Prime Minister Walter Nash Political party Labour Party Succeeded by Reginald Keeling | Preceded by John A. Lee Succeeded by Harry Lake Name Fred Hackett | |
 | ||
Died 19 March 1963 (aged 61)
Auckland, New Zealand | ||
Willin' to Don't Bogart that Joint by Paul Barrere, Fred Hackett, and Kenny Gradney of Little Feat
Frederick Hackett (1901 – 19 March 1963) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.
Contents
- Willin to Dont Bogart that Joint by Paul Barrere Fred Hackett and Kenny Gradney of Little Feat
- Early life
- Member of Parliament
- Cabinet Minister
- References
Early life
Hackett was born in Southampton in 1901. He found employment in the British Merchant Navy transporting refugees. He became a gunner in the Royal Navy during World War I. In 1921 he moved to New Zealand and he married Ivy Lily Bradford in Dunedin in 1923; together they had four children. He became an active unionist and in 1922 Hackett joined the Auckland Transport Board.
Member of Parliament
Hackett was the Member of Parliament for Grey Lynn from 1943 to 1963, when he died. He replaced John A. Lee in the electorate when Lee was expelled from the Labour Party.
Cabinet Minister
He was a cabinet minister in the Fraser Ministry of the First Labour Government: Postmaster-General and Minister of Telegraphs (1946–1949), Minister of Transport (1947–1949), Minister of Marine (1947–1949), Minister in charge of the Public Trust Office (1946–1947), State Fire Insurance (1946–1947), and Government Life Insurance Department (1946–1947). In the Second Labour Government, he was Minister of Labour, Minister of Mines, and Minister of Immigration (all 1957–1960).
Hackett was opposed to New Zealand joining the International Monetary Fund, arguing that the state should have sole right to govern the country's finances.
In June 1962 Hackett was elected as the deputy leader of the Labour Party upon the death of Jerry Skinner. He beat both Hugh Watt and Arnold Nordmeyer for the position, as a compromise candidate as was regarded by many within the Party as a middle roader. Hackett also likely received sympathy votes as he was known to have been ill.
On 19 March 1963 Hackett collapsed and died at his New Lynn home. He was buried at Purewa Cemetery. Walter Nash favoured Hackett to replace him when he retired prior the 1963 election, but with the deaths of Hackett, Nash was eventually replaced by Arnold Nordmeyer.