Arthur Rosser

Arthur Rosser (16 April 1864 – 15 February 1954) was a notable New Zealand builder, local-body politician and trade unionist.

Biography Early life He was born in Oystermouth, Glamorganshire, Wales in 1864. His family migrated to New Zealand when he was eight years old and grew up in the Auckland suburb of Newton. Upon completing his education, Rosser became a builder by trade. Whilst working as a carpenter he married Sarah Louisa Craig on 30 November 1886.

Trade union career After he was blacklisted by conservative building contractors due to his links with the Liberal Party, Rosser took up a new career as a union organiser, the first in Auckland. At the next election in , he came seventh. He was one of three candidates in the in the electorate and stood for the Independent Political Labour League when he came last.

Rosser was elected to the Auckland City Council in 1901 but lost his seat in 1903 and later failed to secure re-election in 1907, 1913 and 1931. He regained a seat in 1933, though in 1938 he lost his seat on the council, after standing as an independent. He was unexpectedly denied re-nomination by the Labour Party alongside sitting councillors Ted Phelan and George Gordon Grant. The next year he was expelled from a Labour Party as he had stood against Labour's official municipal candidates.

Later life and death Rosser died at Auckland on 15 February 1954. He was survived by three daughters.