Hugh Watt
Encyclopedia
Hugh Watt was a Labour
member of Parliament and Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
from 1972 – 1974. He was briefly the Acting Prime Minister of New Zealand between 1 September 1974 – 6 September 1974 following the death of Norman Kirk
.
, Michael Joseph Savage
, Bob Semple
and Paddy Webb
and later MPs such as Mabel Howard
and Clarence Skinner
.
from 1953 (after a by-election) to 1975. He retired at the 1975 general election
in favour of Frank Rogers
.
Watt was appointed New Zealand's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom effective from 22 March 1975 for three years. Controversially, he stayed on as a member of parliament and Cabinet Minister. In June 1975, Watt was asked if he was about to resign as an MP. He stated that:
"If I were to resign now as a Member of Parliament [for Onehunga] it would mean that I would lose my Cabinet status and the unique position that I have as High Commissioner with Executive Council rank that gives me access to British Government Ministers."
When Robert Muldoon
's government was elected on 29 November 1975, the incoming Prime Minister promptly fired him.
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....
member of Parliament and Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand is second most senior officer in the Government of New Zealand, although this seniority does not necessarily translate into power....
from 1972 – 1974. He was briefly the Acting Prime Minister of New Zealand between 1 September 1974 – 6 September 1974 following the death of 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...
.
Early life
He was Australian-born, like Labour Party founders such as Harry HollandHarry Holland
Henry Edmund Holland was a New Zealand politician and unionist. He was the first leader of the New Zealand Labour Party.-Early life:...
, Michael Joseph Savage
Michael Joseph Savage
Michael Joseph Savage was the first Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand.- Early life :Born in Tatong, Victoria, Australia, Savage first became involved in politics while working in that state. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1907. There he worked in a variety of jobs, as a miner, flax-cutter and...
, Bob Semple
Bob Semple
Robert "Bob" Semple was a union leader and later Minister of Public Works for the first Labour Government of New Zealand....
and Paddy Webb
Paddy Webb
Patrick Charles "Paddy" Webb was a New Zealand trade unionist and politician.-Early life:Webb was born in Rutherglen, a small town in the Australian state of Victoria. His father, George Webb, was a miner, and Paddy Webb eventually worked in the mines himself...
and later MPs such as Mabel Howard
Mabel Howard
|-...
and Clarence Skinner
Clarence Skinner (politician)
Clarence Farrington Skinner, MC, was a Labour politician from New Zealand, former Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and a Minister 1943 – 1949 and 1957 – 1960 in the First and Second Labour governments.-Personal information:Skinner was in the New Zealand Army in the Middle East in World War...
.
Political career
He represented the electorate of OnehungaOnehunga (New Zealand electorate)
Onehunga is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, in the city of Auckland.-Population centres:The electorate is urban, and comprises a number of suburbs in the southern part of Auckland.* -History:...
from 1953 (after a by-election) to 1975. He retired at the 1975 general election
New Zealand general election, 1975
The 1975 New Zealand general election was held to elect MPs to the 38th session of the New Zealand Parliament. It was the first election in New Zealand where 18-20 year olds and all permanent residents of New Zealand were eligible to vote, although only citizens were able to be...
in favour of Frank Rogers
Frank Lewis Rogers
Frank Lewis Rogers was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He was the Member of Parliament for Onehunga from 1975, replacing Hugh Watt. When he died in 1980, Fred Gerbic was elected to replace him in the ensuing by-election....
.
Watt was appointed New Zealand's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom effective from 22 March 1975 for three years. Controversially, he stayed on as a member of parliament and Cabinet Minister. In June 1975, Watt was asked if he was about to resign as an MP. He stated that:
"If I were to resign now as a Member of Parliament [for Onehunga] it would mean that I would lose my Cabinet status and the unique position that I have as High Commissioner with Executive Council rank that gives me access to British Government Ministers."
When 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...
's government was elected on 29 November 1975, the incoming Prime Minister promptly fired him.