Arthur Kinsella

Summary

Arthur Ellis Kinsella QSO (15 January 1918 – 4 March 2004) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party, and was a cabinet minister.

Arthur Kinsella
28th Minister of Education
In office
20 December 1963 – 22 December 1969
Prime MinisterKeith Holyoake
Preceded byBlair Tennent
Succeeded byBrian Talboys
38th Postmaster-General
In office
2 May 1961 – 20 December 1963
Prime MinisterKeith Holyoake
Preceded byThomas Hayman
Succeeded byJack Scott
8th Minister of Broadcasting
In office
12 December 1960 – 20 December 1963
Prime MinisterKeith Holyoake
Preceded byRay Boord
Succeeded byJack Scott
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Hauraki
In office
13 November 1954 – 29 November 1969
Preceded byAndy Sutherland
Succeeded byLeo Schultz
Personal details
Born15 January 1918
Waikino, New Zealand
Died4 March 2004
Paraparaumu, New Zealand
Political partyNational
Children4

Biography edit

Early life edit

Kinsella was born at Waikino in 1918. He was educated at Waihi District High School, Waihi School of Mines, University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington and Auckland Teachers College; he graduated with MA and Diploma in Education. He was a farmer and teacher before becoming an MP.[1]

In World War II he served with NZ Engineer Forces (7th Field Company) in UK, Middle East and Greece where he was wounded and returned to New Zealand.

Political career edit

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1954–1957 31st Hauraki National
1957–1960 32nd Hauraki National
1960–1963 33rd Hauraki National
1963–1966 34th Hauraki National
1966–1969 35th Hauraki National

Kinsella was elected as the Member of the rural electorate of Hauraki in the 1954 election.[2][3] He was Minister of Broadcasting (1960–1963)[4][5][6] in the second National Government under Keith Holyoake, overseeing the introduction of Television to New Zealand. He was Postmaster-General (1961–1963),[6][7] and was Minister of Education (1963–1969).[4][8][9] He retired from Parliament in 1969[2] following a bad car crash.[10]

As a minister he enabled private stations on radio and television (rather than limit them to direct state stewardship) via the Broadcasting Corporation amendment bill. He also faced a chronic shortage of telephones in New Zealand with a waiting list of 19,000 in the early 1960s. He lengthened the teacher training period from two years to three and attempted to reduce class sizes. He also established a new medical school in Auckland.[10]

In 1970 Kinsella was granted the right to retain the title of The Honourable for life.[11] In 1971 Kinsella was elected to the Auckland City Council serving one term.[12] Later, in 1983 he was elected to the Wellington City Council[13][14] He lost his seat three years later but regained a seat following a 1987 by-election.[15][16]

Later life and death edit

After his retirement from politics, he was a business consultant before his return to teaching as Principal of the Technical Correspondence Institute.[1]

In the 1992 New Year Honours, Kinsella was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.[17]

Kinsella died in 2004.[10]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Gustafson 1986, p. 325.
  2. ^ a b Wilson 1985, p. 211.
  3. ^ "Members of the House of Representatives Elected – General Election" (20 December 1960) 84 The New Zealand Gazette 2002
  4. ^ a b Wilson 1985, p. 90.
  5. ^ "Ministers Appointed" (12 December 1960) 82 The New Zealand Gazette 1944
  6. ^ a b "Resignation of Ministers" (20 December 1963) 82 The New Zealand Gazette 2077
  7. ^ "Ministers Appointed" (2 May 1961) 29 The New Zealand Gazette 642.
  8. ^ "Ministers Appointed" (20 December 1963) 82 The New Zealand Gazette 2077
  9. ^ "Resignation of Ministers" (22 December 1969) 84 The New Zealand Gazette 2679
  10. ^ a b c Pickmere, Arnold (13 March 2004). "Obituary: Arthur Kinsella". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  11. ^ "Retention of the title 'Honourable'" (24 April 1970) 25 The New Zealand Gazette 750
  12. ^ "Declaration of Result of Election". The New Zealand Herald. 22 October 1971. p. 11.
  13. ^ Dawson, P.L. (25 October 1983). Declaration of Result of Election (Report). Wellington City Council.
  14. ^ "Local Body Polls '83". The Evening Post. 10 October 1983.
  15. ^ Bly, Ross (13 July 1987). Karori Ward By-Election (Report). Wellington City Council.
  16. ^ "Declaration of Result of Election". The Evening Post. 14 July 1987.
  17. ^ "No. 52768". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1991. p. 30.

References edit

  • Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
  • Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 (4 ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Hauraki
1954–1969
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Broadcasting
1960–1963
Succeeded by
Preceded by Postmaster-General
1961–1963
Preceded by Minister of Education
1963–1969
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Gavin Wilson
Wellington City Councillor for Karori Ward
1987–1989
Ward abolished