Summary
Sir Donald Norman McKay KCMG (28 November 1908 – 30 March 1988) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. He was Minister of Health and Minister of Social Security in the Second National Government, and was also the Minister for the Welfare of Women and Children.
Sir Don McKay | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 20th Minister of Health | |
| In office 24 January 1962 – 9 February 1972 | |
| Prime Minister | Keith Holyoake |
| Preceded by | Norman Shelton |
| Succeeded by | Lance Adams-Schneider |
| 11th Minister of Social Security | |
| In office 24 January 1962 – 9 February 1972 | |
| Prime Minister | Keith Holyoake |
| Preceded by | Norman Shelton |
| Succeeded by | Lance Adams-Schneider |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Marsden | |
| In office 13 November 1954 – 25 November 1972 | |
| Preceded by | Alfred Murdoch |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 November 1908 Waipu, New Zealand |
| Died | 30 March 1988 (aged 79) Waipu, New Zealand |
| Political party | National |
| Spouse | Miriam Hilda Stehr |
| Children | 3 |
Biography edit
Early life and career edit
McKay was born in 1908 in Waipu.[1] He received his education from Whangārei Boys' High School and the University of Auckland. At Whangārei Boys' High School he was head prefect, captain of the first XI cricket team and captain of the first XV rugby team. Another student at the same school was future parliamentary colleague Jack Marshall who described McKay as his schoolboy hero.[2] He then became a farmer in Waipu.[1] He married Miriam Hilda Stehr in 1934 with whom he had 3 children.[citation needed]
Member of Parliament edit
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954–1957 | 31st | Marsden | National | ||
| 1957–1960 | 32nd | Marsden | National | ||
| 1960–1963 | 33rd | Marsden | National | ||
| 1963–1966 | 34th | Marsden | National | ||
| 1966–1969 | 35th | Marsden | National | ||
| 1969–1972 | 36th | Marsden | National | ||
McKay joined the National Party and became the chairman of the Marsden electorate committee. In early 1954 the 77 year-old MP for Marsden Alfred Murdoch was challenged for the National nomination by William Rodney Lewin Vallance, the deputy mayor of Whangarei. Vallance won a postal ballot of members, an outcome which split the Marsden National Party membership into two opposing factions. After it emerged that Vallance was in trouble with his taxes he was in turn deselected and replaced by McKay. Vallance ran as an independent candidate and split the vote, almost costing National the seat.[3]
He represented the Marsden electorate in the Northland region from 1954, and he retired in 1972.[4] He was Minister of Health and Minister of Social Security in the Second National Government from 1962 to 1972 under Keith Holyoake.[5] He was also the Minister for the Welfare of Women and Children.[6]
Following National's victory in 1960, Deputy Prime Minister Jack Marshall was unable to convince Keith Holyoake to include McKay in the cabinet. Holyoake thought that McKay had not sufficiently proved himself in the house, but later appointed him following a midterm vacancy based on Marshall's endorsement.[2]
Later life and death edit
After retiring from Parliament, he was elected a member of the Northland Harbour Board and served one term as its chairman.[1]
McKay was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, for public services, in the 1978 Queen's Birthday Honours,[7] and died in 1988.
Notes edit
- ^ a b c Gustafson 1986, p. 329.
- ^ a b Marshall 1989, p. 6.
- ^ Gustafson 1986, p. 235.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 215.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 90.
- ^ Parliamentary Debates: House of Representatives. New Zealand Parliament. 30 October 1972. p. 3532. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
The Hon. Don McKay has served for 18 years as a member, and has been Minister of Health, Minister of Social Security, Minister in Charge of the Child Welfare Division, and Minister for the Welfare of Women and Children.
- ^ "No. 47551". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 3 June 1978. p. 6269.
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.
- Marshall, Jack (1989). John Marshall Memoirs Volume Two: 1960-1988. Auckland: Collins. ISBN 1-86950-003-2.
- Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 (4 ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.