Adam Hamilton
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The Honourable Adam Hamilton |
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Hamilton in 1926
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| 14th Leader of the Opposition | |
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In office 2 November 1936 – 26 November 1940 |
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| Preceded by | George Forbes |
| Succeeded by | Sidney Holland |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Wallace |
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In office 1919 – 1922 |
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| Preceded by | John Charles Thomson |
| Succeeded by | John Charles Thomson |
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In office 1925 – 1946 |
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| Preceded by | John Charles Thomson |
| Succeeded by | Tom Macdonald |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
20 August 1880 Forest Hill, Southland, New Zealand |
| Died | 29 April 1952 (aged 71) Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand |
| Political party | Reform, later National |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Ann McDonald (m.1913) |
| Relations | John Ronald Hamilton (brother) |
| Children | None |
| Profession | Retailer |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
Adam Hamilton (20 August 1880 – 29 April 1952) was a New Zealand politician. He was the first non-interim leader of the National Party during its early years in Opposition.
Hamilton was born in Forest Hill, near Winton, Southland. He originally trained to become a Presbyterian minister, but later decided not to pursue this course. He married Mary Ann McDonald in 1913, and in 1914, he and his brother John Ronald Hamilton started a grain business in Winton. In World War I, he was rejected for service on medical grounds.
In the 1919 election, Hamilton was elected to Parliament in the Southland seat of Wallace, standing as a Reform Party candidate. His brother John Ronald Hamilton was also elected, winning the neighbouring seat of Awarua from Joseph Ward. The brothers then sold their business, although Adam Hamilton remained active in the Southland agricultural sector. In the 1922 election, the brothers were both defeated, but they regained their seats in the 1925 election. Adam Hamilton retained his seat until his retirement, although his brother was defeated again in 1928.
When the Reform Party formed a coalition with the United Party, Hamilton was made Minister of Internal Affairs. He also served, at various times, as Minister of Telegraphs, Postmaster General, Minister of Labour, and Minister of Employment. He was not popular in these roles – Great Depression had resulted in high levels of unemployment, and Hamilton was often criticised for the government's failure to improve the situation. He was also criticised when the Post and Telegraph Department jammed a pro-Labour broadcast on a private radio station by Colin Scrimgeour just before the 1935 general election. Hamilton denied knowledge of the jamming, but his reputation was nevertheless damaged.
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