William Sheat
Encyclopedia
William Alfred Sheat OBE (1899 – 24 May 1982) was a New Zealand
Member of Parliament
for two Taranaki electorates.
and graduated B.A.
in 1920 and LL.B.
in 1923. He married Ella Marjorie Newtown, who is also a Victoria University College graduate (M.A.
in 1925), on 22 January 1929. The wedding was held at St John's Presbyterian Church in Wellington
.
County Council for twelve years. He stood as the Labour Party
candidate for Taranaki
in 1925 and 1931. At the 1935 election, Sheat contested New Plymouth
as an Independent
. He joined the National Party
in 1940.
between 1943
and 1954 and then the Egmont
electorate from 1957
to 1966.
In 1954, Sheat failed to gain reselection after boundary changes as a National Party candidate. On 14 May of that year, he promptly resigned his seat and won it back in the 31 July 1954 by-election as an Independent
, but subsequently did not stand in the 1954 general election
. In 1957
Sheat returned to Parliament as MP for Egmont and he retired in 1966.
Sheat was Undersecretary to the Minister of Works between 1949 and 1954. He was awarded an OBE in 1973.
four 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 two Taranaki electorates.
Early life
Sheat was born in 1899. He attended Victoria University CollegeVictoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
and graduated B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1920 and LL.B.
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
in 1923. He married Ella Marjorie Newtown, who is also a Victoria University College graduate (M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1925), on 22 January 1929. The wedding was held at St John's Presbyterian Church 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...
.
Early political career
Sheat served on the EgmontEgmont Village
Egmont Village is a settlement in Taranaki, New Zealand. State Highway 3 runs through it. New Plymouth is 12 km to the north-west, and Inglewood is 6 km to the south-east...
County Council for twelve years. He stood as 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....
candidate for Taranaki
Taranaki (New Zealand electorate)
-History:The electorate existed from 1881 to 1928, and from 1978 to 1996. In 1996 it was combined with the adjacent King Country to form the Taranaki-King Country electorate.-Election results:...
in 1925 and 1931. At the 1935 election, Sheat contested New Plymouth
New Plymouth (New Zealand electorate)
New Plymouth is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It was first created for the 1st New Zealand Parliament in 1853 and has existed since, with one 22-year interruption...
as an Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
. He joined 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:...
in 1940.
Member of Parliament
Bill Sheat represented the Patea electoratePatea (New Zealand electorate)
Patea is a former New Zealand electorate, in south Taranaki. It existed from 1893 to 1963.-Geographic coverage:The electorate was based on the town of Patea, which used to have a freezing-works for the preparation of meat for export until 1982.-History:...
between 1943
New Zealand general election, 1943
The 1943 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 27th term. With the onset of World War II, elections were initially postponed, but it was eventually decided to hold a general election in September 1943, around two years after it...
and 1954 and then the Egmont
Egmont (New Zealand electorate)
Egmont is a former New Zealand electorate, in south Taranaki. It existed from 1871 to 1978.-Geographic coverage:Egmont is the old name of the mountain that is the Taranaki landmark of Mount Taranaki. A village north of the mountain is also called Egmont....
electorate from 1957
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 1966.
In 1954, Sheat failed to gain reselection after boundary changes as a National Party candidate. On 14 May of that year, he promptly resigned his seat and won it back in the 31 July 1954 by-election as an Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
, but subsequently did not stand in the 1954 general election
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...
. In 1957
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...
Sheat returned to Parliament as MP for Egmont and he retired in 1966.
Sheat was Undersecretary to the Minister of Works between 1949 and 1954. He was awarded an OBE in 1973.
Death
Sheat died on 24 May 1982, aged 83 years. He was cremated in the Wellington suburb of KaroriKarori
Karori is a suburb located at the western edge of the urban area of Wellington, New Zealand, some 4 km from the city centre.Karori is significantly larger than most other Wellington suburbs, having a population of over 14,000 at the time of the 2006 census.-History:Before the arrival of...
four days later.