Fred Jones

Frederick Jones (born Charles Frederick Benney Dunshea; 16 November 1884 – 25 May 1966) was a New Zealand trade unionist, Member of Parliament and the Defence Minister during World War II. His biographer stated that Jones "...symbolised the ordinary Labour man: modest, hard working, patient, tolerant, and above all, loyal."

Biography Early life and career Jones was born Charles Frederick Benney Dunshea in Dunedin on 16 November 1884. His mother then married Charles Jones in 1890. He first entered trade aged 14 in 1898 as a draper. Three years later he became an apprentice bootmaker. In 1910 he married Jessie Agnes Hudson with whom he had three sons. That same year, after finishing his apprenticeship, he joined Messrs Sargood, Son and Ewen Ltd. as a boot clicker. He worked there for 21 years until his election to Parliament.

During this time he became a trade unionist, joining the Bootmakers' Union for over 30 years. He worked his way up the union hierarchy and eventually became president of the union. He was also secretary of the Employees' Sick Benefit Society. In 1912 he joined the Otago Trades Council (of which he served as president three times) and became a member of the Dunedin branch of the first Labour Party.

During the Great Depression Jones was chairman of the tramways committee. On the council he fought for various proposals, but following his elevation to Cabinet he was unable to play as active a role in local affairs as he wished. The 1935 election resulted in a Labour majority on the council, however many of the councillors who were also MPs and became unable to effectively fulfil their civic duties. Between March 1936 and March 1937 Jones was able to attend only two percent of council and committee meetings leading him to resign that December.

His eldest son Ernest Frederick Jones, a returned prisoner of war, stood as the Labour Party candidate for Mayor of Dunedin at the 1947 local elections. However he was beaten convincingly by incumbent Donald Cameron.

Following the defeat of the Labour government in 1949 he stood again for the city council at the 1950 local-body elections. He was successful and remained a member until 1958 when he again resigned when he accepted a diplomatic posting. He served a second spell as deputy mayor from 1953 to 1956.

He was also a member of both the Otago Harbour Board and the Otago Hospital Board. and in 1953 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.

Diplomatic career Following the election of the Second Labour Government he was appointed by Prime Minister Walter Nash as New Zealand's High Commissioner to Australia in 1958. He served for three years until he retired after the expiry of his term in 1961.

Later life and death In retirement he became president of the Dunedin Homing Pigeon Club and a trustee of Caversham kindergarten. He also furthered his involvement in horse racing, a sport which he had a lifelong interest despite never owning any horses himself.

His wife Jessie died in 1941. Her brother Wally likewise became a Labour MP in 1946.

He died on 25 May 1966, aged 81. He was survived by his three sons.