Thomas Davey (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Henry Davey was a New Zealand
Member of Parliament
for the electorates of City of Christchurch
and Christchurch East
.
in south east Cornwall
, England
. He learned the trade of printing.
With his parents, he came to New Zealand
in 1874, arriving in Wellington
on the Douglass. They lived in Feilding (where he worked as a saw miller), Wellington (where he worked for the Government printer) and then Christchurch
. He was a printer for the Lyttelton Times
newspaper and became President of the Typographical Union and Vice-President of the Trades and Labour Council.
On 8 August 1884, he married Maude Davey, daughter of John Dobson (surveyor) from Oxford
.
to 1905
, Davey was one of the three Members of Parliament representing the multi-member City of Christchurch electorate. He had been presented with a petition to stand for parliament and came third out of nine contenders in this three-member electorate, behind Tommy Taylor and Harry Ell.
In 1905, these multi-member electorates were split up, and he won the Christchurch East electorate, which he held to 1914
, when he retired.
Government. He demanded an elective executive, and said that Premier
Richard Seddon
held too many portfolios. He also believed that the Cabinet
should be reconstructed.
Davey was elected Mayor
of St Albans
in 1897. He was a member of the Hospital Board and the Board of Canterbury College
.
The Lyttelton Times
parliamentary correspondent described Davey as: "tall, straight, solidly built - the best Mayor St. Albans ever had".
two days later.
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...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the electorates of City of Christchurch
Christchurch (New Zealand electorate)
Christchurch was a parliamentary electorate in Christchurch, New Zealand. It existed three times. Originally it was the Town of Christchurch from 1853 to 1860. From the 1860–61 election to the 1871 election, it existed as City of Christchurch. It then existed from the 1875–76 election until the...
and Christchurch East
Christchurch East
Christchurch East is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It is currently held by Lianne Dalziel of the Labour Party.-History:The electorate was first created, as Christchurch City East, for the...
.
Early life
Davey was born in LiskeardLiskeard
Liskeard is an ancient stannary and market town and civil parish in south east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Liskeard is situated approximately 20 miles west of Plymouth, west of the River Tamar and the border with Devon, and 12 miles east of Bodmin...
in south east Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He learned the trade of printing.
With his parents, he came to 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...
in 1874, arriving in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
on the Douglass. They lived in Feilding (where he worked as a saw miller), Wellington (where he worked for the Government printer) and then 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 a printer for the Lyttelton Times
Lyttelton Times
The Lyttelton Times was the first newspaper in Canterbury, New Zealand, publishing the first edition in January 1851. It was established by the Canterbury Association as part of its planned settlement of Canterbury and developed into a liberal, at the time sometimes seen as radical, newspaper...
newspaper and became President of the Typographical Union and Vice-President of the Trades and Labour Council.
On 8 August 1884, he married Maude Davey, daughter of John Dobson (surveyor) from Oxford
Oxford, New Zealand
Oxford is a small town of 1,716 people serving the farming community of North Canterbury, New Zealand. It is part of the Waimakariri District. Oxford is a linear town, approximately two kilometres long. For a time Oxford was serviced by the Oxford Branch railway, and had two stations, East Oxford...
.
Member of Parliament
From 1902New Zealand general election, 1902
The New Zealand general election of 1902 was held on Tuesday, 25 November in the general electorates, and on Monday, 22 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 15th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
to 1905
New Zealand general election, 1905
The New Zealand general election of 1905 was held on Wednesday, 6 December in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 20 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 16th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
, Davey was one of the three Members of Parliament representing the multi-member City of Christchurch electorate. He had been presented with a petition to stand for parliament and came third out of nine contenders in this three-member electorate, behind Tommy Taylor and Harry Ell.
In 1905, these multi-member electorates were split up, and he won the Christchurch East electorate, which he held to 1914
New Zealand general election, 1914
The New Zealand general election of 1914 was held on 10 December to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 19th session of the New Zealand Parliament. A total number of 616,043 voters were registered, of which 84.7% voters turned out to vote....
, when he retired.
Independent Liberal
Like Harry Ell, Davey showed an independent attitude towards the LiberalNew Zealand Liberal Party
The New Zealand Liberal Party is generally regarded as having been the first real political party in New Zealand. It governed from 1891 until 1912. Out of office, the Liberals gradually found themselves pressed between the conservative Reform Party and the growing Labour Party...
Government. He demanded an elective executive, and said that Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
Richard Seddon
Richard Seddon
Richard John Seddon , sometimes known as King Dick, is to date the longest serving Prime Minister of New Zealand. He is regarded by some, including historian Keith Sinclair, as one of New Zealand's greatest political leaders....
held too many portfolios. He also believed that the 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...
should be reconstructed.
Davey was elected Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of St Albans
St Albans, New Zealand
St Albans is one of Christchurch, New Zealand's largest suburbs. It is a short walk from the central city. To the east of St Albans is Shirley and to the west is Fendalton...
in 1897. He was a member of the Hospital Board and the Board of Canterbury College
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...
.
The Lyttelton Times
Lyttelton Times
The Lyttelton Times was the first newspaper in Canterbury, New Zealand, publishing the first edition in January 1851. It was established by the Canterbury Association as part of its planned settlement of Canterbury and developed into a liberal, at the time sometimes seen as radical, newspaper...
parliamentary correspondent described Davey as: "tall, straight, solidly built - the best Mayor St. Albans ever had".
Death
Davey died on 5 April 1934 and was buried at Linwood CemeteryLinwood Cemetery, Christchurch
Linwood Cemetery is a cemetery located in Linwood, Christchurch, New Zealand. It is the fifth oldest cemetery in the city that still exists and it is virtually full. Opened in 1884, it has seen some 20,000 burials. The first burial, of the Sexton's wife, was held even before the cemetery was...
two days later.