Harry Lake
Encyclopedia
Harry Robson Lake a New Zealand
politician, served as Minister of Finance
for six years in the second National government
, in the 1960s. He died of a heart attack when only fifty-five years old.
Lake was father to two children, Richard Hartley Robson Lake and Mary-Rose Lake and Grandfather to three Oliver Harry Kent Lake, Benjamin Hartley Lake & Helen Ansell.
Lake was born in Christchurch
. He was educated at the University of Canterbury
, gaining a degree in commerce
. He established an accountancy
practice in 1943. After holding a number of roles within the National Party
's administration, he stood as the party's candidate for the Riccarton
seat in the 1949 elections
. Riccarton was regarded as a "safe" Labour Party
seat, and Lake was unsuccessful. In the 1951 elections
, however, Lake won the seat of Lyttelton
, which had been held by Labour for nearly forty years. While Lake held his seat in the 1954 elections
, he lost it in the 1957 elections
to Norman Kirk
(who later became Prime Minister).
In the 1960 elections
, which National won, Lake returned to Parliament as the MP for Fendalton
(a safe National seat). He was immediately elevated to Cabinet
by Prime Minister
Keith Holyoake
, becoming Minister of Finance
. As Lake possessed no ministerial experience before this point, his immediate appointment to one of the most powerful ministerial posts was remarkable. In recognition of his lack of experience, however, Lake was officially ranked sixth in Cabinet, a lower position than a Minister of Finance would normally expect.
Despite holding one of the most powerful political positions in the country, Lake never had a high public profile. In keeping with Holyoake's desire to maintain the status quo, Lake's tenure as Minister of Finance was relatively uneventful, with the primary focus being on stability. In 1964, Lake suffered his first heart attack, which reduced his energy somewhat but did not impair his ability to perform his role.
At the end of 1966, New Zealand encountered economic difficulties as the result of a collapse in export prices. Lake did not have a chance to respond to this problem, however — in February 1967, he suffered a second heart attack, and died. He was succeeded as Minister of Finance by Robert Muldoon
, and as MP for Fendalton by Eric Holland
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
politician, served as Minister of Finance
Minister of Finance (New Zealand)
The Minister of Finance is a senior figure within the government of New Zealand. The position is often considered to be the most important Cabinet role after that of the Prime Minister....
for six years in the second National government
Second National Government of New Zealand
The Second National Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1960 to 1972. It was a conservative government which sought mainly to preserve the economic prosperity and general stability of the early 1960s...
, in the 1960s. He died of a heart attack when only fifty-five years old.
Lake was father to two children, Richard Hartley Robson Lake and Mary-Rose Lake and Grandfather to three Oliver Harry Kent Lake, Benjamin Hartley Lake & Helen Ansell.
Lake was born in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. He was educated at the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
, gaining a degree in commerce
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
. He established an accountancy
Accountancy
Accountancy is the process of communicating financial information about a business entity to users such as shareholders and managers. The communication is generally in the form of financial statements that show in money terms the economic resources under the control of management; the art lies in...
practice in 1943. After holding a number of roles within the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
's administration, he stood as the party's candidate for the Riccarton
Riccarton (New Zealand electorate)
-Population centres:The electorate was in the south-western suburbs of Christchurch, New Zealand, and was based on the suburb of Riccarton.-History:The electorate was created in 1893, and existed to 1978 when it was abolished....
seat in the 1949 elections
New Zealand general election, 1949
The 1949 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 29th term. It saw the governing Labour Party defeated by the opposition National Party...
. Riccarton was regarded as a "safe" Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
seat, and Lake was unsuccessful. In the 1951 elections
New Zealand general election, 1951
The 1951 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 30th term. It saw the governing National Party remain in office, increasing its lead over the opposition Labour Party.-Background:...
, however, Lake won the seat of Lyttelton
Lyttelton (New Zealand electorate)
Lyttelton is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It existed from 1853–90, and again from 1893–1996, when it was replaced by the Banks Peninsula electorate.-Population Centres:...
, which had been held by Labour for nearly forty years. While Lake held his seat in the 1954 elections
New Zealand general election, 1954
The 1954 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 31st term. It saw the governing National Party remain in office, but with a slightly reduced majority...
, he lost it in the 1957 elections
New Zealand general election, 1957
The 1957 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 32nd term. It saw the governing National Party narrowly defeated by the Labour Party...
to Norman Kirk
Norman Kirk
Norman Eric Kirk was the 29th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1972 until his sudden death in 1974. He led the Parliamentary wing of the New Zealand Labour Party from 1965 to 1974. He was the fourth Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand, but the first to be born in New Zealand...
(who later became Prime Minister).
In the 1960 elections
New Zealand general election, 1960
The 1960 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 33rd term. It saw the governing Labour Party defeated by the National Party, putting an end to the short second Labour government.-Background:...
, which National won, Lake returned to Parliament as the MP for Fendalton
Fendalton (New Zealand electorate)
Fendalton is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It existed during two periods between 1946 and 1996. The electorate was in the western suburbs of Christchurch, New Zealand...
(a safe National seat). He was immediately elevated to Cabinet
New Zealand Cabinet
The Cabinet of New Zealand functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system...
by Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
Keith Holyoake
Keith Holyoake
Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, KG, GCMG, CH, QSO, KStJ was a New Zealand politician. The only person to have been both Prime Minister and Governor-General of New Zealand, Holyoake was National Party Prime Minister from 20 September 1957 to 12 December 1957, then again from 12 December 1960 to 7...
, becoming Minister of Finance
Minister of Finance (New Zealand)
The Minister of Finance is a senior figure within the government of New Zealand. The position is often considered to be the most important Cabinet role after that of the Prime Minister....
. As Lake possessed no ministerial experience before this point, his immediate appointment to one of the most powerful ministerial posts was remarkable. In recognition of his lack of experience, however, Lake was officially ranked sixth in Cabinet, a lower position than a Minister of Finance would normally expect.
Despite holding one of the most powerful political positions in the country, Lake never had a high public profile. In keeping with Holyoake's desire to maintain the status quo, Lake's tenure as Minister of Finance was relatively uneventful, with the primary focus being on stability. In 1964, Lake suffered his first heart attack, which reduced his energy somewhat but did not impair his ability to perform his role.
At the end of 1966, New Zealand encountered economic difficulties as the result of a collapse in export prices. Lake did not have a chance to respond to this problem, however — in February 1967, he suffered a second heart attack, and died. He was succeeded as Minister of Finance by Robert Muldoon
Robert Muldoon
Sir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...
, and as MP for Fendalton by Eric Holland
Eric Holland (politician)
Eric Sidney Fostyn Holland is a New Zealand politician who served as cabinet minister and was an elected member of the Parliament of New Zealand from 1967 to 1981....
.
External links
- Research paper on Lake's term as Finance Minister by Brian Easton