Jim Thorn

James Thorn (1 June 1882 – 21 November 1956) was a New Zealand politician and trade unionist. He was an organiser and candidate for the Independent Political Labour League, Social Democratic Party then the Labour Party.

Biography Early life Thorn was born in Christchurch, educated at Christchurch Boys' High School. He worked in the Addington Railway Workshops and as a journalist. Thorn was a bugler in the third New Zealand Contingent to the Boer War in 1900 and 1901; the experience turned him into a pacifist. He was engaged in trade union and party activity, including 1909 to 1913 in England and Scotland.

He unsuccessfully stood for the Independent Political Labour League in the Christchurch South electorate in the and . In 1907 and 1908, he was President of the Independent Political Labour League.

Political career

In 1914, he moved to Palmerston North and unsuccessfully stood in the in the electorate representing the new Social Democratic Party against the incumbent David Buick and two others, with Buick getting elected.

He met his future wife while living in Palmerston North; Margaret Anderson (1897–1969), 15 years his junior, who had joined the Social Democratic Party with her father. The Thorns married on 8 December 1917 in Wellington. He was imprisoned for opposing conscription in World War I.

He unsuccessfully stood in the electorate in the . From 1943 to 1946 Thorn was Under-Secretary to the Prime Minister. In the , he contested the Otaki electorate again, but was beaten by National's Jimmy Maher.

Later life and death From 1947 to 1950 he was High Commissioner to Canada, and was President of UNESCO in 1949.

Thorn died in 1956 and his ashes were buried at Karori Cemetery, Wellington.