David Wilson

David Wilson (6 July 1880 – 24 August 1977) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. Through membership of the Legislative Council, he was a minister in the First Labour Government.

Biography Early life and career He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, a tailor, and was a union organiser in Derbyshire, England, before migrating to Australia in 1911. He set up his own tailoring store but went out of business in 1915 following a fall in demand due to men serving overseas. In 1916 he moved to New Zealand with his wife and two children where he found work in first Nelson then Auckland as a designer and cutter at several tailoring firms. In he was campaign manager to Labour leader Michael Joseph Savage in Auckland West. Wilson wrote a well publicised pamphlet on progress made by the government in its first year. Titled History in the Making it was published in London by the New Fabian Research Bureau. In he was overall campaign manager for Labour's election campaign where Labour boosted their vote percentage by 10 percentage points.

Diplomatic career He was High Commissioner to Canada and New Zealand delegate to the UN General Assembly 1944–47, and to FAO 1945, UNESCO and UNICEF 1946–47.

Later life and death Drawing on his experiences he authored two books History in the Making and Preferential Voting System Explained. He was also an enthusiast for soccer, theatre and travelling.

A 91-year old Wilson was a guest of honour at the first meeting of caucus following Labour's victory in the 1972 election and oversaw the election of the cabinet for the Third Labour Government.

He died in Wellington Hospital on 24 August 1977. He was survived by his daughter, his wife and son had predeceased him.