C. Morgan Williams was born in North Wales in 1878, and worked as a letter sorter in London. There he was active in the Battersea Branch of the British Social Democratic Federation and later secretary of the Clapham Branch.
He came to New Zealand in 1902, and worked as a farm labourer in the Kaiapoi district until 1906, when he bought and leased land in the Tram Road area and grew potatoes. On the peat land he developed an extensive drainage system to allow dairy farming and founded the Maesgwyn herd of pedigree Ayrshire cattle. Williams purchased the property known as "Waverley" from Richard Evans in 1925. He also established the grain and produce business of C. Morgan Williams and Son in Charles Street, Kaiapoi.
Afforestation
Morgan Williams was closely associated with afforestation at Kaiapoi for over fifty years. He undertook block plantings on Council Reserves, and at Ohoka, Clarkville and Mandeville. In 1939 he was appointed by the Kaiapoi Borough Council as honorary supervisor of forests. At a public meeting in 1955, Williams received a presentation from the mayor Norman Kirk, in recognition of his service to the borough and his care of 245 acres of forest reserves.
Williams was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for public services, in the 1956 Queen's Birthday Honours,[1] but for the rest of his life, he did not wear the medal as he considered it a community, and not a personal commendation. Williams was a chairman of the Dairy Produce Marketing Commission (Logan, p. 152).
According to Barry Gustafson, he was regarded by some observers and colleagues as somewhat eccentric, but undoubtedly intelligent and able, though in accusing Savage of favouring fellow Catholics (from 1935) he was bigoted. He was one of John A. Lees closest caucus friends.[2]Ormond Wilson, in his "An Outsider Looks Back: Reflections on Experience" details Morgan Williams clash with Walter Nash on the Universal Family Benefit ("the well-to-do already had theirs-tax rebates"), and Bob Semple on freedom of speech laws with Semple boasting would "not allow Communist literature in Public Work Camps".[3]
Morgan Williams died in 1970. By his personal request, the funeral service was conducted by a former Minister of Finance, and parliamentary colleague, the Hon. Sir Arnold Nordmeyer.
A son, Charles Thomas Williams, was also involved in local body affairs in Kaiapoi. Charles Williams was first elected to the council in 1937, serving at different times for more than twenty years altogether. He was deputy mayor under Norman Kirk from 1953 to 1957 and assumed the mayoralty when Kirk entered Parliament.
In 1965, Morgan Williams made his last attendance at the Kaiapoi Council Chambers (at the installation of the newly elected Council) and said: "the willingness of citizens to give their services free to the community was the very foundation of the democratic system of life".
(Morgan Williams Papers, Alexander Turnbull Library, MS 998, Wellington).
On Peter Fraser
"I have heard it said that he (Peter Fraser) forgets nothing and forgives nothing".
"As a party tactician Peter Fraser has no equal, he knows when to bounce and bluster his way out of a difficulty".
(Quoted in Mary Logan, Nordy: Arnold Nordmeyer, Wellington, Steele Roberts 2008, p. 155).
Book
Morgan Williams wrote a book on his life, which is held at the Canterbury Museum Research Centre. It is a fascinating account of his early struggles and personal and political philosophy.
