Roger Drayton
JP
Drayton in 1969
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for St Albans
In office
29 November 1969 – 25 November 1978
Preceded byBert Walker
Succeeded byDavid Caygill
Personal details
Born(1925-01-04)4 January 1925
Templeton, New Zealand
Died21 June 1986(1986-06-21) (aged 61)
Paraparaumu, New Zealand
Political partyLabour
SpouseBetty Noeline Drayton
ChildrenTwo
Military service
Branch/service Royal New Zealand Air Force
Years of service1944–69
Rank Squadron leader
Battles/warsWorld War II

Roger Patrick Blundell Drayton JP (4 January 1925 – 21 June 1986) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Biography

Early life and career

Drayton was born in Templeton. He attended schools at Sockburn and Hornby before finishing his education at Christchurch Boys' High School.[1]

Drayton trained at Wigram after enlisting in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) in 1944, serving until 1969, by which time he had risen to the rank of Squadron leader. He served in the administrative section of the RNZAF and served abroad in Australia, Fiji and Singapore. Following World War II he was employed as a computer systems analyst for the Ministry of Defence.[1]

He was a keen sportsman and represented the RNZAF services teams in both cricket and soccer. He was the secretary of the Combined Services Sports Council in 1959. In 1955, he became secretary of the Ellesmere Cricket Association.[1]

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1969–1972 36th St Albans Labour
1972–1975 37th St Albans Labour
1975–1978 38th St Albans Labour

He represented the St Albans electorate from 1969 to 1978, when he retired.[2] Drayton had a well—earned reputation as one of the best campaigners in the Labour Party after winning a previously thought marginal seat by over 900 votes and increasing his majority after that. Consequently, he was often sought out for advice from candidates and backbench colleagues.[3] Drayton, according to Auckland MP Warren Freer, would never let anyone forget that he was from and represented Christchurch.[4]

After the formation of the Third Labour Government he stood for a seat in the cabinet. He was not elected, which Prime Minister Norman Kirk regretted.[5] He then put himself forward for the positions of Chairman of Committees and junior government whip, but was unsuccessful.[6] In 1973, he stood unsuccessfully for the Labour Party vice-presidency, but was beaten by Grey Lynn MP Eddie Isbey.[7] When Labour was unexpectedly defeated, Drayton retained his seat and in January 1976, he was appointed by Labour leader Bill Rowling as Shadow Minister of State Services.[8] From 1977 to 1978 he was Shadow Minister of Defence.[9] He became Labour's caucus secretary and later was Chief Opposition Whip between 1976 and 1978.[10]

Later life and death

Drayton died at his home in Paraparaumu after a long illness aged 61, survived by his wife, son and daughter.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d "Former Chch M.P. dies". The Press. 25 June 1986. p. 9.
  2. ^ Wilson 1985, p. 193.
  3. ^ Parussini, Peter (2020). Believer: Conversations with Mike Moore. Auckland: Upstart Press. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-990003-04-2.
  4. ^ Freer 2004, p. 151.
  5. ^ Hayward 1981, p. 98.
  6. ^ Freer 2004, p. 199.
  7. ^ Grant 2014, p. 251.
  8. ^ "Surprises Among Party Spokesmen". The New Zealand Herald. 30 January 1976. p. 10.
  9. ^ "Labour reshuffles its Parliamentary spokesmen". The Press. 26 February 1977. p. 1.
  10. ^ Traue 1978, p. 102.

References

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New Zealand Parliament Preceded byBert Walker Member of Parliament for St Albans 1969–1978 Succeeded byDavid Caygill Party political offices Preceded byRon Barclay Senior Whip of the Labour Party 1976–1978 Succeeded byRussell Marshall Political offices Preceded byBill Fraser Shadow Minister of Defence 1977–1978 Succeeded byMick Connelly
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