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The HonourableSir Robert MacfarlaneKCMG
Robert Macfarlane in ca 1951
14th Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office 21 January 1958 – 28 October 1960
Prime Minister	Walter Nash
Preceded by	Matthew Oram
Succeeded by	Ronald Algie
37th Mayor of Christchurch
In office 18 November 1950 – 17 May 1958
Preceded by	Ernest Andrews
Succeeded by	George Manning
In office 11 May 1938 – 17 May 1941
Preceded by	John Beanland
Succeeded by	Ernest Andrews
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Christchurch Central
In office 27 November 1946 – 29 November 1969
Preceded by	new electorate
Succeeded by	Bruce Barclay
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Christchurch South
In office 3 June 1939 – 27 November 1946
Preceded by	Ted Howard
Succeeded by	electorate abolished
Personal details
Born	Robert Mafeking Haynes (1900-05-17)17 May 1900 Christchurch, New Zealand
Died	2 December 1981(1981-12-02) (aged 81) Christchurch, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Louisa Jacobs ​(m. 1932)​
Children	2

Sir Robert Mafeking Macfarlane KCMG (né Haynes, 17 May 1900 – 2 December 1981) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. He was a Member of Parliament, served as Speaker of the House of Representatives and was a Mayor of Christchurch.

Early life

Macfarlane was born in Christchurch on 17 May 1900, the son of Emma Rose King Haynes. Born during the Second Boer War, his mother gave him the middle name Mafeking from a town in South Africa that was under siege at the time of his birth. In 1904, he took the surname Macfarlane after his mother married Hugh Macfarlane, a labourer.

He married Louisa Jacobs in 1932 with whom he had two daughters.

Local body politics

Macfarlane was on the Christchurch City Council (1927–1929, 1936–1941, 1947–1959, and 1961–1981), and was Mayor of Christchurch twice, from 1938 to 1941 and from 1950 to 1958. He was at various times a member of the Lyttelton Harbour Board.

Member of Parliament

Macfarlane entered Parliament in 1939 following a by-election, replacing Ted Howard (although Howard's daughter Mabel Howard had hoped to replace him following his death). He was the Member of Parliament for Christchurch South from 1939 to 1946, then for Christchurch Central from 1946 to 1969, when he retired.

From May 1947 until September 1947 he was the Labour Party's junior whip. He was subsequently Labour's senior whip from September 1947 until June 1951.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

He was the 14th Speaker of the House of Representatives during the Second Labour Government (1957–60). As the government held a working majority of one careful management was needed in the house to avoid the government losing a division. Macfarlane at times struggled with his hearing, which was known to be poor, which was further impeded when wearing the formal wig inside the chamber. Many MPs, particularly Keith Holyoake the Leader of the Opposition, would take advantage of this and would challenge, ignore and defy his rulings. Regardless a vote was never lost and later Labour leader Bill Rowling credited Macfarlane's use of 'common sense rather than the rule book' with enabling the government to survive its full term in office.

Macfarlane was given the job of speaker after failing to be elected to cabinet. He had wanted to be Minister of Internal Affairs.

Under Arnold Nordmeyer, and more particularly, Norman Kirk Labour wanted to modernise itself and Macfarlane was among several MPs who became increasingly pressured to retire. In defiance of this he was re-nominated again by local members for the 1966 general election and his nomination was queried by head office. He was allowed to stand again on the stipulation that he would not stand at the 1969 general election.

Honours

In the 1954 Queen's Birthday Honours, Macfarlane was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, and in the 1974 New Year Honours he was elevated to Knight Commander of the same order. In the 1985 New Year Honours, his wife, Louisa, Lady Macfarlane, was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for community service.

Military service

In World War II he served in the Middle East in the ASC of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force for 2½ years.

Notes

1. ^ Clark, Kath. "Macfarlane, Robert Mafeking". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
2. ^ Tizard, R. J. (20 December 1993). "When MPs held on by self-discipline". The New Zealand Herald. p. 8.
3. "Councillors of the City of Christchurch". Christchurch: Christchurch City Council. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
4. "Chairmen and mayors". Christchurch: Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
5. Wilson, James Oakley (1985) . New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 281. OCLC 154283103.
6. New Zealand. Parliament. House of Representatives (1982). Parliamentary Debates. Vol. 443. p. 136.
7. "To Plead Case of Labour M.P.". The Evening Post. 3 May 1966. p. 12.
8. "Mr. Macfarlane Nominated to Stand Again". The Evening Post. 7 May 1966. p. 22.
9. "No. 40190". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 10 June 1954. p. 3299.
10. "No. 46163". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 1 January 1974. p. 35.
11. "No. 49970". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1984. p. 2.

References

• Who's Who in New Zealand, 10th Edition 1971

External links

• Biography with photo at Trade Union website

• 1900 births
• 1982 deaths
• Mayors of Christchurch
• New Zealand Labour Party MPs
• New Zealand military personnel of World War II
• Speakers of the New Zealand House of Representatives
• New Zealand MPs for Christchurch electorates
• Burials at Ruru Lawn Cemetery
• Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
• Christchurch City Councillors
• Deputy mayors of Christchurch
• Unsuccessful candidates in the 1938 New Zealand general election
• Unsuccessful candidates in the 1935 New Zealand general election
• New Zealand Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
• Lyttelton Harbour Board members