 he was appointed to the Legislative Council by National, as a member of the so-called suicide squad charged with voting for the abolition of the council (or Upper House). In 1935, Dickie was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for public and local government services, in the 1953 New Year Honours. The investiture was held almost a year later, on 29 December 1953, at the Auckland Town Hall and the honour was confer ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cyril Croker
Cyril Hendry Croker (27 March 1888 – 16 October 1958) was a New Zealand solicitor and member of the Legislative Council. He was a leading sportsman in his youth. He went to World War I in France in 1918 and returned to England sick within days. Active in the National Party, he was an electorate chairman for many years. In 1950, when the first First National Government wanted to disestablish the Legislative Council, Croker was appointed to that body as part of the suicide squad. Early life Croker was born in Christchurch on 27 March 1888. His parents were Diana Valentine and James Taylor Croker. His father spent his entire working life with the Loan and Mercantile Company and until 1899, he was based in Blenheim. Croker Jr attended Blenheim Borough School. When the family moved to Dunedin, Croker Jr attended Otago Boys' High School. He then attended law school at the University of Otago and sat his examinations in 1908. Croker was a sportsmen in his younger years and wo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Allan Cockerell
Allan Richmond Cockerell (21 November 1891 – 7 February 1975) was a New Zealand soldier and politician. He was appointed a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council on 22 June 1950. He was appointed as a member of the suicide squad nominated by the First National Government in 1950 to vote for the abolition of the Council. Most of the new members (like Cockerell) were appointed on 22 June 1950, and served until 31 December 1950 when the Council was abolished. As a second lieutenant serving with the Otago Battalion during World War I, Cockerell was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military award of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly throughout the Commonwealth, awarded for operational gallantry for highly successful command and leadership during active operations, typicall ..., for actions at Passchendaele on 12 October 1917. References 1891 births 1975 deaths New Zealand military personne ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cora Louisa Burrell
Cora Louisa Burrell (née Keetley, 19 June 1889 – 20 October 1962) from Christchurch was a National Party activist, on the Canterbury Division executive and a Dominion councillor. National Party historian Barry Gustafson said that she was "one of the most important and influential women in the party's early history." She was appointed a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council on 22 June 1950, one of three woman members of the suicide squad appointed by the First National Government in 1950 to vote for its abolition. The other women appointed in 1950 were Ethel Gould and Agnes Weston. Only two other women, Mary Anderson and Mary Dreaver, had ever been appointed to the Council (by Labour, in 1946). In the 1956 Queen's Birthday Honours, Burrell was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cheviot Bell
Cheviot Wellington Rangi Dillon Bell (18 August 1892 – 26 September 1960) was a New Zealand lawyer. He was appointed a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council in 1950 as part of National's suicide squad. Biography Bell was born in Wellington on 18 August 1892. His father was Sir Francis Bell, a Reform Party leader and later the first New Zealand-born Prime Minister. His mother was Caroline Bell (née Robinson), and his maternal grandfather was William Robinson. He was educated at Christ's College and the University of Cambridge, from where he graduated with a BA. Bell trained as a lawyer. In World War I he was in the 10th Royal Hussars and the Royal Flying Corps, and in World War II was Commandant of the RNZAF Training School at Woodbourne. He was appointed as a member of the suicide squad by the First National Government in 1950 to vote for the abolition of the Council. Most of the new members were appointed on 22 June 1950, but three more members, including Bel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Allen Alexander
Leonard Allen Alexander (26 September 1903 – 21 August 1968) was a New Zealand politician, appointed a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council on 22 June 1950. He was appointed as a member of the suicide squad nominated by the First National Government in 1950 to vote for the abolition of the Council. Most of the new members (like Alexander) were appointed on 22 June 1950, and served until 31 December 1950 when the Council was abolished. In 1953, Alexander was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal () is a commemorative medal instituted to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953. Award This medal was awarded as a personal souvenir from the Queen to members of the Royal Family .... References 1903 births 1968 deaths Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council New Zealand National Party MLCs 20th-century New Zealand politicians {{NewZealand-politician-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Southgate Allen
John Southgate Allen (3 January 1883 – 11 November 1955) of Tirau was appointed a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council on 27 July 1950. He was appointed as a member of the suicide squad The Suicide Squad is an antihero/supervillain team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first version of the Suicide Squad debuted in ''The Brave and the Bold'' #25 (September 1959) and the second and modern version, cre ... nominated by the First National Government in 1950 to vote for the abolition of the Council. Most of the new members were appointed on 22 June 1950, but three more members including Allen were appointed on 27 July 1950. References 1883 births 1955 deaths Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council New Zealand National Party MLCs {{NewZealand-politician-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Andrew Allen (New Zealand Politician)
Andrew Henson Allen (23 December 1876 – 6 August 1963) was a New Zealand businessman and politician. He served as mayor of Dunedin from 1938 to 1944, and was briefly a member of the Legislative Council. Biography Born in the Dunedin suburb of Caversham on 23 December 1876, Allen was the son of John Allen, originally from Woodbridge, Suffolk, England, who arrived in New Zealand in 1867, and his wife Ellen Allen (née Godso), originally from Birmingham, England. He was educated in Caversham, and then worked for Hallenstein Brothers for 10 years before joining his father in business as a partner in John Allan and Son. The firm of wholesale merchants and manufacturers' agents became a limited liability company—Allen, Son, and McClure Limited—in 1907, and Allen succeeded his father as managing director in 1912. On 13 January 1904, Allen married Etta Elaine Peacock at St Matthew's Church, Dunedin, and the couple went on to have two children. Allen served two terms as mayor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
