Neha Patil (Editor)

1939 in New Zealand

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Decades:
  
1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s

See also:
  
Other events of 1939Timeline of New Zealand history

Population

  • Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,641,600
  • Increase since 31/12/1938: 23,300 (1.44%)
  • Males per 100 females: 103.0

    • Regal and viceregal

  • Head of state - George VI
  • Governor-General - The Viscount Galway GCMG DSO OBE PC

    • Government

    The 26th New Zealand Parliament continued with the Labour Party in government.

    Contents

  • Speaker of the House - Bill Barnard (Labour Party)
  • Prime Minister - Michael Joseph Savage
  • Minister of Finance - Walter Nash
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs - Michael Joseph Savage
  • Attorney-General - Rex Mason

    • Parliamentary opposition

  • Leader of the Opposition - Adam Hamilton (National Party).

    • Main centre leaders

  • Mayor of Auckland - Ernest Davis
  • Mayor of Hamilton - Harold David Caro
  • Mayor of Wellington - Thomas Hislop
  • Mayor of Christchurch - Robert Macfarlane
  • Mayor of Dunedin - Andrew Henson Allen

    • Events

  • 29 January: (Sunday) Opening of St Peter's College, Auckland by Bishop J M Liston.
  • 3 September: New Zealand declares war on Germany
  • 31 October: The Strongman coal mine in Nine Mile Valley near Greymouth is officially opened by Minister of Mines, Paddy Webb.
  • 13 December: New Zealand warship HMS Achilles fought in the Battle of the River Plate against German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee.
  • 17 December: The Graf Spee is scuttled off Montevideo harbour.
  • The Poverty Bay Herald changes its name to The Gisborne Herald, which continues to publish today.

    • Arts and literature

    See 1939 in art, 1939 in literature, Category:1939 books

    Music

    See: 1939 in music

    Radio

    See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand

    Film

    See: Category:1939 film awards, 1939 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1939 films

    Athletics

  • Clarrie Gibbons wins the national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:44:56.2 on 11 March 1939 in Napier.

    • Basketball

    A second interprovincial championship is held even though there is still no national association. (see 1938 and 1946)

  • Interpovincial Champions: Men - Wellington

    • Chess

  • The 48th National Chess Championship was held in Wanganui, and was won by J.B. Dunlop of Dunedin (his 5th title).

    • Harness racing

  • New Zealand Trotting Cup:Lucky Jack - 2nd win
  • Auckland Trotting Cup: Marlene

    • Rugby union

    Category:Rugby union in New Zealand, Category:All Blacks

  • Ranfurly Shield

    • Rugby league

    New Zealand national rugby league team

    Soccer

  • The Chatham Cup is won by Waterside of Wellington who beat Western of Christchurch 4—2 in the final.
  • Provincial league champions:
  • Auckland: Ponsonby AFC
  • Canterbury: Western
  • Hawke's Bay: Napier Utd
  • Nelson: YMCA
  • Otago: Mosgiel
  • South Canterbury: Old Boys
  • Southland: Mataura
  • Waikato: Rotowaro
  • Wanganui: Wanganui Athletic
  • Wellington: Petone Football Club

    • Births

  • 27 February: Don McKinnon, deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and Commonwealth Secretary-General.
  • 10 April (in England): Michael Cox, politician.
  • 24 April: Fergie McCormick, rugby union player.
  • 16 September: Tony Davies, rugby union player.
  • 4 October: Ivan Mauger, motorcycle speedway champion.
  • 29 October: Michael Smither, painter.
  • Peter Brown, politician.
  • Raymond Ching, painter.
  • Ken Comber, politician.
  • Syd Jackson, political activist.
  • Bob Jones, businessman.
  • Douglas Myers, businessman.
  • (in England): Dylan Taite, music journalist.
  • Philip Temple, writer.
  • David Walter, mayor of Stratford.
  • Hugh Williams, High court judge.

    • Category:1939 births

    Deaths

  • 16 March: George Mitchell, soldier and politician
  • 26 April: Ted Howard, politician.
  • 26 July: Thomas William "Torpedo Billy" Murphy, boxer.
  • 27 July: Malcolm Champion, swimmer.
  • 23 August: Robin Hyde, writer.
  • David McLaren, politician.
  • T. W. Ratana, prophet.

    • Category:1939 deaths

    References

    1939 in New Zealand Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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