Arthur Guinness (New Zealand politician)


Sir Arthur Robert Guinness was a New Zealand politician, and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Personal information

He was born in Calcutta, India, son of Frank Guinness, who arrived at Lyttelton by the ship Tory in August 1852. He was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch 1854–1859. He received his legal education from Edward Harston and then from Garrick and Cowlishaw, before being admitted to the bar in 1867. He then practised as a barrister and solicitor in Greymouth, where he served on the Westland Provincial Council from 1874–1876, and was then a member of the Grey County Council from 1876–1890, including nine as its chair.

Member of Parliament

Guinness first stood for two-member Grey Valley in the 1876 election and out of the four candidates, he came last. In his second attempt in, he defeated the incumbent, Joseph Petrie, in the single-member electorate that was by now called Greymouth. He remained a member of the House of Representatives for Greymouth until 1890, and then represented the Grey electorate until his death in 1913. He belonged to the Liberal Party.
He was Chairman of Committees from 1893 to 1902, then the 7th Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1903 until his death in 1913. Upon the death of William Steward on 30 October 1912, he became Father of the House. When he died, his replacement from the Grey by-election was Paddy Webb, who was elected on the second ballot with Liberal support.

Family

In 1875, Guinness married Elisabeth Westbrook, daughter of Mr James Westbrook of Launceston. He was knighted in 1911. Guinness died on 10 June 1913 and is buried at Greymouth Cemetery.
He was a great-grandson of his namesake the Dublin brewer Arthur Guinness.