Stanley Whitehead
Encyclopedia
Sir Stanley Austin Whitehead (8 October 1907 – 9 January 1976) was a New Zealand
politician of the Labour Party
. He was the fifteenth Speaker of the House of Representatives
from 1972 to 1976, and Member of Parliament for the Nelson
electorate from 1957 to 1976.
of New Zealand. He was brought up in the mining town of Waiuta
, and left school at the age of 14. In 1928, he married Frances Edna Clark, at Greymouth and latermoved to Inangahua Junction]]. They had seven children together. He worked for Transport Nelson. Through his links with the trade unions he moved to Nelson
. He served on the Nelson City Council as Deputy Mayor, on the Nelson Harbour Board, and on several school boards. He was the patron of several sporting clubs, including rugby, boxing, soccer, marching, bowls, and rugby league.
Whitehead played rugby league
for Inangahua and Blackball on the West Coast as a . He later was a referee and controlled provincial matches.
, which Davies wrote about in her book Bread and Roses, and also in the television series of same name.
In 1972, Whitehead was asked by Prime Minister
Norman Kirk
to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives
during the Third Labour Government
. Whitehead hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip at the 1974 Commonwealth Games and had the duty of presiding after the death of Kirk later that year.
He was knighted in 1976 in recognition of his long public service to central and local government. Less than a week later, at the age of 67 years, he died of a heart attack while welcoming a British ship HMS Berwick.
The outpouring of grief from the local people was unprecedented as Nelson stopped for his service which was relayed by loud speakers to the thousands lining the streets outside Nelson Cathedral. Large crowds lined the streets to show their respect when the funeral procession passed.
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 of the 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....
. He was the fifteenth Speaker of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
from 1972 to 1976, and Member of Parliament for the Nelson
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...
electorate from 1957 to 1976.
Early life and family
Whitehead was born in Reefton, on the West CoastWest Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
of New Zealand. He was brought up in the mining town of Waiuta
Waiuta
Waiuta is the location of a historic mining town on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.It was the site of a gold mine until 1951 but the collapse of the mine made it uneconomic. A number of buildings remain and there are still residents in what remains of the town.-External links:**...
, and left school at the age of 14. In 1928, he married Frances Edna Clark, at Greymouth and latermoved to Inangahua Junction]]. They had seven children together. He worked for Transport Nelson. Through his links with the trade unions he moved to 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....
. He served on the Nelson City Council as Deputy Mayor, on the Nelson Harbour Board, and on several school boards. He was the patron of several sporting clubs, including rugby, boxing, soccer, marching, bowls, and rugby league.
Whitehead played rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
for Inangahua and Blackball on the West Coast as a . He later was a referee and controlled provincial matches.
Political activism
Whitehead featured along with Sonja Davies in protests over the closure of the Nelson railway lineNelson Section
The Nelson Section was an isolated, gauge, government-owned railway line between Nelson and Glenhope in the Tasman district of New Zealand's South Island. It operated for years between 1876 and 1955...
, which Davies wrote about in her book Bread and Roses, and also in the television series of same name.
In 1972, Whitehead was asked 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...
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...
to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
during the Third Labour Government
Third Labour Government of New Zealand
The Third Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1972 to 1975. During its time in office, it carried out a wide range of reforms in areas such as overseas trade, farming, public works, energy generation, local government, health, the arts, sport and recreation,...
. Whitehead hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip at the 1974 Commonwealth Games and had the duty of presiding after the death of Kirk later that year.
He was knighted in 1976 in recognition of his long public service to central and local government. Less than a week later, at the age of 67 years, he died of a heart attack while welcoming a British ship HMS Berwick.
The outpouring of grief from the local people was unprecedented as Nelson stopped for his service which was relayed by loud speakers to the thousands lining the streets outside Nelson Cathedral. Large crowds lined the streets to show their respect when the funeral procession passed.