Robert Masters (15 June 1879 – 29 June 1967) was a New Zealand politician of the

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * Generally, a supporter of the political philosophy liberalism. Liberals may be politically left or right but tend to be centrist. * An adherent of a Liberal Party (See also Liberal parties by country ...

and later

United United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...

parties, as well as a cabinet minister.

Biography

Early life and career

Masters was born in 1879 at

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 ...

and was educated at Greymouth Boys' College. Around 1896 he moved to Stratford where he became a storekeeper with his father, Jonas Masters. He played representative rugby, and later, was a member of the

Taranaki Rugby Football Union The Taranaki Rugby Football Union (TRFU, Taranaki Rugby) is the governing body for rugby union in Taranaki, New Zealand. Established in 1885, it is based in New Plymouth. The union's traditional colours are amber and black. The Taranaki Bulls ...

, executive. Masters was also a member of the executive of the Stratford

Chamber of Commerce A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to a ...

. On 3 May 1906 he was married to Alice Gertrude Hopkins in Stratford. Interested in agricultural matters, he was a member of Stratford's Agricultural and pastoral Association of which he had been both president and treasurer. He helped set up the Stratford

model farm A demonstration farm, experimental farm or model farm, is a farm which is used primarily to research or demonstrate various agricultural techniques, with any economic gains being an added bonus. Demonstration farms are often owned and operated by ...

and later a member of its executive. Masters was chairman of directors of the Stratford Electric Lighting Company, until it entered the ownership of the Stratford Borough Council.

Political career

Masters entered politics via local government. In 1916 he was elected a member of the Taranaki Board of Education, and became its chairman by the end of the same year. Masters represented the

Taranaki Taranaki is a regions of New Zealand, region in the west of New Zealand's North Island. It is named after its main geographical feature, the stratovolcano Mount Taranaki, Taranaki Maunga, formerly known as Mount Egmont. The main centre is the ...

electorate of Stratford from for the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

; though the result was declared void in the following year, he won the subsequent . Masters was a personal friend of Liberal Party leader George Forbes and the two went for daily walks together. He took on a mentoring role with Forbes for which he was mockingly dubbed 'His Master's Voice'. He was defeated by

Edward Walter Edward Walter (15 January 1866 – 30 January 1932) was a New Zealand politician from Taranaki. Life Walter was born on 14 January 1866 in Stratton, Cornwall, England, and baptised on 8 February 1866, in Stratton Parish Church. He was the son ...

in 1925. After losing his seat he remained politically active and was involved in setting up the United Party, which succeeded the Liberal Party in 1928. Notably he was the chairman of the September 1928 convention in

Wellington Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the third-largest city in New Zealand (second largest in the North Island ...

that launched the party's formal existence, decided its policies and where delegates elected former Prime Minister Sir

Joseph Ward Sir Joseph George Ward, 1st Baronet, (26 April 1856 – 8 July 1930) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 17th prime minister of New Zealand from 1906 to 1912 and from 1928 to 1930. He was a dominant figure in the New Zealand Liber ...

as its leader. He also negotiated successfully to bring about co-operation with several independent MPs and candidates (such as

Harry Atmore Harry Atmore (14 December 1870 – 20 August 1946) was a New Zealand Independent Member of Parliament for Nelson in the South Island. He held the Nelson seat as an Independent for a total of thirty years from 1911 to 1914 and then from 191 ...

William Polson Sir William John Polson (6 June 1875 – 8 October 1960) was a New Zealand politician, first as an Independent and then in the National Party. He joined the National Party on its formation in 1936, and "later acted effectively as Holland's de ...

and Charles Wilkinson) to support the United Party in the house. Masters was appointed to the

New Zealand Legislative Council The New Zealand Legislative Council () was the upper house of the General Assembly of New Zealand between 1853 and 1951. An earlier arrangement of New Zealand Legislative Council (1841–1853), legislative councils for the colony and provinces ...

on 11 June 1930 and served for one seven-year term. When Ward retired as Prime Minister his successor, Forbes, added Masters to the cabinet on 20 August 1930 as a

Minister without portfolio A minister without portfolio is a government minister without specific responsibility as head of a government department. The sinecure is particularly common in countries ruled by coalition governments and a cabinet with decision-making authorit ...

. In the Forbes Ministry, he was a Member of the Executive Council without portfolio from 1930 to 1931. When the United and Reform Party decided on entering in to a coalition, Forbes relied on Masters heavily for support during the tense negotiations that created the United-Reform Coalition government in 1931. In the coalition government, he was both

Minister of Education An education minister (sometimes minister of education) is a position in the governments of some countries responsible for dealing with educational matters. Where known, the government department, ministry, or agency that develops policy and deli ...

and

Minister of Industries and Commerce The Minister of Industries and Commerce in 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 Ne ...

. At the he was the United Party's campaign chairman. He was frequently called on to resolve selection disputes as part of the coalition agreement with Reform was to not oppose each others MPs. He had to work with the Reform leadership to make sure that in as many electorates as possible there was only one "anti-Labour" candidate to avoid

vote splitting In social choice theory and politics, a spoiler effect happens when a losing candidate affects the results of an election simply by participating. Voting rules that are not affected by spoilers are said to be spoilerproof. The frequency and se ...

. In 1935, Masters was awarded the

King George V Silver Jubilee Medal The King George V Silver Jubilee Medal is a commemorative medal, instituted to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the accession of King George V. Issue This medal was awarded as a personal souvenir by King George V to commemorate his Silver Ju ...

. In the

1953 Coronation Honours The 1953 Coronation Honours were appointments by Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours on the occasion of her coronation on 2 June 1953. The honours were published in '' The London Gazette'' on 1 June 1953.New Zealand list: The rec ...

, he was appointed a

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince of Wales (the future King George IV), while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George I ...

, for public services.

Later life and death

In 1957 he was appointed to the Electricity and Gas Co-ordination Board by the first National government. He was also the patron of the New Zealand Federation of Wholesale Hardware Guilds. He died in Stratford on 29 June 1967, aged 88. His wife had predeceased him on 27 May 1962.

Notes

References

* * 1879 births 1967 deaths New Zealand Liberal Party MPs Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council People from Taranaki New Zealand Liberal Party MLCs Ministers of education of New Zealand Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates New Zealand Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Unsuccessful candidates in the 1925 New Zealand general election {{NewZealand-Liberal-politician-stub