Preceded by Richard Hudson Role New Zealand politician Nationality New Zealand Party United Party | Political party United Succeeded by Keith Holyoake Name George Black Resigned October 17, 1932 | |
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Died 1932, Makara, New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand | ||
George Charles Cecil Black (1904 – 17 October 1932) was a member of the House of Representatives for Motueka electorate, in the South Island of New Zealand, initially as a representative of the United Party and from early 1931 as an Independent. He committed suicide and was succeeded as MP by Keith Holyoake.
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Early life
Black was born in Reefton in 1904. In 1923, Black became a Parliamentary Clerk of Committees.
Member of Parliament
George Black represented the Motueka electorate in the House of Representatives from 1928 to 1932.
In the 1928 election, aged only 24, he stood as a United Party candidate and follower of Sir Joseph Ward and was successful. He unexpectedly beat the Reform Party incumbent of 14 years, Richard Hudson, and became the youngest MP at the time. He was appointed junior whip by the United Party.
In Parliament, George Black refused to support the Finance Bill that proposed cuts to public service salaries and voted with the Labour Party, and he also opposed the decision to suspend construction of the Kawatiri - Inangahua railway line that ran through his electorate. Black was expelled from the United Party the day after voting against the Finance Bill in March 1931, saying: "no genuine supporter of the late Prime Minister", Sir Joseph Ward, could uphold such measures.
Later in the year, at the 1931 election, the bright and well-regarded local MP was elected as an independent. He was associated with Harry Atmore, the independent MP for the neighbouring Nelson electorate.
On 17 October 1932 aged 28, George Black committed suicide with cyanide poison at Makara Beach. He was survived by his wife and their child. The coroner found that Black had been mentally unstable for some months, and was also in financial difficulties.
Black's death triggered the 1932 Motueka by-election, which was won by Keith Holyoake.