James Donald

Sir James Bell Donald (13 October 1879 – 4 December 1971) was a United Party Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister in Auckland, New Zealand.

Biography Early life Donald was born in Auckland on 13 October 1879. He was the second son of Mr. Alexander Bell Donald, a local merchant and trader, who owned the firm of Donald and Edeuborough. Donald studied at Queen's College and then entered his father's profession and would later become the firm's managing director. By the age of 48 he became a justice of the peace. He left the United Party and joined the anti-socialist Democrat Party. In August 1935 the Auckland provincial executive of the Democrat Party elected Donald its chairman of committees. At the 1935 general election he stood again for the Auckland East seat as the Democrat candidate. He placed third out of four candidates.

He was also a long serving member of the Auckland City Council serving 18 years between 1923 and 1941. Additionally, from 1935 was the council's representative on the Auckland Harbour Board where he became deputy chairman. In 1946 he was chairman of the Harbour Board until 1947 when he declined to seek re-election. He was a leading member of the Citizens & Ratepayers Association and was its chairman for 16 years between 1935 and 1951.

Later life and death After exiting Parliament he resumed his business activities in Auckland. In 1936 he became a director of the Northern Roller Milling Company and was chairman of the board of directors from 1954 to 1959 before retiring from the board in 1960.

Donald died in 1971 aged 92.