Arthur Cook (New Zealand politician)

The Honourable
Arthur Cook
MLC
Member of the Legislative Council
In office
10 September 1942 – 4 March 1943
Personal details
Born30 November 1885
Australia
Died4 March 1943 (aged 57)
Off the Azores
Political partyLabour Party

Arthur Cook (30 November 1885 – 4 March 1943) was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council from 10 September 1942 to 4 March 1943, when he died. He was appointed by the First Labour Government.[1]

He was born in Campbell Town, Tasmania, Australia in 1885 and came to New Zealand around 1910.[2] He was a shearer, and was president of the Shearers' Union and secretary from 1924 to 1942 of the New Zealand Workers' Union which grew out of the Shearers' Union. He was President of the Alliance of Labour 1926–36, and in the 1920s a bitter critic of the Labour Party.[3]

He was from Wellington. When he was appointed, he had retired recently from the position of general secretary of the New Zealand Workers' Union. He died when the ship California Star, which was taking him to a trade union conference in Britain, was torpedoed by German submarine U-515.[4]

References

  1. ^ Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 151. OCLC 154283103.
  2. ^ Martin, John E. "Arthur Cook". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  3. ^ Labour's Path to Political Independence: the Origins and Establishment of the New Zealand Labour Party 1900–19 p155 by Barry Gustafson (1980, Oxford University Press, Auckland)
  4. ^ Evening Post; 12 September 1942 p2 & 24 April 1943 p6


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