New Zealand National Party Activists - Bill Veitch, David Farrar, Barry Gustafson, Marc Alexander, Oswald Chettle Mazengarb (Paperback)

Chapters: Bill Veitch, David Farrar, Barry Gustafson, Marc Alexander, Oswald Chettle Mazengarb, Robert Alexander Wright, Roy Mcelroy, Terry Heffernan, John Cronin, Ian Ewen-Street, Fred Waite, Thomas Otto Bishop. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 41. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: William Andrew (Bill) Veitch (25 May 1870 - 1 January 1961) was a New Zealand politician. He began his career in the labour movement, but was a strong opponent of socialism, and rejected the militant views held by many of his colleagues. Veitch was born in Port of Monteith, a small town in Perthshire, Scotland. After receiving a basic education, he worked for the post and telegraph service until 1887. He then moved to New Zealand, briefly taking up gum digging before returning to telegraphs. In 1889, he joined the railways, eventually becoming an engine-driver. During his railway career, he became active in the rail-workers union, and in 1908, he became its president. In comparison to other unionists at the time, Veitch was relatively moderate in his views, but was still dissatisfied with the government's response to various grievances. Believing that workers' goals were better served by political action than strikes, Veitch contested the Wanganui seat in the 1911 election, and defeated the incumbent MP, James Thomas Hogan. Despite there being two labour-aligned parties contesting the election, Veitch chose to stand as an independent. In Parliament, Veitch initially voted against the Liberal government of Joseph Ward. This was part agreement he had made with the opposition Reform Party, which had offered him support in his election bid. After discharging this obligation, however, he immediately became a Liberal Party supporter, voting in favour of Ward only two days later. He considered joining the Libe...More: http: //booksllc.net/?id=260264