James O'Brien (New Zealand politician)

The Honourable James O'Brien
File:Jim O'Brien.jpg
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Westland
In office 1922 – 1925
Preceded by	Tom Seddon
Succeeded by	Tom Seddon
In office 1928 – 1947
Preceded by	Tom Seddon
Succeeded by	Jim Kent
Personal details
Born	8 June 1874 Forest Creek, Victoria, Australia
Died	28 September 1947 Wellington, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Spouse(s)	Kate Teresa Flaherty (m. 1909; wid. 1949)

Peter James O'Brien (8 June 1874 – 28 September 1947) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Early life

O'Brien was born in 1874 at Forest Creek, near Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia. His parents of Irish descent were Terence O’Brien, a miner, and Bridget O’Leary. He was christened Peter James, but his first name was never used; many knew him as Jim or Briney. After having worked as a miner in various Australian states, O'Brien emigrated to New Zealand in 1904 and found employment as a coalminer in Reefton.

Political career

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1922–1925	21st	Westland		Labour
1928–1931	23rd	Westland		Labour
1931–1935	24th	Westland		Labour
1935–1938	25th	Westland		Labour
1938–1943	26th	Westland		Labour
1943–1946	27th	Westland		Labour
1946–1947	28th	Westland		Labour

O'Brien became active in the socialist circles that developed on the West Coast. He became president of the Westland Certificated Engine-drivers' and Firemen's Union, and was the president of the Runanga Co-operative Society. Standing on a socialist ticket, he was voted onto the inaugural Runanga Borough Council in 1912. In 1913, he supported Paddy Webb's successful by-election campaign in the Grey electorate for the Social Democratic Party, and later became the president of the Runanga branch of the party.

He represented the Westland electorate in Parliament from the 1922 election, when he defeated Tom Seddon. He lost the electorate in the 1925 election to Tom Seddon, but won it back in 1928, and held it to 1947, when he died.

He was a Minister in the First Labour Government. He was Minister of Transport (9 December 1942 – 28 September 1947), Minister of Marine (9 December 1942 – 28 September 1947), Minister of Labour (27 June 1946 – 19 December 1946) and Minister of Mines (27 June 1946 – 19 December 1946). He remained an MP until his death, which caused a by-election held in December 1947 that was won by Labour's James Begg Kent.

In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.

Family and death

O'Brien married Kate Teresa Flaherty on 29 June 1909 in Greymouth. He died in Wellington on 28 September 1947. His wife survived him; they had no children.

References

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Tom Seddon	Member of Parliament for Westland 1922–1925 1928–1947	Succeeded by Tom Seddon
		Succeeded by Jim Kent