morgan, williams, politician, house, representative, morgan, williams, charles, morgan, williams, april, 1878, august, 1970, mayor, member, parliament, kaiapoi, canterbury, zealand, morgan, williamsmbewilliams, 1944member, zealand, parliament, kaiapoiin, offic. For the US House of Representative see Morgan B Williams Charles Morgan Williams MBE 21 April 1878 4 August 1970 was a mayor and Member of Parliament for Kaiapoi in Canterbury New Zealand Morgan WilliamsMBEWilliams in 1944Member of the New Zealand Parliament for KaiapoiIn office 1935 1946Personal detailsBornCharles Morgan Williams 1878 04 21 21 April 1878WalesDied4 August 1970 1970 08 04 aged 92 Political partyLabourRelationsMorgan Williams grandson Contents 1 Early years farming and business 2 Afforestation 3 Public service 4 Quotes 5 Book 6 Notes 7 ReferencesEarly years farming and business EditC Morgan Williams was born in North Wales in 1878 and worked as a letter sorter in London There he was active in the Battersea Branch of the British Social Democratic Federation and later secretary of the Clapham Branch He came to New Zealand in 1902 and worked as a farm labourer in the Kaiapoi district until 1906 when he bought and leased land in the Tram Road area and grew potatoes On the peat land he developed an extensive drainage system to allow dairy farming and founded the Maesgwyn herd of pedigree Ayrshire cattle Williams purchased the property known as Waverley from Richard Evans in 1925 He also established the grain and produce business of C Morgan Williams and Son in Charles Street Kaiapoi Afforestation EditMorgan Williams was closely associated with afforestation at Kaiapoi for over fifty years He undertook block plantings on Council Reserves and at Ohoka Clarkville and Mandeville In 1939 he was appointed by the Kaiapoi Borough Council as honorary supervisor of forests At a public meeting in 1955 Williams received a presentation from the mayor Norman Kirk in recognition of his service to the borough and his care of 245 acres of forest reserves Public service EditNew Zealand Parliament Years Term Electorate Party1935 1938 25th Kaiapoi Labour1938 1943 26th Kaiapoi Labour1943 1946 27th Kaiapoi LabourMorgan Williams local body activities began with his election to the Kaiapoi Borough Council in 1927 he was elected mayor in 1947 and served a term He joined the Social Democratic Party in 1913 He stood unsuccessfully for Labour in Kaiapoi in 1919 1922 and 1925 and Mid Canterbury in 1928 He represented the Canterbury electorate of Kaiapoi from 1935 to 1946 when he was defeated standing for St Albans Williams was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for public services in the 1956 Queen s Birthday Honours 1 but for the rest of his life he did not wear the medal as he considered it a community and not a personal commendation Williams was a chairman of the Dairy Produce Marketing Commission Logan p 152 According to Barry Gustafson he was regarded by some observers and colleagues as somewhat eccentric but undoubtedly intelligent and able though in accusing Savage of favouring fellow Catholics from 1935 he was bigoted He was one of John A Lees closest caucus friends 2 Ormond Wilson in his An Outsider Looks Back Reflections on Experience details Morgan Williams clash with Walter Nash on the Universal Family Benefit the well to do already had theirs tax rebates and Bob Semple on freedom of speech laws with Semple boasting would not allow Communist literature in Public Work Camps 3 Morgan Williams died in 1970 By his personal request the funeral service was conducted by a former Minister of Finance and parliamentary colleague the Hon Sir Arnold Nordmeyer A son Charles Thomas Williams was also involved in local body affairs in Kaiapoi Charles Williams was first elected to the council in 1937 serving at different times for more than twenty years altogether He was deputy mayor under Norman Kirk from 1953 to 1957 and assumed the mayoralty when Kirk entered Parliament A grandson also called Morgan Williams was a Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Quotes EditOn Public ServiceIn 1965 Morgan Williams made his last attendance at the Kaiapoi Council Chambers at the installation of the newly elected Council and said the willingness of citizens to give their services free to the community was the very foundation of the democratic system of life Morgan Williams Papers Alexander Turnbull Library MS 998 Wellington On Peter Fraser I have heard it said that he Peter Fraser forgets nothing and forgives nothing As a party tactician Peter Fraser has no equal he knows when to bounce and bluster his way out of a difficulty Quoted in Mary Logan Nordy Arnold Nordmeyer Wellington Steele Roberts 2008 p 155 Book EditMorgan Williams wrote a book on his life which is held at the Canterbury Museum Research Centre It is a fascinating account of his early struggles and personal and political philosophy Notes Edit No 40789 The London Gazette 3rd supplement 31 May 1956 p 3144 Gustafson 1986 pp 180 212 300 1 Wilson 1985 pp 71 References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morgan Williams politician Wilson James Oakley 1985 First published in 1913 New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840 1984 4th ed Wellington V R Ward Govt Printer OCLC 154283103 Gustafson Barry 1986 From the Cradle to the Grave a biography of Michael Joseph Savage Auckland Reed Methuen ISBN 0 474 00138 5 Obituary The Press 7 August 1970 New Zealand ParliamentPreceded byRichard Hawke Member of Parliament for Kaiapoi1935 1946 Constituency abolished Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Morgan Williams politician amp oldid 1064505633, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
