Arthur Guinness (New Zealand politician)

The Honourable Sir Arthur Guinness
Arthur Guinness in the 1900s
7th Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office 1903 – 10 June 1913
Prime Minister	Richard Seddon
Preceded by	Maurice O'Rorke
Succeeded by	Frederic Lang
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Grey (previously Greymouth)
In office 1884 – 10 June 1913
Succeeded by	Paddy Webb
Personal details
Born	11 January 1846 Calcutta, India
Died	10 June 1913 (aged 67)
Political party	Liberal
Father	Frank Guinness

Sir Arthur Robert Guinness (11 January 1846 – 10 June 1913) was a New Zealand politician, and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Personal information

He was born in Calcutta, India, son of Frank V. Guinness, who arrived at Lyttelton by the ship Tory in August 1852.^[1] He was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch 1854–1859 (being no. 31 on the list).^[2] He received his legal education from Edward Harston and then from Garrick and Cowlishaw,^[3] before being admitted to the bar in 1867.^[4] He then practised as a barrister and solicitor in Greymouth,^[4] where he served on the Westland Provincial Council from 1874–1876,^[5] and was then a member of the Grey County Council from 1876–1890, including nine as its chair.^[4]

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1884–1887	9th	Greymouth		Independent
1887–1890	10th	Greymouth		Independent
1890–1893	11th	Grey		Liberal
1893–1896	12th	Grey		Liberal
1896–1899	13th	Grey		Liberal
1899–1902	14th	Grey		Liberal
1902–1905	15th	Grey		Liberal
1905–1908	16th	Grey		Liberal
1908–1911	17th	Grey		Liberal
1911–1913	18th	Grey		Liberal

Guinness first stood for two-member Grey Valley in the 1876 election and out of the four candidates, he came last.^[6] In his second attempt in 1884, he defeated the incumbent, Joseph Petrie, in the single-member electorate that was by now called Greymouth.^[4] He remained a member of the House of Representatives for Greymouth until 1890, and then represented the Grey electorate until his death in 1913. He belonged to the Liberal Party.^[7]

He was Chairman of Committees from 1893 to 1902,^[8] then the 7th Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1903 until his death in 1913.^[9] Upon the death of William Steward on 30 October 1912, he became Father of the House.^[10] When he died, his replacement from the Grey by-election was Paddy Webb, who was elected on the second ballot with Liberal support.^[11]

Family

In 1875, Guinness married Elisabeth Westbrook, daughter of Mr James Westbrook of Launceston.^[1] He was knighted in 1911.^[7] Guinness died on 10 June 1913 and is buried at Greymouth Cemetery.^[12]

He was a great-grandson of his namesake the Dublin brewer Arthur Guinness (1725–1803).

Notes

1. Cyclopedia of New Zealand 1897, p. 105.
2. Christ’s College Old Boys’ Association 1997.
3. Scholefield 1940, p. 179.
4. Scholefield 1940, pp. 335f.
5. Scholefield 1950, p. 244.
6. "Grey Valley Election". Grey River Argus. XXI (2321). 18 January 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
7. Wilson 1985, p. 201.
8. Wilson 1985, p. 252.
9. Wilson 1985, p. 250.
10. "The Late Sir Arthur Guinness". Colonist. LV (13752). 18 June 1913. p. 1. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
11. Wilson 1985, p. 244.
12. "The Late Sir A. R. Guinness". Grey River Argus. 13 June 1913. p. 4. Retrieved 25 August 2014.

References

• The School list of Christ’s College, 1850 to 1995 (9th ed.), Christchurch, [N.Z.]: Christ’s College Old Boys’ Association, 1997
• Cyclopedia Company Limited (1897). "Mr. Arthur Robert Guinness". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Wellington Provincial District. Wellington: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
• Who’s who in New Zealand and the western Pacific 1908, Wellington, [N.Z.]: Gordon & Gotch, 1908
• Kitchingman, Frederick A. (1965), Guinness and his days, Greymouth, [N.Z.]: Greymouth Evening Star
• Scholefield, Guy, ed. (1940). A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : A–L (PDF). I. Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
• Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.