George Sykes (New Zealand politician)
George Robert Sykes (1867 – July 1957) was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for the Masterton electorate in the North Island.
Member of Parliament
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1911–1914 | 18th | Masterton | Reform | |
| 1914–1919 | 19th | Masterton | Reform | |
| 1919–1922 | 20th | Masterton | Independent | |
| 1922–1925 | 21st | Masterton | Reform | |
| 1925–1928 | 22nd | Masterton | Reform | |
| 1928–1931 | 23rd | Masterton | Reform | |
| 1931–1935 | 24th | Masterton | Reform | |
George Sykes represented the Masterton electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives for 24 years from 1911 to 1935.[1]
Sykes was a member of the Reform Party, but in 1919 successfully stood as an Independent for Masterton,[2][3] whilst some commentators questioned whether the independent Reform candidates in 1919 were not just trying to attract votes from the 'unwary'.[4] In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.[5] He was awarded a Coronation Medal in 1937.[6]
Outside politics
Sykes was a farmer and sheep breeder.[7]
Sykes was buried in the Historic Church Taita; with a memorial in Archer Street Cemetery in Masterton on 31 July 1957.[8]
Notes
- ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 238.
- ↑ Wood 1996, p. 103.
- ↑ "G. R. Sykes". Wairarapa Daily Times. 45 (14003). 13 December 1919. p. 4. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
- ↑ "The Battle of the Ballots". NZ Truth (756). 13 December 1919. p. 7. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
- ↑ "Official jubilee medals". Evening Post. CXIX (105). 6 May 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ↑ Taylor, p. 1030
- ↑ "Masterton". The Evening Post. XCVIII (142). 13 December 1919. p. 5. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
- ↑ "Cemetery Archives Inquiries". Masterton District Council. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
References
- Wood, G. Anthony, ed. (1996). Ministers and Members: In the New Zealand Parliament. Dunedin: Otago University Press.
- Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.