Sidney Holland

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Sir Sidney George Holland, GCMG, CH (October 18, 1893-August 5, 1961) was Prime Minister of New Zealand from December 13, 1949 to September 20, 1957.

[edit] Early life

Holland was born in Greendale in the Canterbury region of the South Island, one of eight children. His father was a farmer and merchant, and was elected mayor of Christchurch in 1912. Holland was a prominent sportsman and sports administrator, representing Canterbury at provincial and inter-island level in hockey. After retiring from playing, he managed the New Zealand representative hockey team on an unbeaten tour of Australia in the 1932 and was a prominent hockey referee. In business, he worked for the successful family engineering company in Christchurch.^[1]. He also has some relatives in the United Kingdom.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Political career

He came from a politically prominent family and his father, Henry Holland served as Mayor of Christchurch from 1912 to 1919. Sidney was elected to Parliament in 1935 after replacing his father in elections for his seat, due to Henry's ill health. In 1940 he became leader of the National Party and served as Leader of the Opposition for nearly ten years, until the National Party won the 1949 elections.

He represented the Christchurch North electorate from 1935 to 1946, and then the Fendalton electorate from 1946 to 1957.

[edit] Prime Minister

His First National Government implemented economic reforms, dismantling many state controls. In 1951, the National government signed the ANZUS defence agreement with Australia and the United States. The government also undertook constitutional change in 1950, by abolishing the Legislative Council, the upper house of Parliament, on the grounds that it was ineffectual. Subsequently New Zealand has had a unicameral parliament.

In 1951, Holland caused controversy by confronting striking dockers and coal miners intent on what he called "industrial anarchy". He ordered the army to unload cargo from key ports and called a snap election, on the basis of this decision. The National Party was re-elected with an increased majority.

[edit] Resignation and later life

Following a period of ill health, Holland stepped down as Prime Minister in September 1957 and was replaced by Keith Holyoake.

Holland was knighted after stepping down as Prime Minister and retired at the November 1957 general election. He died in Wellington Hospital after suffering further ill health in 1961.

His son Eric Holland became a National MP for Fendalton and Riccarton (1967–81) and a cabinet minister (1975–78).

[edit] Significance of Holland's legacy

Holland was one of New Zealand’s most significant politicians. It was due not only because of his 22 years as an MP, of which 17 was as party leader, and almost eight as Prime Minister, or because of the achievements of his government between 1949 and 1957. His major contribution was undoubtedly the role he played in the creation and consolidation of the National Party, which was to dominate New Zealand politics for much of the latter half of the twentieth century.

[edit] References

• Prime Ministers' Office biography
• Gustafson, B. The first 50 years. Auckland, 1986
• Obit. Evening Post. 5 Aug. 1961: 18
• Wilson, J. O. ‘Holland, Sir Sidney George’. In An encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Ed. A. H. McLintock. Wellington, 1966

 

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