Adam Hamilton (20 August 1880 - 29 April 1952) was a New Zealand politician. He was leader of the National Party during its early years in Opposition. August 20 is the 232nd day of the year (233rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1880 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ... 1952 - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Current National Party logo The New Zealand National Party is the second largest political party in the New Zealand Parliament, and forms the core of the Opposition. ...

Early life

Hamilton was born in Forest Hill, Southland. He originally trained to become a Presbyterian minister, but later decided not to pursue this course. He married Mary Ann McDonald in 1913, and in 1914, he and his brother started a grain business in Winton. In World War I, he was rejected for service on medical grounds.   Categories: New Zealand-related stubs | Southland, New Zealand | Territorial Authorities of New Zealand ... Presbyterianism is part of the Reformed churches family of denominations of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin which traces its institutional roots to the Scottish Reformation, especially as led by John Knox. ... In most Protestant churches, a minister is a member of the ordained clergy who leads a congregation; such a person may also be called a Pastor, Preacher, or Elder. ... 1913 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1914 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Winton is a town in Southland, New Zealand. ... Missing image Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ...

Early career

In the 1919 elections, Hamilton was elected to Parliament in the Southland seat of Wallace, standing as a Reform Party candidate. His brother was also elected, winning the neighbouring seat of Awarua from Joseph Ward. The brothers then sold their business, although Adam Hamilton remained active in the Southland agricultural sector. In the 1922 elections, the brothers were both defeated, but they regained their seats in the 1925 elections. Adam Hamilton retained his seat until his retirement, although his brother was defeated again shortly afterwards. The Reform Party was New Zealands second major political party, having been founded as a conservative response to the original Liberal Party. ... This article is about the New Zealand prime minister. ...

When the Reform Party formed a coalition with the United Party, Hamilton was made Minister of Internal Affairs. He also served, at various times, as Minister of Telegraphs, Postmaster General, Minister of Labour, and Minister of Employment. He was not popular in these roles — Great Depression had resulted in high levels of unemployment, and Hamilton was often criticised for the government's failure to improve the situation. He was also criticised when the Post and Telegraph Department jammed a pro-Labour broadcast on a private radio station. Hamilton denied knowledge, but his reputation was nevertheless damaged. This article is about the party created in 1927 from a faction of the Liberal Party. ... --209. ... Jamming is an electronic warfare (EW) technique to limit the effectiveness of an opponents communications and/or detection equipment. ... Current Labour Party logo The New Zealand Labour Party formed as a political party in 1916, bringing together socialist groups advocating proportional representation and the Recall of Members of Parliament, as well as the nationalisation of production and of exchange. ...

Party leader

In 1936, after losing power to the Labour Party, Reform and United agreed to merge, creating the National Party. Despite his somewhat tarnished public image, Hamilton was selected to lead the new party, taking over from interim leader George Forbes. Hamilton was essentially a compromise candidate — Forbes and his main opponent, Gordon Coates, refused to serve under each other, and the Coates faction backed Hamilton as an acceptable alternative. Forbes himself is believed to have preferred Charles Wilkinson, but Coates (formerly the leader of Reform) was determined to have a fellow Reformist as leader. Hamilton was duly elected, although only by one vote. 1936 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Current National Party logo The New Zealand National Party is the second largest political party in the New Zealand Parliament, and forms the core of the Opposition. ... George William Forbes (12 March 1869 - 17 May 1947) was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1930 to 1935. ... This article is about the New Zealand prime minister. ...

Due to the nature of his appointment, many did not see Hamilton as the National Party's real leader. He was frequently accused by being a puppet of Coates, with suggestions even being made that Hamilton was merely holding the position until Coates built up the strength to take it himself. Hamilton was not particularly charismatic, and did not inspire great loyalty from his colleagues. He was also closely associated in the public mind with the Depression era.

In the 1938 elections, Hamilton and the National Party were harshly critical of the Labour Party government, accusing it of promoting communism and of undermining the British Empire. The campaign was seen by many as alarmist and negative, and Hamilton's own performance was criticised. On election day, National was heavily defeated. The 1938 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliaments 26th term. ... Communism is a term that can refer to one of several things: a social and economic system, an ideology which supports that system, or a political movement that wishes to implement that system. ... A database query syntax error has occurred. ...

The National Party's defeat weakened Hamilton's grasp on the leadership somewhat, but any debate was cut short by the onset of World War II. In 1940, Hamilton suggested that Labour and National should form a wartime coalition, but this was rejected by Labour leader Peter Fraser. Fraser did, however, agree to establish a six-person "War Cabinet". This cabinet would control New Zealand's military endeavours, while leaving domestic concerns to the regular cabinet. The War Cabinet would consist of four Labour MPs and two National MPs. Hamilton and Forbes were National's two representatives. Participation in the War Cabinet was fatally damaging to Hamilton's leadership of the National Party, however, as many National MPs argued that he could not be party leader while serving on a Labour-led council. On 25 November, a vote of 13 to 8 replaced Hamilton with Sidney Holland. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... 1940 was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Peter Fraser (1884 - 1950) served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 27 March 1940 until 13 December 1949. ... November 25 is the 329th (in leap years the 330th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Sidney George Holland (1893-1961) was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1949 to 1957. ...

Later career

Hamilton remained a part of the War Cabinet, and was eventually joined by Holland (despite the original claims that a National Party leader could not be in Cabinet). In 1942, however, National withdrew from all co-operation with the Labour Party. Hamilton, along with Gordon Coates, protested this move, and ceased attending National caucus meetings. Both Hamilton and Coates then rejoined the war administration despite condemnation from their party colleagues. 1942 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... A caucus is most generally defined as being a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement. ...

Eventually, Hamilton managed to gain rapprochement with the National Party, and he contested the 1943 elections as a National candidate. He did not seek re-election in the 1946 elections, chosing to retire from politics. The 1943 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliaments 27th term. ... The 1946 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliaments 28th term. ...

Hamilton died in Invercargill on 29 April 1952. Invercargill is the southernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the most southern settlements in the world. ...