Sydney George Smith

Sydney George Smith (19 January 1879 – 21 May 1943) was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party and then the National Party, and a cabinet minister.

Early life

Smith was born in New Plymouth in 1879. His parents were the MHR Edward Smith and Mary Ann Golding. He enjoyed rugby during his youth, and later became an administrator for the sport for the Taranaki Region.

On 19 November 1901, he married Elsie Rose Herbert (known as Rose) at St Mary's Church in New Plymouth. She was a daughter of G H Herbert of the Royal Engineers. They had three children: Rosa Maud (b. 1902), Ethel Mary (b. 1905), and Edward George (b. 1906). He had a further three children from his second marriage: Raymond Sydney (1916–1944), Harry Allman (1918–1998), and Lorna Hazel (b. 1922).

He was confirmed at the , and in successfully stood as a Liberal–Labour candidate. In 1925 he stood unsuccessfully for New Plymouth for the Liberal Party. He was successful in and returned to Parliament for the United Party until he was defeated at the by Labour candidate Fred Frost.

Smith was Minister of Labour and Minister of Mines in the United Government from 28 May 1930 to 22 September 1931. He was Minister of Education in the United–Reform Coalition from 22 November 1934 to 6 December 1935. He was Chairman of Committees from 11 December 1928 to 28 May 1930, and again from 27 October 1931 to 12 February 1935.

In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.

Death Smith, who was known as Sid to his friends, died on 21 May 1943 at New Plymouth, He was survived by his second wife and his six children. All three of his sons were at the time serving overseas in World War II.