Rigg was born in St Kilda, Colony of Victoria in 1858 and was a typographer and union secretary. His family came to New Zealand in 1863 or 1864 and initially settled in Dunedin, before moving to Wellington where Rigg received his education. He was the first President of the Independent Political Labour League in 1905. Following his father's job loss, Rigg had to leave school aged twelve years to support the family financially.[1]
John Rigg experienced poverty and unemployment and this caused 'his private revolution'. He describes this and refers to his Scottish noble heritage: 'found in me the makings of a snob and left me a Socialist.'.[2]
John Rigg became active in leading apprentice printers rights and women's rights and later expressed this through his 1892 roles of president of the Wellington Tailoresses' Union, Trades and Labour Council, and Typographical Society.[2]
He was first appointed to the Legislative Council as a Labour representative on 15 October 1892, as one of four moderate union leaders appointed. He resigned on 27 May 1893. He was appointed again a fortnight later on 6 June 1893. At the end of the seven-year terms, he was reappointed on 6 June 1900 and 1 July 1907.[3] Rigg was elected Chairman of Committees on 8 July 1903 and held that title until 6 July 1904.[4] He was Acting Speaker from 5 January to 7 July 1904.[5] Because he refused to condemn the 1913 waterfront strike in Wellington, the Reform Government did not reappoint him to the Legislative Council in 1914.[1]
Rigg sought the Labour Party nominations for the 1914 and 1919 elections, but was not successful.[1]
Another highlight in his life was being among the escorts with King George VI in 1903 to the Pacific Islands.[6]
He moved to Christchurch around 1920 and his political activity stopped. In 1937, the First Labour Government acknowledged Rigg's contribution to the formation of the party by awarding him a CMG.[1] He died in Christchurch on 20 October 1943 and was buried two days later at Bromley Cemetery.[7] He was survived by his second wife Louise Rigg, who died in 1955.[1]
^"AtoJs Online – Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives – 1903 Session I – A-03b COOK AND OTHER ISLANDS (REPORT ON THE VISIT OF MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO THE), WITH NOTES O... [truncated]". Atojs.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
^"Result Detail". Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
Referencesedit
Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
Scholefield, Guy, ed. (1925) [First published in 1908]. Who's who in New Zealand and the western Pacific (2nd ed.). Masterton: Guy Scholefield.
john, rigg, november, 1858, october, 1943, zealand, politician, labour, party, honourablemlcrigg, 1908, 10th, speaker, legislative, council, acting, office, january, 1904, july, 1904preceded, bywilliam, campbell, walkersucceeded, byalfred, cadmanpersonal, deta. The Hon John Rigg MLC CMG 1 November 1858 20 October 1943 was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party The HonourableJohn RiggMLCRigg in 1908 10th Speaker of the Legislative Council acting In office 5 January 1904 7 July 1904Preceded byWilliam Campbell WalkerSucceeded byAlfred CadmanPersonal detailsBorn 1858 01 01 1 January 1858St Kilda Victoria AustraliaDied20 October 1943 1943 10 20 aged 85 Christchurch New ZealandPolitical partyLabour PartySpouseLouise Rigg Contents 1 Biography 2 Notes 3 References 4 External linksBiography editRigg was born in St Kilda Colony of Victoria in 1858 and was a typographer and union secretary His family came to New Zealand in 1863 or 1864 and initially settled in Dunedin before moving to Wellington where Rigg received his education He was the first President of the Independent Political Labour League in 1905 Following his father s job loss Rigg had to leave school aged twelve years to support the family financially 1 John Rigg experienced poverty and unemployment and this caused his private revolution He describes this and refers to his Scottish noble heritage found in me the makings of a snob and left me a Socialist 2 John Rigg became active in leading apprentice printers rights and women s rights and later expressed this through his 1892 roles of president of the Wellington Tailoresses Union Trades and Labour Council and Typographical Society 2 He was first appointed to the Legislative Council as a Labour representative on 15 October 1892 as one of four moderate union leaders appointed He resigned on 27 May 1893 He was appointed again a fortnight later on 6 June 1893 At the end of the seven year terms he was reappointed on 6 June 1900 and 1 July 1907 3 Rigg was elected Chairman of Committees on 8 July 1903 and held that title until 6 July 1904 4 He was Acting Speaker from 5 January to 7 July 1904 5 Because he refused to condemn the 1913 waterfront strike in Wellington the Reform Government did not reappoint him to the Legislative Council in 1914 1 Rigg sought the Labour Party nominations for the 1914 and 1919 elections but was not successful 1 Another highlight in his life was being among the escorts with King George VI in 1903 to the Pacific Islands 6 He moved to Christchurch around 1920 and his political activity stopped In 1937 the First Labour Government acknowledged Rigg s contribution to the formation of the party by awarding him a CMG 1 He died in Christchurch on 20 October 1943 and was buried two days later at Bromley Cemetery 7 He was survived by his second wife Louise Rigg who died in 1955 1 Notes edit a b c d e Thomas Paul Rigg John 1858 1943 Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Ministry for Culture and Heritage Retrieved 14 January 2012 a b Thomas Paul Rigg John Biography Te Ara The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Teara govt nz Retrieved 25 September 2012 Scholefield 1950 p 84 Wilson 1985 p 168 Scholefield 1950 p 88 AtoJs Online Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives 1903 Session I A 03b COOK AND OTHER ISLANDS REPORT ON THE VISIT OF MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO THE WITH NOTES O truncated Atojs natlib govt nz Retrieved 25 September 2012 Result Detail Christchurch City Council Retrieved 14 January 2012 References editScholefield Guy 1950 First ed published 1913 New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840 1949 3rd ed Wellington Govt Printer Wilson James Oakley 1985 First ed published 1913 New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840 1984 4th ed Wellington V R Ward Govt Printer OCLC 154283103 Scholefield Guy ed 1925 First published in 1908 Who s who in New Zealand and the western Pacific 2nd ed Masterton Guy Scholefield External links editBiography in 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand Political offices Preceded byWilliam Cowper Smith Chairman of Committees of the Legislative Council1903 1904 Succeeded byRichard Reeves Preceded byWilliam Campbell Walker Speaker of the New Zealand Legislative Councilacting1904 Succeeded byAlfred Cadman Party political offices Preceded byTom Paul President of the United Labour Party1913 1914 Succeeded byDavid McLaren Preceded bynew office President of the Independent Political Labour League1904 1905 Succeeded byJim Munro Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Rigg amp oldid 1187178747, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
