William Nosworthy

Sir William Nosworthy KCMG (18 October 1867 – 26 September 1946) was a New Zealand politician. He briefly served as Minister of Finance and then Minister of External Affairs in the Reform Government.

The Honourable Sir William Nosworthy KCMG
8th Minister of Agriculture
In office 4 September 1919 – 21 January 1926
Prime Minister	Massey, Bell, Coates
Preceded by	William MacDonald
Succeeded by	Oswald Hawken
23rd Minister of Finance
In office 14 May 1925 – 24 May 1926
Prime Minister	Bell, Coates
Preceded by	William Massey
Succeeded by	William Downie Stewart
4th Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 24 May 1926 – 24 August 1928
Prime Minister	Gordon Coates
Preceded by	Francis Bell
Succeeded by	Gordon Coates
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Ashburton
In office 1908–1928
Preceded by	John McLachlan
Succeeded by	electorate abolished
Personal details
Born	18 October 1867 Christchurch, New Zealand
Died	26 September 1946 (aged 78) Ashburton, New Zealand
Political party	Reform

Biography

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1908–1909	18th	Ashburton		Independent
1909–1911	Changed allegiance to:			Reform
1911–1914	19th	Ashburton		Reform
1914–1919	20th	Ashburton		Reform
1919–1922	21st	Ashburton		Reform
1922–1925	22nd	Ashburton		Reform
1925–1928	23rd	Ashburton		Reform

Nosworthy stood in the Ashburton electorate in the 1908 election. The Second Ballot Act was in force and on election night, he was in third place behind David Jones. Nosworthy encouraged his supporters to vote for Jones in the second ballot. After a recount, the situation was reversed (Nosworthy was 30 votes ahead) and Jones advertised for his supporters to vote for Nosworthy, and indeed, Nosworthy was successful in the second ballot.[1][2]

Nosworthy held this electorate until his retirement at the 1928 election, serving through six terms of Parliament.[2]

He was first appointed to Cabinet in 1919, being appointed Minister of Agriculture (1919–1925) and then Minister of Immigration (1920–1925) by William Massey.[3] When Massey died in 1925, Nosworthy gained the more important role of Minister of Finance in the interim government of Francis Bell.[4]

Nosworthy contested the leadership race to succeed Massey, but was defeated by Gordon Coates. He continued to serve as Minister of Finance until the following year, when he was given the External Affairs portfolio instead (1926–1928). He held this position until his retirement from politics in 1928.[5][6]

He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1929[7] and was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal in 1935.[8]

Notes

1. "The Ashburton Seat". The Press. LXIV (13278). 20 November 1908. p. 6. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
2. Wilson 1985, p. 223.
3. Wilson 1985, p. 77.
4. Wilson 1985, p. 78.
5. Wilson 1985, p. 79.
6. New Zealand Parliamentary Debates, Vols 211-219 (1926-1928).
7. "No. 33472". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 March 1929. p. 1439.
8. "Official jubilee medals". The Evening Post. CXIX (105). 6 May 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 17 November 2013.

References

• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.