David Spence Thomson

The Right Honourable
David Spence Thomson
CMG, MC, ED
Minister of Defence
In office
1966–1972
Prime Minister Keith Holyoake
Preceded by Dean Jack Eyre
Succeeded by Allan McCready
In office
1980–1984
Prime Minister Rob Muldoon
Preceded by Frank Gill
Succeeded by Frank O'Flynn
Minister of Tourism
In office
1967–1969
Prime Minister Keith Holyoake
Preceded by Rob Muldoon
Succeeded by Bert Walker
Minister of Police
In office
1969–1972
Prime Minister Keith Holyoake
Preceded by New office
Succeeded by Percy Benjamin Allen
Minister of Labour
Assumed office
1972
Prime Minister Keith Holyoake
Preceded by Jack Marshall
Succeeded by Hugh Watt
Minister of Immigration
Assumed office
1972
Prime Minister Jack Marshall
Preceded by Jack Marshall
Succeeded by Fraser Colman
Minister of Justice
In office
1975–1978
Prime Minister Rob Muldoon
Preceded by Martyn Finlay
Succeeded by Jim McLay
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Stratford
In office
1963–1978
Preceded by Tom Murray
Succeeded by Constituency abolished
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Taranaki
In office
1978–1984
Preceded by In abeyance (last held by Charles Bellringer)
Succeeded by Roger Maxwell
Personal details
Born (1915-11-15)15 November 1915
Stratford
Died 25 October 1999(1999-10-25) (aged 83)
Political party National Party
Spouse(s) June Grace (née Adams)
Children Four
Profession Dairy farmer

David Spence Thomson, CMG, MC, ED, PC (14 November 1915 – 25 October 1999), was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Biography

Thomson was born in Stratford, the son of former Stratford mayor Percy Thomson. He was a dairy farmer.

He served in the Army in the Middle East in World War II and was a Prisoner of War in 1942. He was awarded the Military Cross (MC) in 1942. He married June Grace (née Adams) in April 1942. They had one son and three daughters.[1]

In the post war years he was chairman of the Federated Farmers.[2]

Parliamentary career

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate Party
1963–1966 34th Stratford National
1966–1969 35th Stratford National
1969–1972 36th Stratford National
1972–1975 37th Stratford National
1975–1978 38th Stratford National
1978–1981 39th Taranaki National
1981–1984 40th Taranaki National

He represented the Stratford electorate from 1963 to 1978, and then the Taranaki electorate from 1978 to 1984, when he retired.[3] He was a cabinet minister, holding the positions of Minister of Defence,[4] Minister of Justice,[5] Minister of Labour,[6] Minister of Immigration,[6] and Minister of Tourism.[7]

In the 1993 New Year Honours, Thomson was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, for public services.[8]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Who's Who in New Zealand, 8th edition 1964
  2. ↑ David E. Walter: Stratford: Shakespearean Town Under The Mountain. Stratford District Council 2005. ISBN 1-877399-05-1
  3. ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 240.
  4. ↑ Wilson 1985, pp. 90, 94.
  5. ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 94.
  6. 1 2 Wilson 1985, p. 91.
  7. ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 90.
  8. ↑ London Gazette (supplement), No. 53154, 30 December 1992. Retrieved 9 January 2013.

References

Political offices
Preceded by
Martyn Finlay		 Minister of Justice
1975–1978 		Succeeded by
Jim McLay
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Thomas Murray		 Member of Parliament for Stratford
1963–1978 		Constituency abolished
In abeyance
Title last held by
Charles Bellringer		 Member of Parliament for Taranaki
1978–1984 		Succeeded by
Roger Maxwell
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