Edwin Purcell Meachen (11 November 1895 – 11 July 1970) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Biography

Early life and career

Meachen was born in

Whanganui Whanganui (; ), also spelled Wanganui, is a city in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The city is located on the west coast of the North Island at the mouth of the Whanganui River, New Zealand's longest navigable waterway. Whang ...

in 1895. He was educated at Christchurch Marist Brothers' School and worked as a builder afterwards. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

he served in the

New Zealand Expeditionary Force The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...

. He fought in Gallipoli and France and was wounded twice. He resumed building after the war and also represented Mid-Canterbury at rugby union (1921–23) and Canterbury at rugby league (1924). He then moved to the

King Country The King Country (Māori: ''Te Rohe Pōtae'' or ''Rohe Pōtae o Maniapoto'') is a region of the western North Island of New Zealand. It extends approximately from the Kawhia Harbour and the town of Otorohanga in the north to the upper reaches of ...

and was employed by the Ministry of Works building bridges and houses for railways. During this time he became active in the New Zealand Workers' Union and joined the Labour Party. In 1930 he relocated to Marlborough to construct a railway camp at

Wharanui Wharanui is a small village located in Marlborough on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island between Ward and Kaikoura. State Highway 1 and the Main North Line railway both pass through the village. For over a decade, Wharanui was the so ...

Political career

He represented the Marlborough electorates of Wairau from

1935 Events January * January 7 – Italian premier Benito Mussolini and French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval conclude an agreement, in which each power agrees not to oppose the other's colonial claims. * January 12 – Amelia Earhart bec ...

to 1938, and then Marlborough from 1938 to 1946 when he was defeated. He first stood for Wairau in

1931 Events January * January 2 – South Dakota native Ernest Lawrence invents the cyclotron, used to accelerate particles to study nuclear physics. * January 4 – German pilot Elly Beinhorn begins her flight to Africa. * January 22 – Sir I ...

. Meachen was Parliamentary

Under-Secretary Undersecretary (or under secretary) is a title for a person who works for and has a lower rank than a secretary (person in charge). It is used in the executive branch of government, with different meanings in different political systems, and is a ...

to the Minister of Works from 1945 to 1946. He was the

Mayor of Blenheim The mayor of Blenheim officiated over the borough of Blenheim, New Zealand. The office was created in 1869 when Blenheim became a borough, and ceased with the 1989 local government reforms, when Blenheim Borough was amalgamated with Picton Borou ...

from 1953 to 1962 and Chairman of the Marlborough Catchment Board from its inception in 1955 until his death 1970. He 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 contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

, for services to the community, particularly to local government, in the 1968 Queen's Birthday Honours.

Later life and death

Meachen died in 1970 and was buried at Omaka Cemetery, Blenheim.

Notes

References

*''Who’s Who in New Zealand'' (1961, 7th edition) * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Meachen, Edwin New Zealand Labour Party MPs 1895 births 1970 deaths People from Whanganui Mayors of Blenheim, New Zealand New Zealand MPs for South Island electorates Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Unsuccessful candidates in the 1951 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1946 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1931 New Zealand general election New Zealand Members of the Order of the British Empire Burials at Omaka Cemetery New Zealand military personnel of World War I New Zealand justices of the peace