Allen c. 1950s

Percy Benjamin Allen QSO (30 June 1913 – 19 September 1992) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Biography

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1957 31st Bay of Plenty National
1957–1960 32nd Bay of Plenty National
1960–1963 33rd Bay of Plenty National
1963–1966 34th Bay of Plenty National
1966–1969 35th Bay of Plenty National
1969–1972 36th Bay of Plenty National
1972–1975 37th Bay of Plenty National

Allen was born at Auckland in 1913, the son of Charles Percival Allen.[1] He received his education at Te Aroha School and Rotorua Boys' High School.[2] In 1939, he married Peggy Donaldson, the daughter of William Donaldson. They had one son and one daughter.[1] He fished and played golf for recreation.[1]

He participated in World War II and served in the Pacific, Italy and Egypt, where he was wounded at El Alamein. He had the rank of major at the end of the war. He had his own plastering business after the war.[2]

Allen was on the Rotorua RSA and on the Rotorua Borough Council.[2]

He represented the Bay of Plenty electorate in Parliament from 1957, when he won the 1957 by-election after the resignation of Bill Sullivan, until 1975, when he retired because of ill-health.[2][3]

He was a Cabinet minister from 1963 to 1972 in the Second National Government. He was appointed as Minister of Works by Keith Holyoake on 20 December 1963,[4] succeeding Stan Goosman, who had retired at the 1963 election.[5] In 1969, he became Minister of Electricity.[4] When Jack Marshall became Prime Minister in 1972, Allen maintained the Works portfolio, relinquished Electricity, but gained the role as Minister of Police. His ministerial roles finished when the Third Labour Government took over on 8 December 1972.[6]

He was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services in the 1976 New Year Honours,.[7] and was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[8] He died in Whakatane on 19 September 1992.[8]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Traue 1978, p. 41.
  2. ^ a b c d Gustafson 1986, p. 297.
  3. ^ Wilson 1985, p. 179.
  4. ^ a b Wilson 1985, p. 90.
  5. ^ Wilson 1985, pp. 89, 200.
  6. ^ Wilson 1985, p. 91.
  7. ^ "No. 46778". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1976. p. 36.
  8. ^ a b Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 45. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.

References

New Zealand Parliament Preceded byBill Sullivan Member of Parliament for Bay of Plenty 1957–1975 Succeeded byDuncan MacIntyre Political offices Preceded byDean Eyre Minister of Police 1963–19691972 Succeeded byDavid Thomson Preceded byDavid Thomson Succeeded byMick Connelly
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