Pressly Hemingway Matthews | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 2nd Leader of the Social Credit Party | |
| In office 8 May 1960 – 13 May 1962 | |
| Deputy | John O'Brien |
| Preceded by | Wilfrid Owen |
| Succeeded by | Vernon Cracknell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 February 1903 New Zealand |
| Died | 25 September 1967 (aged 64) Tākaka, New Zealand |
| Political party | Social Credit |
Pressly Hemingway Matthews (21 February 1903 – 25 September 1967) was a New Zealand politician and the second leader (1960–1962) of New Zealand's Social Credit Party.
Biography
He became leader in 1960 for the 1960 general election but the campaign opening was a disaster as he altered his address just before the opening meeting, and three candidates missed the nomination deadline. He was replaced by Vernon Cracknell in 1962.[1] Zavos describes Mr Presley [sic] Matthews as an obscure (even to Social Crediters) leader.
Matthews had been a broadcasting technician and unionist in Auckland; he was first president (1934) of the Radio Workers Union and worker's representative on the Arbitration Court. He was also a local activist in Orakei, and had been in the Labour Party for many years until he resigned in 1939.
About 1951 he moved to Tākaka to farm, and formed a branch of Social Credit. He stood in the Buller electorate in the 1957 election and 1960 election, coming third each time; and also stood in the Buller 1962 by-election.
In May 1960 Matthews was elected party leader and his 1960 manifesto proposed policies such as introducing a Bill of Rights to limit the powers of Government, free travel to pensioners on Government-owned services outside of holiday periods, rationalising trading hours and holding a referendum on the liquor licensing debate.[2]
He died in Tākaka in 1967, aged 64.
References
- ↑ "New Social Credit President". The New Zealand Herald. 14 May 1962. p. 3.
- ↑ Gully, John Sidney. "Social Credit Political League". In McLintock, A. H. (ed.). An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- Who's Who in New Zealand (7th edition, 1961)
- Crusade: Social Credit's drive for power by Spiro Zavos, page 81 (1981, INL Print, Lower Hutt) ISBN 0-86464-025-0
- Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946-1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. p. 204. ISBN 0-475-11200-8.
- Buller electoral roll 1957: Matthews, Pressly Hemingway, Central Takaka, company director.