David Jones | |
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![]() David Jones in 1925
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13th Minister of Agriculture | |
In office 22 September 1931 – 8 January 1932 |
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Prime Minister | George Forbes |
Preceded by | Alfred Murdoch |
Succeeded by | Charles MacMillan |
Minister of Mines | |
In office 22 September 1931 – 8 January 1932 |
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Prime Minister | George Forbes |
Preceded by | Alfred Murdoch |
Succeeded by | Charles MacMillan |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Kaiapoi |
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In office 17 December 1919 – 15 November 1922 |
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Preceded by | David Buddo |
Succeeded by | David Buddo |
Majority | 50 (0.75%) |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Ellesmere |
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In office 4 November 1925 – 18 October 1928 |
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Preceded by | Heaton Rhodes |
Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
Majority | 634 (8.57%) |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Mid-Canterbury |
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In office 14 November 1928 – 12 November 1931 |
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Preceded by | New constituency |
Succeeded by | Jeremiah Connolly |
Majority | 55 (0.59%) |
Personal details | |
Born |
Templeton, Canterbury, New Zealand |
9 November 1873
Died | 23 September 1941 Wadestown, Wellington, New Zealand |
(aged 67)
Nationality | New Zealand |
Political party | Reform Party |
Occupation | farmer |
Cabinet | Forbes |
David Jones (9 November 1873 – 23 September 1941) was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. In September 1931, he was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Mines in the United/Reform Coalition Government, but he was unexpectedly defeated in the December 1931 general election. He was a farmer and involved with many farming organisations, and was instrumental in forming the New Zealand Farmers Union, which eventually developed into Federated Farmers. Outside parliament, he was best known for his involvement with the New Zealand Meat Producers Board, of which he was the inaugural chairman, and which he chaired for more than a decade.
Jones was born in Templeton in 1873. His father was James Jones (1835–1922), one of the earliest settlers in Canterbury. Jones attended Templeton School.
On 14 September 1899, he married Elizabeth Jane Maginness, the daughter of John Maginness. They were to have one son and four daughters.
Jones first farmed in Weedons near Rolleston. In 1909–1910, he farmed in the Waikato. Next, he farmed in Dunsandel. Apart from the two years in the Waikato, all his farming was in Canterbury.
Jones was one of the instigators of the New Zealand Farmers Union, which eventually developed into Federated Farmers. On three occasions, he was the president of the North Canterbury branch. He belonged to the Wheat Board and, after World War I, the Repatriation Board. He was the chairman of the parliamentary committee that recommended the establishment of the New Zealand Meat Producers Board, and when it was established in 1922, he was appointed as its first chairman. He remained in that role until 1931 and outside his parliamentary activities, this is what he was best known for. He resigned from the position when he was appointed to cabinet. Soon afterwards, he failed to get re-elected in the 1931 election, so he resumed his role as chairman of the Meat Producers Board and held it until 1935. He represented the Meat Producers Board at the 1932 British Empire Economic Conference in Ottawa, Canada. His 1935 resignation came about because he was appointed as member of the Commission of Agriculture.