Robert Wright (New Zealand politician)

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The Honourable
Robert Alexander Wright
21st Mayor of Wellington
In office
1921–1925
Preceded byJohn Luke
Succeeded byCharles Norwood
Personal details
Born1853
Died1947
Political partyReform
RelationsHercules Richard Wright (brother)

Robert Alexander Wright (1853–1947) was the Mayor of Wellington from 1921 to 1925, and a New Zealand politician of the Reform Party.

Biography

Parliamentary career

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1908–1909 17th Wellington South Independent
1909–1911 Changed allegiance to: Reform
1914–1919 19th Wellington Suburbs and Country Reform
1919–1922 20th Wellington Suburbs Reform
1922–1925 21st Wellington Suburbs Reform
1925–1928 22nd Wellington Suburbs Reform
1928–1931 23rd Wellington Suburbs Reform
1931–1935 24th Wellington Suburbs Reform
1935–1938 25th Wellington Suburbs Independent

He represented the Wellington South electorate in Parliament from 1908 to 1911 when he was defeated, then the Wellington Suburbs and Country electorate from 1914 to 1919 and the Wellington Suburbs electorate from 1919 to 1938. In the 1935 contest Wright stood as an Independent and was successful.[1] He was defeated for the Wellington West electorate in 1938.[1] In 1935 and 1938 he was not opposed by the National Party, and he habitually voted with National.[2]

He was Minister of Education from 1926 to 1928 in the Reform Government. Towards the end of the Coates Ministry, he was Minister of Labour for less than a fortnight.[3]

He was to stand for the National Party for Wellington Suburbs in the 1941 general election, which was postponed because of the war.[4]

Local politics

Wright stood for and was elected Mayor of Wellington in 1921, the same time as Wellington's first female Councillor, Annie McVicar, was elected. Wright was Mayor until 1925.[5] On 31 October 1924 Wright opened the de Lux Theatre on the corner of Cambridge Terrace and Majoribanks Street. In 1930 the building was sold and renamed the Embassy Theatre and was the site of the premiere of Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.[6]

A brother, Hercules Richard Wright was a notable Rugby League player.

Notes

  1. ^ a b Wilson 1985, p. 247.
  2. ^ Milne, Robert Stephen (1966). Political Parties in New Zealand. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press. p. 76.
  3. ^ Wilson 1985, p. 79.
  4. ^ Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. p. 295. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
  5. ^ http://www.wellington.govt.nz/services/history/mayors/1921.html
  6. ^ http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/business/our-people/7339227/Cutting-edge-technology-in-historic-surroundings

References

  • Perry, Stuart (1969), No Mean City, Wellington, [N.Z.]: Wellington City Council
  • Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Wellington
1921–1925 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Education
1926–1928 		Succeeded by
New Zealand Parliament
In abeyance
Title last held by
John Luke 		Member of Parliament for Wellington Suburbs
1919–1938 		Succeeded by
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