Robert McKeen | |
|---|---|
 Robert McKeen in the 1930s | |
| 12thSpeaker of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 24 June 1947 – 3 November 1949 | |
| Prime Minister | Peter Fraser |
| Preceded by | Bill Schramm |
| Succeeded by | Matthew Oram |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forWellington South | |
| In office 7 December 1922 – 4 November 1946 | |
| Preceded by | George Mitchell |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forIsland Bay | |
| In office 27 November 1946 – 5 October 1954 | |
| Preceded by | New constituency |
| Succeeded by | Arnold Nordmeyer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 July 1884 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 5 August 1974(1974-08-05) (aged 90) Ōtaki, New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Spouse | Jessie Russell |
| Profession | Grocer |
Robert McKeenCMG (12 July 1884 – 5 August 1974) was a New Zealand politician of theLabour Party. He wasSpeaker of the House of Representatives.
He was born in 1884 inEdinburgh and received his education inWest Calder,West Lothian, Scotland.[1][2] In Scotland, he was active in the labour movement, and worked as a grocer's assistant in a co-operative store.[1] He emigrated to New Zealand in 1909, and worked in coal mines on theWest Coast before moving toWellington,[3] and a grocery store. He was a union official.[2]
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1922–1925 | 21st | Wellington South | Labour | ||
| 1925–1928 | 22nd | Wellington South | Labour | ||
| 1928–1931 | 23rd | Wellington South | Labour | ||
| 1931–1935 | 24th | Wellington South | Labour | ||
| 1935–1938 | 25th | Wellington South | Labour | ||
| 1938–1943 | 26th | Wellington South | Labour | ||
| 1943–1946 | 27th | Wellington South | Labour | ||
| 1946–1949 | 28th | Island Bay | Labour | ||
| 1949–1951 | 29th | Island Bay | Labour | ||
| 1951–1954 | 30th | Island Bay | Labour | ||
In the1919 election, McKeen organised the campaign of the Labour Party inWellington.[1] He first stood for theHouse of Representatives in the1922 election and was successful.[4] He was the Member of Parliament forWellington South from 1922 to 1946, thenIsland Bay from 1946 to 1954, when he retired.[5] McKeen was Labour's juniorwhip in 1935 and 1936, and its senior whip in 1937 and 1938.[6] He wasChairman of Committees from 1939 to 1946.[7] Subsequent to that, he was the twelfth Speaker of the House of Representatives, from 1947 to 1950.[8]
He was on theWellington City Council for 18 years, and theWellington Harbour Board for nine years.[2]Bob Semple and McKeen were the only Labour city councillors during 1927–1929, and they were also parliamentary colleagues. They were close friends, and retired from parliament at the same time.[9] McKeen stood for theWellington mayoralty and the Council in1941, but was defeated by the incumbentThomas Hislop in a swing against Labour. He also lost his seat on the council, although he was the highest polling candidate not elected, and in1938 he had been the second highest-polling candidate elected.[10] He was later appointed to fill the vacancy on the council in 1942 caused by Len McKenzie's death. At the1944 local elections he was nominated to be Labour's candidate for the mayoralty once again, one of five nominees he declined to stand for selection with Labour Party presidentJames Roberts prevailing.[11][12]
He wasmayor of Otaki for six years in the 1950s.[2][13]
In 1935, McKeen was awarded theKing George V Silver Jubilee Medal,[14] and in 1953 he was awarded theQueen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.[15] He was appointed aCompanion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the1960 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services in public affairs as a trade unionist, Member of Parliament and Speaker of the House of Representatives.[16]
He married Jessie Russell, the daughter of Robert Russell.[3] He died in Ōtaki on 5 August 1974, and was buried at the Kelvin Grove Cemetery inPalmerston North.[13][17]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chairman of Committees of the House of Representatives 1939–1946 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives 1947–1950 | Succeeded by |
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Wellington South 1922–1946 | Constituency abolished |
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for Island Bay 1946–1954 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Senior Whip of the Labour Party 1936–1939 | Succeeded by |