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Norman Shelton

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New Zealand politician

The HonourableNorman SheltonCBE
23rd Minister of Industries and Commerce
In office
12 December 1969 – 9 February 1972
Prime MinisterKeith Holyoake
Preceded byJack Marshall
Succeeded byBrian Talboys
41st Minister of Customs
In office
24 January 1962 – 12 December 1969
Prime MinisterKeith Holyoake
Preceded byJack Marshall
Succeeded byLance Adams-Schneider
19th Minister of Health
In office
12 December 1960 – 24 January 1962
Prime MinisterKeith Holyoake
Preceded byRex Mason
Succeeded byDon McKay
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Rangitikei
In office
13 November 1954 – 25 November 1972
Preceded byEdward Gordon
Succeeded byRoy Jack
Personal details
Born28 June 1905
Taihape, New Zealand
Died14 July 1980
Wellington, New Zealand
Political partyNational
SpouseDorothy Mamie Stevens
Children1
RelativesSharon Crosbie (daughter-in-law)

Norman Leslie Shelton, CBE (28 June 1905 – 14 July 1980) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Biography

Early life and career

Shelton was born on 27 June 1905 in Taihape and was subsequently educated at Fielding Technical School. He then entered the employment of Hodder and Tolley Ltd in 1920 as a salesman. In 1934 he was appointed manager of the company's Marton branch which he held until 1954 when he resigned. In 1935 he married Dorothy Mamie Stevens. He was interested in music and sung baritone. He was actively involved with the Marton Players and Marton Music Society.

During World War II he was an artillery gunner and posted to the Pacific, Egypt and Italy from 1943 to 1944.

After returning from the war Shelton was president and treasurer of the Marton A & P Association as well as secretary of the Rangitikei Potato Growers Association. He was an advisory member of the Marton Young Farmers, patron of the Marton Scouts and Venturers club and a member of the Marton Jockey and Racing Club.

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1954–1957 31st Rangitikei National
1957–1960 32nd Rangitikei National
1960–1963 33rd Rangitikei National
1963–1966 34th Rangitikei National
1966–1969 35th Rangitikei National
1969–1972 36th Rangitikei National

He was a member of the National Party and was chairman of the party's Rangitikei electorate committee from 1951 until 1954. He then represented the Rangitikei electorate from 1954 to 1972, when he retired.

He was a Cabinet Minister, including Minister of Health and Minister of Minister of Social Security 1960–1962; Minister of Customs, 1962–1969; Minister of Industries and Commerce, and Minister of Mines, 1969–1972. Prime Minister Keith Holyoake was unsure as to Shelton's inclusion into cabinet after National's win in 1960. Deputy Prime Minister Jack Marshall was convinced of Shelton's administrative ability and ensured Holyoake gave him a place in cabinet.

In December 1967 Shelton and his wife were in a road accident. Their car collided with a car towing a boat just south of the Manawatu River bridge at Foxton causing it to fall down a 40 foot bank. Both of Shelton's legs were broken, including comprehensive damage to ligaments and kneecaps. His wife suffered cuts and bruising while the three people in the other vehicle were unharmed despite their vehicle being overturned. He was taken to Palmerston North Hospital for recovery. He was there for several months and occupied his time doing his ministerial paperwork, contrasting with expectations that he would resign.

He was described by contemporaries as the best minister in the Holyoake cabinet. He was ranked third in the cabinet and was Acting prime minister on several occasions. A man of undoubted ability, he lacked the charisma and ambition to pursue the leadership of the party and by 1970 he was suffering ill-health due to a gall bladder ailment which induced him to retire.

Later life and death

After retiring he was a newspaper music critic in Wanganui. In the 1973 Queen's Birthday Honours, Shelton was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for public services.

He died in Wellington Hospital in 1980, aged 75 years, after suffering from a heart complaint. He was survived by his wife Dorothy and son Lindsay. Lindsay was married to famous broadcaster Sharon Crosbie.

Notes

  1. ^ Gustafson 1986, p. 342.
  2. ^ "Former Crown Minister dies". Auckland Star. 15 July 1980. p. 2.
  3. ^ Wilson 1985, p. 234.
  4. Wilson 1985, p. 89.
  5. Marshall 1989, p. 6.
  6. "Cabinet Minister Injured in Crash". The Press. Vol. CVII, no. 31543. 4 December 1967. p. 24.
  7. "New Customs Man?". Otago Daily Times. 18 December 1967.
  8. Gustafson 1986, p. 102.
  9. Gustafson 1986, p. 104.
  10. "No. 45985". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 2 June 1973. p. 6507.

References

  • Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
  • Marshall, Jack (1989). John Marshall Memoirs Volume Two: 1960-1988. Auckland: Collins. ISBN 1-86950-003-2.
  • Wilson, James Oakley (1985) . New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 (4 ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded byEdward Gordon Member of Parliament for Rangitikei
1954–1972 		Succeeded byRoy Jack
Political offices
Preceded byRex Mason Minister of Health
1960–1962 		Succeeded byDon McKay
Preceded byMabel Howard Minister of Social Security
1960–1962
Preceded byJack Marshall Minister of Customs
1962–1969 		Succeeded byLance Adams-Schneider
Minister of Industries and Commerce
1969–1972 		Succeeded byBrian Talboys
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