Joseph Harkness
Encyclopedia
Joseph George Harkness JP
(1851–1930) was a 19th century independent conservative Member of Parliament from Nelson
, New Zealand
.
Harkness, the son of William Harkness, was born and educated at Nelson, attending Richmond
School and Nelson College
(1867-1868). He became a school teacher for a time.
Harkness dairy farmed in Taranaki and helped organise the dairying industry. He was largely responsible for the co-operative dairy factory companys takeover of the Motorua Freezing Works, New Plymouth
. Harkness also helped build up of the National Dairy Association, of which he was its President, secretary, and manager. He secretary of the Dairy Producers Freezing Company from about 1919 to 1929 when he retired. From 1929 he resided Te Horo, Taranaki, where he owned a farm.
in the Waimea-Picton
electorate was contested by Arthur Seymour, Harkness and Charles H Mills
, who received 446, 444 and 415 votes, respectively. Seymour was thus elected. Harkness represented the Nelson electorate
from 1889 to 1893, when he retired. The 1890 general election
was contested by Harkness, John Kerr
and Francis William Flowerday, who received 672, 655 and 94 votes, respectively.
, Wellington for a number of years and was Mayor of the Onslow Borough in 1907. For some 30 years, he took, a prominent part in the business and public life of the City of Wellington, being a member of the Chamber of Commerce
for 26 years and its President three times in 1907, 1908, and 1918.
He was a member of the Wellington Harbour Board from February 1908 until his death at Midhurst on 9 January 1930. Initially Harkness was the Chamber of Commerce representative on the Board. When the Harbours Act changed the Board he was elected 1911 to represent the payers of harbour dues on goods for two years. He did not stand for reelection, but was appointed Government representative on the board, and held that position up to the time of his death. He was chairman of the Harbour Board from May 1919 to May 1923. As Board Chair, he was a member of the executive of the Harbours Association, and for a time its president.
Harkness was a convinced Prohibitionist and took an active part in the Temperance movement
all his life. He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity.
He was survived by his wife, four sons, and two daughters.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(1851–1930) was a 19th century independent conservative Member of Parliament from Nelson
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
, New Zealand
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...
.
Harkness, the son of William Harkness, was born and educated at Nelson, attending Richmond
Richmond, New Zealand
Richmond, the seat of the Tasman District Council, lies 13 km south of Nelson in the South Island of New Zealand, close to the southern extremity of Tasman Bay...
School and Nelson College
Nelson College
Nelson College is a boys-only state secondary school in Nelson, New Zealand. It teaches from years 9 to 13. In addition, it runs a private Preparatory School for year 7 and 8 boys...
(1867-1868). He became a school teacher for a time.
Harkness dairy farmed in Taranaki and helped organise the dairying industry. He was largely responsible for the co-operative dairy factory companys takeover of the Motorua Freezing Works, New Plymouth
New Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
. Harkness also helped build up of the National Dairy Association, of which he was its President, secretary, and manager. He secretary of the Dairy Producers Freezing Company from about 1919 to 1929 when he retired. From 1929 he resided Te Horo, Taranaki, where he owned a farm.
Political career
The 1887 general electionNew Zealand general election, 1887
The New Zealand general election of 1887 was held on 26 September to elect 95 MPs to the tenth session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 7 September. 175,410 votes were cast....
in the Waimea-Picton
Waimea-Picton
Wamea-Picton was a parliamentary electorate in the Marlborough Region of New Zealand, from 1887 to 1893.-History:The electorate was represented by two Members of Parliament, Arthur Seymour from 1887 to 1890 and Charles H Mills from 1890 to 1893....
electorate was contested by Arthur Seymour, Harkness and Charles H Mills
Charles H Mills
Charles Houghton Mills was a Member of Parliament for Waimea and Wairau, in the South Island of New Zealand.-Early life:...
, who received 446, 444 and 415 votes, respectively. Seymour was thus elected. Harkness represented the Nelson electorate
Nelson (New Zealand electorate)
Nelson is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. From 1853 to 1860, the electorate was called Town of Nelson. From 1860 to 1881, it was City of Nelson...
from 1889 to 1893, when he retired. The 1890 general election
New Zealand general election, 1890
The New Zealand general election of 1890 was one of New Zealand's most significant. It marked the beginning of party politics in New Zealand with the formation of the First Liberal government, which was to enact major welfare, labour and electoral reforms, including giving the vote to women.It was...
was contested by Harkness, John Kerr
John Kerr (Nelson politician)
John Kerr was a 19th century Member of Parliament from Nelson, New Zealand.Following the resignation from Parliament of Joseph Shephard, who had been appointed to the Legislative Council, a Waimea by-election was held on 3 June 1885. It was contested by six candidates: Kerr , W. N. Franklyn ,...
and Francis William Flowerday, who received 672, 655 and 94 votes, respectively.
Civic service
Harkness lived in KhandallahKhandallah
Khandallah is a suburb of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. It is located four kilometres northeast of the city centre, on hills overlooking Wellington Harbour....
, Wellington for a number of years and was Mayor of the Onslow Borough in 1907. For some 30 years, he took, a prominent part in the business and public life of the City of Wellington, being a member of the Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., 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 advocate on behalf of the business community...
for 26 years and its President three times in 1907, 1908, and 1918.
He was a member of the Wellington Harbour Board from February 1908 until his death at Midhurst on 9 January 1930. Initially Harkness was the Chamber of Commerce representative on the Board. When the Harbours Act changed the Board he was elected 1911 to represent the payers of harbour dues on goods for two years. He did not stand for reelection, but was appointed Government representative on the board, and held that position up to the time of his death. He was chairman of the Harbour Board from May 1919 to May 1923. As Board Chair, he was a member of the executive of the Harbours Association, and for a time its president.
Harkness was a convinced Prohibitionist and took an active part in the Temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
all his life. He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity.
He was survived by his wife, four sons, and two daughters.