Arthur Sexton

Arthur Clifton Axford Sexton (1892–1970) was a New Zealand politician of the Country Party.

Sexton in 1935

Biography

Early life and career

Sexton was born in Auckland in 1892. He was educated at Auckland Grammar School and later was admitted to Auckland University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Law in 1914. He then served in the army during World War I where he was twice wounded (eventually losing a leg) and rose from the rank of Private to that of Captain.[1]

After the war he attended law lectures in London and following being discharged from military service in 1918 he passed his master's degree in laws with honours and also won the senior university scholarship in law for New Zealand in 1919. He then moved to Manurewa and began practising law in Auckland. For a total of 14 years he served as president, vice-president and executive member of the Auckland Returned Services Association.[1]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1935–38	25th	Franklin		Country Party

Sexton unsuccessfully stood for the Auckland City Council as an independent candidate in the 1921 local elections.[2] He was then elected a member of the Manurewa Town Board and for six years was chairman.

He was the Member of Parliament for Franklin from 1935 to 1938, when he was defeated by Jack Massey of the National Party.[3][4]

Harold Rushworth was the other member of parliament for the Country Party, and he retired in 1938. The Country Party disappeared soon after the 1938 election.

References

1. "Biographical Sketches". Otago Daily Times (22740). 28 November 1935. p. 13.
2. "Electoral". LII (106). Auckland Star. 5 May 1921. p. 7. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
3. Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 233. OCLC 154283103.
4. "The General Election, 1938". National Library. 1939. p. 2. Retrieved 8 February 2012.