Arthur Guinness (New Zealand)

The Honourable Sir Arthur Guinness MP
7th Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office 1903–1919
Prime Minister	Richard Seddon
Preceded by	Maurice O'Rorke
Succeeded by	Frederic Lang
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Grey (previously Greymouth)
In office 1884 – 10 June 1913
Succeeded by	Paddy Webb
Personal details
Born	11 January 1846(1846-01-11) Calcutta, India
Died	10 June 1913(1913-06-10) (aged 67)
Political party	Liberal
Father	Frank Guinness

Sir Arthur Robert Guinness (11 January 1846 – 10 June 1913) was a New Zealand politician, and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Personal information

He was born in Calcutta, India, son of Frank V. Guinness, who arrived at Lyttelton by the ship Tory in 1852. He was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch, New Zealand 1854–59 (being no. 31 on List). A barrister and solicitor in Greymouth, he served on the Westland Provincial Council from 1872–76, and was then Chairman of the Grey County Council from 1876–90.

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1884–87	9th	Greymouth		Independent
1887–1890	10th	Greymouth		Independent
1890–1893	11th	Grey		Liberal
1893–1896	12th	Grey		Liberal
1896–1899	13th	Grey		Liberal
1899–1902	14th	Grey		Liberal
1902–1905	15th	Grey		Liberal
1905–1908	16th	Grey		Liberal
1908–1911	17th	Grey		Liberal
1911–1913	18th	Grey		Liberal

Guinness was the Liberal Party Member of Parliament for Greymouth from 1884 to 1890 then Grey from 1890 to 1913.

He was Chairman of Committees from 1893 to 1902, then the seventh Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1903 to 1913. When he died, his replacement from the Grey by-election was Paddy Webb, who was elected on the second ballot with Liberal support.

Family

In 1875, Guinness married Miss Westbrook, daughter of Mr James Westbrook of Launceston. He was knighted in 1911.

He was a great-grandson of his namesake the Dublin brewer Arthur Guinness (1725–1803).

Further reading

• The Cyclopedia of New Zealand: industrial, descriptive, historical, biographical facts, figures, illustrations, 1, Wellington, [N.Z.]: Cyclopedia Co., 1897, p. 105 

• This article contains a photograph.

• Who’s who in New Zealand and the western Pacific 1908, Wellington, [N.Z.]: Gordon & Gotch, 1908 

• The School list of Christ’s College, 1850 to 1995 (9th ed.), Christchurch, [N.Z.]: Christ’s College Old Boys’ Association, 1997 

• Kitchingman, Frederick A. (1965), Guinness and his days, Greymouth, [N.Z.]: Greymouth Evening Star 

Political offices
Preceded by Maurice O'Rorke	Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives 1903–1913	Succeeded by Frederic Lang
Parliament of New Zealand
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Greymouth 1884–1890	Constituency abolished
	Member of Parliament for Grey 1890–1913	Succeeded by Paddy Webb