Preceded by Joseph Ward Name William MacDonald Died 31 August 1920 | Constituency Bay of Plenty Succeeded by Thomas Wilford | |
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William Donald Stuart MacDonald (1862 – 31 August 1920) was a New Zealand politician, Cabinet Minister, and briefly Leader of the Opposition.
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Early life
MacDonald was born in Victoria in 1862. He emigrated to Poverty Bay in New Zealand in 1882. He managed several sheep stations during his career.
Member of Parliament
He was Member of the House of Representatives for the Bay of Plenty from 1908 to 1920. He served as Minister of Public Works and Minister of Māori Affairs in the short lived 1912 cabinet of Thomas Mackenzie. He also served in the wartime (1915–19) National cabinet as Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Mines and Minister in Charge of the Legislative, Public Buildings, Inspection of Machinery, State Fire and Accident Insurance Departments.
In 1919, following Joseph Ward's failure to gain re-election, MacDonald was elected leader of the Liberal Party. He filled that role until his death in 1920.
Death
MacDonald died suddenly in his Kelburn home of a heart attack aged 56. He left a widow, two sons and three daughters.