Geoffrey Fantham Sim QSO (2 April 1911 – 27 March 2002) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Biography

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1943–1946 27th Rotorua National
1946–1949 28th Waikato National
1949–1951 29th Waikato National
1951–1954 30th Waikato National
1954–1957 31st Waikato National
1957–1960 32nd Waikato National
1960–1963 33rd Waikato National
1963–1966 34th Piako National

Sim was born at Ngatapa near Gisborne in 1911. He received his education at Morrinsville, Pukekohe High School, and King's College. At the latter school, he was a lightweight boxing champion. After school, he was a farmer at Waimārama, was involved in felling bush, was a driver in the Onewhero and Thames region, became head shepherd at Crossland Station near Kaipara Harbour, before working as a stock agent in Waiuku.[1]

In World War II, he served in the Middle East. At Sidi Rezegh, he lost an eye, an arm, and the use of one leg. While he was in hospital, he became a prisoner of war.[1]

He returned to New Zealand in 1943. The National Party nominated him in the Rotorua electorate for the 1943 election, where he was successful.[2] At the end of the parliamentary term in 1946, the Rotorua electorate was abolished,[3] and he successfully contested the Waikato electorate at the 1946 election. He held Waikato until 1963, when that electorate was also abolished.[4] In the 1963 election, he successfully contested the Piako electorate, and retired at the end of the next parliamentary term in 1966. From 1958 to 1960 he was Shadow Minister of Maori Affairs while National was in opposition.[5]

He was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services in the 1978 New Year Honours.[2][6]

Sim died in 2002.[7]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Gustafson 1986, p. 342.
  2. 1 2 Wilson 1985, p. 234.
  3. ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 271.
  4. ↑ Wilson 1985, pp. 234, 273.
  5. ↑ "National Party Caucus". The New Zealand Herald. 21 March 1958. p. 12.
  6. ↑ "No. 47420". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 31 December 1977. p. 42.
  7. ↑ Obituary — Geoffrey Fantham Sim. New Zealand Hansard, 17 April 2002. Retrieved 2 July 2013.

References

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


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