Thomas Davey | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Thomas Davey | |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forChristchurch East | |
| In office 6 December 1905 – 11 December 1914 | |
| Preceded by | new electorate |
| Succeeded by | Henry Thacker |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forCity of Christchurch | |
| In office 25 November 1902 – 6 December 1905 | |
| Preceded by | George John Smith |
| Succeeded by | electorate abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1856 (1856) Liskeard, England |
| Died | 5 April 1934(1934-04-05) (aged 77–78) |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Maude Davey (née Dobson) |
| Profession | Printer |
Thomas Henry Davey (1856 – 5 April 1934) was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for the electorates ofCity of Christchurch andChristchurch East. He is regarded as a member of theLiberal Party, but was critical of aspects of the party and its leadership.
Davey was born inLiskeard in south eastCornwall, England. He learned the trade ofprinting.[1]
With his parents, he came to New Zealand in 1874, arriving inWellington on theDouglass. They lived inFeilding (where he worked as a saw miller), Wellington (where he worked for the Government printer) and thenChristchurch. He was a printer for theLyttelton Times newspaper and became President of the Typographical Union and Vice-President of the Trades and Labour Council.[1]
On 8 August 1884, he married Maude Davey, daughter of John Dobson (surveyor) fromOxford.[2]
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1902–1905 | 15th | Christchurch | Liberal | ||
| 1905–1908 | 16th | Christchurch East | Liberal | ||
| 1908–1911 | 17th | Christchurch East | Liberal | ||
| 1911–1914 | 18th | Christchurch East | Liberal | ||
From between thegeneral elections of 1902 and1905, 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, behindTommy Taylor andHarry Ell.[1]
In 1905, these multi-member electorates were split up, and he won the Christchurch East electorate against three other contenders:William Whitehouse Collins (who had previously been in Parliament for the Liberal Party),Henry Toogood[3] (a young engineer who only recently left Canterbury College and who would become one of the founding members of theInstitution of Professional Engineers New Zealand), andFrederick Cooke[4] (a prominent member of theSocialist Party).[5]
Davey held Christchurch East to1914, when he retired.[6]
Like Harry Ell, Davey showed an independent attitude towards theLiberal Government. He demanded an elective executive, and said thatPremierRichard Seddon held too many portfolios. He also believed that theCabinet should be reconstructed.[7] Nonetheless, Davey is listed as a member of the Liberal Party in Wilson'sNew Zealand Parliamentary Record : 1840–1984.[8]
Davey was elected Mayor ofSt Albans in 1897. He was a member of the Hospital Board and the Board ofCanterbury College.[1]
TheLyttelton Times parliamentary correspondent described Davey as:"tall, straight, solidly built – the best Mayor St. Albans ever had".[9]
Davey died on 5 April 1934 and was buried atLinwood Cemetery.[10]
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Christchurch 1902–1905 Served alongside:Harry Ell andTommy Taylor (1902–1905) | Constituency abolished |
| In abeyance Title last held by Jerningham Wakefield | Member of Parliament for Christchurch East 1905–1914 | Succeeded by |
