Angus McLagan (1891 – 4 September 1956) was a New Zealand politician of the
Labour Party. He was a member of the
Legislative Council
A legislative council is the legislature, or one of the legislative chambers, of a nation, colony, or subnational division such as a province or state. It was commonly used to label unicameral or upper house legislative bodies in the Brit ...
and later Member of Parliament for
Riccarton Riccarton may refer to:
New Zealand
* Riccarton, New Zealand, a suburb of Christchurch
** Riccarton (New Zealand electorate), the electorate named after it
** The location of Riccarton Race Course
* a locality on the Taieri Plains in Otago
Scot ...
. He was a cabinet minister from 1942 to 1949 in the
First Labour Government.
Biography
Early life and career
McLagan was born in the Scottish village of
Mid Calder, Midlothian, and left school at fourteen to work in the West Calder mines. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1911 and settled in
Greymouth
Greymouth () (Māori language, Māori: ''Māwhera'') is the largest town in the West Coast, New Zealand, West Coast List of regions in New Zealand, region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The populat ...
. He worked in the Grey Valley mines before briefly moving to
Brunner, but he moved back to Greymouth in 1938. In 1940 he shifted again to
Rangiora
Rangiora is the largest town and seat of the Waimakariri District, in Canterbury Region, Canterbury, New Zealand. It is north of Christchurch, and is part of the Christchurch metropolitan area. With an estimated population of Rangiora is the ...
before finally moving to
Christchurch
Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...
in 1947.
He was an active trade unionist all his life. In 1927 he was elected as the first Secretary of the United Mine Workers of New Zealand, holding the position until 1935. In 1937 he was elected as the inaugural President of the New Zealand Federation of Labour (FOL) until 1946 when he resigned.
Political career
His political career began in local-body politics. He was a member of both the Greymouth Borough Council and
Brunner Borough Council.
McLagan was appointed to the
Legislative Council
A legislative council is the legislature, or one of the legislative chambers, of a nation, colony, or subnational division such as a province or state. It was commonly used to label unicameral or upper house legislative bodies in the Brit ...
in 1942 by Prime Minister
Peter Fraser
Peter Fraser (; 28 August 1884 – 12 December 1950) 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 Lab ...
until he resigned from it in 1946 to contest a seat in the lower house.
From 1944 to 1947 he was
Leader of the Legislative Council. During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, from 1942 to 1946, he was Minister of National Service and Minister of Industrial Manpower.
Following his resignation from the Legislative Council he was elected to the
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...
as member for the
Riccarton Riccarton may refer to:
New Zealand
* Riccarton, New Zealand, a suburb of Christchurch
** Riccarton (New Zealand electorate), the electorate named after it
** The location of Riccarton Race Course
* a locality on the Taieri Plains in Otago
Scot ...
electorate from the
1946 general election to 1956, when he died. Following the 1946 election he was appointed by Fraser as
Minister of Labour Minister of labour (in British English) or labor (in American English) is typically a cabinet-level position with portfolio responsibility for setting national labour standards, labour dispute mechanisms, employment, workforce participation, traini ...
,
Minister of Immigration, Minister of Employment and Minister of Mines.
Following Labour's defeat at the
1949 general election he was a member of the opposition frontbench under first Fraser and later
Walter Nash
Sir Walter Nash (12 February 1882 – 4 June 1968) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 27th prime minister of New Zealand in the Second Labour Government from 1957 to 1960. He is noted for his long period of political service, havi ...
.
In
1951
Events
January
* January 4 – Korean War: Third Battle of Seoul – Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul for the second time (having lost the Second Battle of Seoul in September 1950).
* January 9 – The Government of the Uni ...
he was nominated to stand for the deputy leadership of the party, but he declined the nomination.
A dour, squarely-built Scot, he was self-educated and well-read, and could write shorthand (which was useful in demolishing the speeches of opponents). He was grim and aloft; his speeches were cold, logical and often bitter; and some civil servants and others thought he had the best brain in Cabinet.
Death
McLagan was hospitalised in early August 1956 with a chest complaint. He died on 4 September 1956, survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.
Family
McLagan was married to Sophie McLagan (her second marriage). They had two daughters (Cissie Agnes McLagan, Margaret Bridget McLagan) and two sons (Angus and John Campbell (Jock) McLagan).
Notes
References
*
, -
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:McLagan, Angus
1891 births
1956 deaths
Local politicians in New Zealand
New Zealand Labour Party MPs
Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand
Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council
New Zealand Labour Party MLCs
New Zealand MPs for Christchurch electorates
Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
Scottish emigrants to New Zealand
People from West Lothian
20th-century New Zealand politicians