Moses Ayrton

Moses Ayrton (15 July 1878 – 3 October 1950) was a New Zealand Methodist minister and socialist.

Biography Early life He was born in Yeadon, Yorkshire, England on 15 July 1878. His parents were Moses Airton, who was a woolen waste dealer, and his wife Martha Chappell. Ayrton worked through his youth as a grocer's assistant and also became a Wesleyan Methodist lay reader. He also became politically minded and joined the Independent Labour Party which reflected his Christian beliefs, compassion and social conscience. He later served as the Labour Party's secretary from 1920 until 1922.

Later life and death Ayrton retired from the church in 1945, but still continued to perform some ministerial duties. His first wife Ethel died on 23 October 1939. Ayrton married Grace Pinfold (née Darling), at Wellington on 10 June 1948. After some years of poor health he died at Wellington on 3 October 1950. He was survived by his second wife Grace and his children.