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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Mr. Frank Lawry

Mr. Frank Lawry, Member of the House of Representatives for Parnell, was born in 1844 at Bleadon, Somersetshire, England, where his father, the late Mr. Wm. Lawry, was a farmer and erstwhile Methodist minister. The subject of this notice was educated at the British School at Weston-super-Mare, and was engaged on his father's farm until 1863, when he left for this colony per ship “Ulcoates.” Turning his attention to the calling for which he had been trained, Mr. Lawry found employment for a short time in the service of the late Mr. J. Dilworth. He was then for about a year in the employ of the late Mr. Thomas Macky, and early in 1865 started a dairy farm at Epsom, which was soon discontinued in favour of a much larger venture at Surrey Hills. In 1868 Mr. Lawry started business on a large scale as a commission agent in live stock, frequently passing through his hands no fewer than a thousand head of cattle in a week. His special knowledge of agricultural and pastoral pursuits has often been placed at the service of the public. For a number of years he was a member of the North Auckland Cattle Board, was for a time vice-president of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and has ever been a prolific contributor to the press on these and kindred topics. For thirteen consecutive years Mr. Lawry was chairman of the Epsom Road Board, and for two years was a member of the Auckland Board of Education, to which he was elected unopposed; pressure of business, however, necessitated his retirement. In colonial politics, Mr. Lawry has been both active and successful. His first attempt to secure parliamentary honours was made in 1881, when he contested the South Franklin seat, his opponent, Majo Hamlin, being returned by a majority of some forty votes. Three years later he sought to oust Sir Maurice O'Rorke for Manukau, but here he suffered a defeat by 127 votes. In 1887 Mr. Lawry stood for the North Franklin seat in opposition to Mr. W. F. Buckland, and on this, “the third time of asking,” was returned at the head of the poll by a majority of some fifty votes, as an Independent Liberal. Maintaining his position of independence throughout the tenth Parliament, he was elected to the eleventh for the constituency of Parnell, defeating Mr. J. M. Lennox by 209 votes. On the assembling of this Parliament Mr. Lawry decided to support the Ballance Administration, and his constituents showed their approval of this action by re-electing him in 1893 by a majority of 336 over Mr. William Shepherd Allen, an ex-member of the House of Commons. In 1896 he had two opponents—Mr. Samuel Vaile, whom he defeated by 478 votes, and Mr. A. Withy, who scored third place. In 1891 Mr. Lawry was chosen senior Government Whip, and held that office till 1894, when, owing to some conflict with the Prohibition members of the party, he resigned. During the whole of Mr. Lawry's parliamentary life he has been a member of the Agricultural and Pastoral Committee, and for sessions 1891 and 1892 was chairman, never absenting himself from the meetings of this important committee. He has been a member also of the Printing and Debates Committee, of the Railways Committee, and of the committee to consider the claims of old soldiers. During his parliamentary career Mr. Lawry has succeeded in passing a large number of local bills on to the Statute Books: he has three times by large majorities passed through all the stages of the Lower House a bill to legalize marriage with a deceased husband's brother, and thrice he has endeavoured, unsuccessfully, to secure the passage of a bill to legalize “sweeps” in New Zealand. As is well known, Mr. Lawry is one of the strongest opponents of Prohibition in Parliament. As a Mason and an old member of the New Zealand Grand Lodge, Mr. Lawry is a strong supporter of autonomy for New Zealand, and was selected to move a resolution in favour of that step at one of the largest meetings ever held in connection with Freemasonry in the North Island. At present he is attached to Lodge Manukau, of which he is a past master, and has also filled the principal chairs of Lodge Papawera and Lodge Wairoa. Mr. Lawry is president of the Auckland Trotting Club, and vice-president of the Parnell Football and Cricket Clubs. In 1870 he was married to Miss S. Davies, daughter of the late Mr. Benjamin Davies, who was one of Auckland's earliest settlers, and for many years the popular proprietor of the Albert Hotel, Epsom. Mr. and Mrs. Lawry have but one child, a daughter. Mr. Lawry was re-elected for Parnell at the general election of 1899, by a majority of 848.

Mr. F. Lawry

Mr. F. Lawry