The Honourable Sir Roy Jack
Roy Jack in 1959
16th Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office 22 June 1976 – 24 December 1977†
Prime Minister	Robert Muldoon
Preceded by	Stan Whitehead
Succeeded by	Richard Harrison
In office 26 April 1967 – 9 February 1972
Prime Minister	Keith Holyoake Jack Marshall
Preceded by	Ronald Algie
Succeeded by	Alfred E. Allen
22nd Attorney-General
In office 9 February 1972 – 8 December 1972
Prime Minister	Jack Marshall
Preceded by	Dan Riddiford
Succeeded by	Martyn Finlay
35th Minister of Justice
In office 9 February 1972 – 8 December 1972
Prime Minister	Jack Marshall
Preceded by	Dan Riddiford
Succeeded by	Martyn Finlay
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Rangitīkei
In office 25 November 1972 – 24 December 1977†
Preceded by	Norman Shelton
Succeeded by	Bruce Beetham
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Waimarino Patea (1954–1963)
In office 13 November 1954 – 25 November 1972
Preceded by	William Sheat
Succeeded by	Electorate abolished
Deputy Mayor of Wanganui
In office 1947–1955
Personal details
Born	Roy Emile Jack (1914-01-12)12 January 1914 New Plymouth, New Zealand
Died	24 December 1977(1977-12-24) (aged 63) Wellington, New Zealand
Political party	National
Alma mater	Victoria University of Wellington
Military service
Allegiance	New Zealand
Branch/service	Royal New Zealand Air Force
Years of service	1939–1945
Rank	Flight lieutenant

Sir Roy Emile Jack (12 January 1914 – 24 December 1977) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. He was a cabinet minister and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Biography

Early life and career

Jack was born in New Plymouth in 1914. He was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and graduated from the Victoria University with an LLB. Jack was a Judge's Associate from 1935–1938, before enlisting with the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War Two.^[1] He was first elected onto Wanganui City Council in 1946 and was deputy mayor in the following year. He served on the city council until 1955.^[2]

Member of Parliament

He represented the electorate of Patea from 1954 to 1963, then Waimarino from 1963 to 1972, then Rangitikei from 1972 to 1977 when he died.^[3]

The Waimarino electorate became Rangitikei because of post-census boundary changes before the 1972 election, and though a sitting MP he was challenged by Ruth Richardson (who he had advised about a career in politics). George Chapman who chaired the selection said that "the tensions were tremendous, but Roy was finally confirmed as the candidate."^[4] He had an election-night majority of 2067 in 1972, down from Shelton's 1969 majority of 4214.^[1]

In the 1972 Marshall Ministry of the last year of the Second National Government, he was Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. He was Chairman of Committees between 1961 and 1966. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1967 to 1972 and 1976 to 1977.^[2][1]

Death

Jack underwent surgery in August 1977. He did not resume his parliamentary duties after this operation but stayed in his apartment in Parliament Buildings. He died in 1977 on Christmas Eve in his apartment with his family by his side.^[5]

Honours

In the 1970 Queen's Birthday Honours, Jack was appointed a Knight Bachelor, for outstanding services as Speaker of the House of Representatives.^[2]