P. H. Matthews

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This article is about the New Zealand politician. For the English linguist, see Peter Hugoe Matthews.

Pressly Hemingway Matthews
2nd Leader of the Social Credit Party
In office
8 May 1960 – 13 May 1962
DeputyJohn O'Brien
Preceded byWilfrid Owen
Succeeded byVernon Cracknell
Personal details
Born(1903-02-21)21 February 1903
New Zealand
Died25 September 1967(1967-09-25) (aged 64)
Tākaka, New Zealand
Political partySocial Credit

Pressly Hemingway Matthews (21 February 1903 – 25 September 1967) was a New Zealand politician and the second leader (1960–1962) of New Zealand's Social Credit Party.

Biography[edit]

He became leader in 1960 for the 1960 general election but the campaign opening was a disaster as he altered his address just before the opening meeting, and three candidates missed the nomination deadline. He was replaced by Vernon Cracknell in 1962.[1] Spiro Zavos describes Presley [sic] Matthews as an obscure (even to Social Crediters) leader.[2]

Matthews had been a broadcasting technician and unionist in Auckland; he was first president (1934) of the Radio Workers Union and worker's representative on the Arbitration Court. He was also a local activist in Orakei, and had been in the Labour Party for many years until he resigned in 1939.[3]

About 1951 he moved to Tākaka to farm, and formed a branch of Social Credit.[3] He stood in the Buller electorate in the 1957 election and 1960 election, coming third each time; and also stood in the Buller 1962 by-election.[4] He was active with many organisations in Tākaka.[3]

In May 1960 Matthews was elected party leader and his 1960 manifesto proposed policies such as introducing a Bill of Rights to limit the powers of Government, free travel to pensioners on Government-owned services outside of holiday periods, rationalising trading hours and holding a referendum on the liquor licensing debate.[5]

Aged 64, Matthews committed suicide with a gun in Tākaka on 25 September 1967.[6][7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "New Social Credit President". The New Zealand Herald. 14 May 1962. p. 3.
  2. ^ Zavos, Spiro (1981). Crusade: Social Credit's drive for power. Lower Hutt: INL Print. p. 81. ISBN 0-86464-025-0.
  3. ^ a b c Petersen, George Conrad (1961). Who's Who in New Zealand, 1961 (7th ed.). Wellington: A.H. & A.W. Reed. p. 206.
  4. ^ Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946-1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. p. 204. ISBN 0-475-11200-8.
  5. ^ Gully, John Sidney. "Social Credit Political League". In McLintock, A. H. (ed.). An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  6. ^ "Announcements: deaths". The Press. Vol. CVII, no. 31486. 28 September 1967. p. 25. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Former Social Credit Leader". The Press. Vol. CVII, no. 31486. 28 September 1967. p. 20. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  • Buller electoral roll 1957: Matthews, Pressly Hemingway, Central Takaka, company director.
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