Wilfred Fortune

Wilfred Henry Fortune (9 October 1897 – 28 February 1961) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

The Honourable Wilfred Fortune
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Eden
In office 27 November 1946 – 13 November 1954
Preceded by	Bill Anderton
Succeeded by	Duncan Rae
Personal details
Born	9 October 1897 Paeroa, New Zealand
Died	28 February 1961 Auckland, New Zealand
Political party	National
Alma mater	University of Auckland
Military service
Allegiance	New Zealand Army
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Battles/wars	World War II

Personal life

Fortune was born in 1897 in Paeroa. He received his education at Auckland Grammar School, the Auckland Teachers' Training College, and the University of Auckland. He obtained a B.A., a B.Com., and a diploma in social sciences. He initially worked as a teacher, then became a public secretary, and was then managing director of Young and Fortune Ltd. During World War II, he was a lieutenant colonel with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) in the Pacific.[1] Fortune died on 28 February 1961.[1]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1946–1949	28th	Eden		National
1949–1951	29th	Eden		National
1951–1954	30th	Eden		National

As an Independent, he contested the 1940 by-election in the Auckland West electorate resulting from Michael Joseph Savage's death, but was beaten by Labour's Peter Carr.[1][2] He stood for National in the 1943 election, but was beaten by the incumbent, Labour's Bill Anderton, by only 14 votes. In 1941 he won a seat on the Auckland City Council, serving two terms.[3][4]

Member of parliament

Fortune was first elected to parliament at the subsequent election in 1946, when Anderton successfully stood in Auckland Central,[5] and Fortune was returned in Eden. Fortune held Eden until the 1954 election, when he was defeated for Onslow.[6] He was a member of the Executive Council from 1949 to 1954 in the First National Government.[7] In January 1950 he was appointed Minister of Police.[8]

In 1955, Fortune was granted the use of the title of "Honourable" for life, having served more than three years as a member of the Executive Council.[9]

After parliament

From 1956 until his death, he chaired the National Party in Auckland. In 1957 he won a by-election to regain a seat on the Auckland City Council.[10] His interests lay in education and health, and he was a member of the Auckland Education Board, and the Seddon Memorial Technical College Board of Governors. He was a director of the YMCA, and chaired the Auckland Central Health Camp Council.[1]

Notes

1. Gustafson 1986, p. 311.
2. Wilson 1985, p. 188.
3. "Electoral". The New Zealand Herald. LXXVIII (23973). 24 May 1941. p. 3. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
4. "Local Body Elections". LXXV (136). Auckland Star. 10 June 1944. p. 9. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
5. Wilson 1985, p. 180.
6. Wilson 1985, p. 197.
7. Wilson 1985, p. 86.
8. "Personal" (27292). Otago Daily Times. 19 January 1950. p. 6. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
9. "No. 40421". The London Gazette. 1 March 1955. p. 1269.
10. "Final Figures Little Changed". The New Zealand Herald. 18 December 1957. p. 14.

References

• Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)