Thomas Sidey

Sir Thomas Kay Sidey (27 May 1863 – 20 May 1933) was a New Zealand politician from the Otago region, remembered for his successful advocacy of daylight saving time.

Early life Sidey was born on 27 May 1863, to John and Johan Murray Sidey, in the Dunedin suburb of Corstorphine. His father had come to wealth during the Otago gold rush as a storekeeper. Tom Sidey attended Otago Boys' High School and graduated from the University of Otago with a law degree (LLB) in 1889. In the following decade, he worked as a solicitor.

He married Helena (née Baxter) on 17 June 1903. They had one son. The by-election was caused by the death of Arthur Morrison. Sidey joined the Liberal Party as part of its left (radical) wing, and stayed with the party until the end. He represented the Caversham electorate from 1901 to 1908, and then the Dunedin South electorate from 1908 to 1928, when he retired. He was then appointed to the Legislative Council from 1928 until 1933. When Wilford resigned as leader, Sidey was thought to have had strong claims to the leadership. While he was respected due to his length of service in the house and believed by colleagues to have many of the required leadership characteristics, he was not regarded as particularly talented as a parliamentary debater, a deficiency that outweighed his more desirable attributes. Sidey stood for the leadership but was defeated by George Forbes, the party whip.

The Liberal Party was relaunched as the United Party just ahead of the 1928 general election, which it made enough gains to form a government. Sidey was Attorney-General (1928–31) and Minister of Justice (1930–31) in the United government. His his graciousness in making may in the cabinet and refusal to stand against Forbes for the Premiership is thought to have led to his receiving of a knighthood. The Royal Society of New Zealand awards the T. K. Sidey Medal at irregular intervals for "outstanding scientific research".