Peter Gordon (politician)

John Bowie Gordon QSO (23 July 1921 – 17 March 1991), known as Peter Gordon, was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

The Right Honourable Peter Gordon QSO
10th Minister of Transport
In office 12 December 1966 – 8 December 1972
Prime Minister	Keith Holyoake Jack Marshall
Preceded by	John McAlpine
Succeeded by	Basil Arthur
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Clutha
In office 1960 – 1978
Preceded by	James Roy
Succeeded by	Robin Gray
Personal details
Born	John Bowie Gordon 23 July 1921[1] Stratford, New Zealand
Died	17 March 1991 (aged 69)
Political party	National
Parents	William Gordon Doris Gordon
Relatives	Graham Gordon (brother)

Biography

Gordon was born in Stratford in 1921 to Stratford doctors William and Doris Gordon. Like his two brothers, he attended St Andrew's College, Christchurch, where he was a boarder from 1935 to 1937.[2] He then attended Lincoln College and the Nuffield School in farming in Crookston, Minnesota.[3]

In World War II, he was a flight lieutenant and pilot for the Royal New Zealand Air Force.[3] After the war, he was a farmer and joined many organisations, where he had leading roles with the West Otago A & P Association (president), Farmers' Mutual Insurance (director, 1952–1960), and Shaw, Savill & Company (member of the New Zealand Advisory Board, 1956–1960).[3]

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1960–1963	33rd	Clutha		National
1963–1966	34th	Clutha		National
1966–1969	35th	Clutha		National
1969–1972	36th	Clutha		National
1972–1975	37th	Clutha		National
1975–1978	38th	Clutha		National

Gordon was the Member of Parliament for Clutha from 1960 to 1978, when he retired for health reasons.[3][4] With Robert Muldoon and Duncan MacIntyre he was one of the three 'Young Turks' of the National Party, a "ginger group" who entered Parliament in 1960.[5]

In 1966 the Prime Minister at the time Keith Holyoake promoted Gordon to the Cabinet,[6] along with several other backbenchers including future Prime Minister Robert Muldoon.[7] In the Second National Government under Keith Holyoake, he was made Minister of Railways (1966–1972), Minister of Transport (1966–1972), and Minister of Civil Aviation (1966–1968).[8] He maintained the transport and railways portfolios under Jack Marshall in 1972, and was made Minister of Marine and Fisheries.[9]

In the Third National Government under Muldoon, Gordon was from 1975 Minister of Labour and Minister of State Services until his retirement in 1978.[10] He was made a Privy Councillor in 1978,[4] and a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services in the 1990 New Year Honours.[11] He died in 1991.

Notes

1. Who's who in the World (Volume 18 ed.). Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, Inc. 1982.
2. St Andrew’s College 1916-1966 (1968, Christchurch) No 1058 p. 208
3. Gustafson 1986, p. 315.
4. Wilson 1985, p. 200.
5. "Obituary: Duncan MacIntyre". The New Zealand Herald. 16 June 2001. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
6. James, Colin (20 January 2004). "Clark's Cabinet must be refreshed to maintain its vigour". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
7. James, Colin (12 September 2005). "New blood needed to hold on to power". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
8. Wilson 1985, p. 90.
9. Wilson 1985, p. 91.
10. Wilson 1985, p. 94.
11. "No. 51982". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 30 December 1989. p. 31.

References

• Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.