John Aitken (politician)

The Honourable John Aitken
Aitken in about 1906
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for City of Wellington
In office 1902–1905
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Wellington East
In office 1905–1908
Preceded by	New electorate
Succeeded by	David McLaren
15th Mayor of Wellington
In office 1900–1905
Preceded by	John Blair
Succeeded by	Thomas William Hislop
Member of the New Zealand Legislative Council
In office 1914–1921
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand
In office 20 November 1917 – 18 February 1919
Personal details
Born	John Guthrie Wood Aitken (1849-02-06)6 February 1849 Kintyre, Argyleshire, Scotland
Died	17 August 1921(1921-08-17) (aged 72) Wellington, New Zealand
Religion	Presbyterian

John Guthrie Wood Aitken (6 February 1849 – 17 August 1921) was the Mayor of Wellington, New Zealand from 1900 to 1905.^[1]

Biography

Early life

Aitken was born at Low Park Farm, Kilchenzie, Kintyre, Argyleshire, Scotland on 6 February 1849 and educated at Campbeltown Grammar School.

Aitken was employed by James Templeton and Co, Glasgow. He was apparently a skilled employee, being sent to London to take charge of the Company, a position he held for 12 years. In 1882 he became acquainted with George Wilson and entered into partnership with him as a general merchant in Wellington, New Zealand. Aitken became a Director of Guardian Insurance Company, the Australian Widows' Fund (which amalgamated with the Mutual Life Association of Australasia), Scoullar and Co, Fresh Food and Ice Co, Consolidated Dental Co, as well as some other companies. He was also Chairman of Directors of the New Zealand Board of the Loan and Mercantile Association.

Political career

John Guthrie Wood Aitken caricature, 1900

In 1899 Aitken entered politics being elected Mayor of Wellington from 1900 to May 1905 when he retired. He represented the City of Wellington electorate from 1902 (he was successful in his first attempt to enter parliament^[2]) to 1905, and then the Wellington East electorate from 1905 to 1908. He did not stand in 1908, thus ending his term. He was a member of the Legislative Council from 1914 to 1921.

He was Chairman of the Wellington Education Board, and in 1917 was the first layman to be Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Aitken was one of the founders of the Boys Institute and assisted developing the YMCA in Wellington. Together with the Rev. Dr James Gibb, Aitken was a co-founder of Scots College and Queen Margaret College. He was a supporter of Bible in Schools and the Prohibition movements.

Death

Aitken died at his home at 2 Levy Street, Wellington on 17 August 1921,^[1] and he was buried at Karori Cemetery.^[3]

External links

• Sketch of John Aitken

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Aitken (Mayor of Wellington).

• Allan, Jonathan Aitken. "A Hearty Vote of Thanks - The Hon. John G. W Aitken, MLC of Wellington" 2013. (ISBN 978-0-473-24804-8)
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103. 

Mayors of Wellington City
Mayors	elected by councillors George Hunter William Guyton Joseph Dransfield Charles Borlase William Sefton Moorhouse elected at large William Hutchison Joseph Dransfield George Allen William Hutchison George Fisher Arthur Winton Brown Samuel Brown John Duthie Charles Johnston Arthur Winton Brown Francis Bell Alfred Brandon Charles Luke George Fisher Francis Bell John Blair John Aitken Thomas William Hislop Alfred Newman Thomas Wilford David McLaren John Luke Robert Wright Charles Norwood George Troup Thomas Hislop Will Appleton Rob Macalister Frank Kitts Michael Fowler Ian Lawrence James Belich Fran Wilde Mark Blumsky Kerry Prendergast Celia Wade-Brown Justin Lester
Mayoral elections	Annual term 1875 1876† 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 Biennial term 1899 1901 1903† 1905 1907 1909 1910‡ 1911† 1912‡ 1913 1915 1917† 1919 1921 1923 1925 1927 1929 1931 1933† Triennial term 1935 1938 1941 1944 1947 1950 1953 1956 1959 1962 1965 1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
† Elected unopposed · ‡ By-election