Ronald Algie
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The Honourable Sir Ronald Algie |
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| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Remuera |
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In office 25 September 1943 – 26 November 1966 |
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| Preceded by | Bill Endean |
| Succeeded by | Allan Highet |
| 15th Speaker of the House of Representatives | |
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In office 1961 – 26 November 1966 |
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| Prime Minister | Keith Holyoake |
| Preceded by | Robert Macfarlane |
| Succeeded by | Roy Jack |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ronald Macmillan Algie 22 October 1888 Wyndham, New Zealand |
| Died | 23 July 1978 (aged 89) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Political party | National |
| Spouse(s) | Helen Adair McMaster (m. 1917; d. 1944) |
| Profession | Professor |
Sir Ronald Macmillan Algie (22 October 1888 – 23 July 1978) was a New Zealand politician who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives for six years in the 1960s. He described himself as "a Tory in the old tradition".
Algie was born on 22 October 1888, in Wyndham, a small town in New Zealand's Southland Region. He was educated at Arrowtown, Thames High School and Balclutha District High School before attending Auckland University College. He gained an LLB in 1913 and an LLM in 1915. In 1920, aged 31, he became the first professor of law at Auckland University College. He was noted for his strong intellectual performance, and also for his conservative views.
On 4 December 1917 at St Mary's pro-Cathedral, Parnell, Algie married Helen Adair McMaster, a prominent alpinist whose climbs included an ascent of Aoraki / Mount Cook.
In 1937, Algie became the director of the Freedom Association, an organisation which strongly opposed the left-wing Labour Party government of the time. The Freedom Association quickly became linked to the new National Party, and Algie became one of the party's more prominent supporters. In the 1943 elections, Algie was selected as the National Party's candidate for the Remuera electorate, controversially displacing sitting National MP Bill Endean. Algie won the seat and entered Parliament.
Algie proved to be a skilled Parliamentary debater, and has been described by Hugh Templeton as the best debater of his time. Even opponents such as Bob Semple respected Algie's rhetorical abilities. He was also noted for remaining polite throughout debates, and for his willingness to apologise for any offence he accidentally gave.
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