Abraham Saul GoldsmithMBE (17 February 1911 – 4 November 1988) was an importer and merchant from Wellington, New Zealand. He was a foundation member of the National Party and was active at a local level. Goldsmith was also a noted chess player.
In the 1920s he started work as a messenger-clerk before leaving to start his own business.[4] In 1930, he founded the General Agencies Company and was its managing director; the company concerned itself with importing goods.[1] By 1980 the company imported over two thousand product lines, the majority tobacconist lines.[4]
Political careeredit
Goldsmith was for many years an executive member of the Brooklyn Municipal Electors Association. He was also a member of the Wellington Travel Club and the Brooklyn Progressive Association.[1] He was a foundation member of the Independent United Action Group[1] and led ten candidates—including himself—in the 1959 Wellington City Council election; none of the group were elected.[5] In the 1962 Wellington City mayoral election, Goldsmith was one of three mayoral candidates, and came a distant last.[6] Goldsmith stood out as a proponent of the retention of the Wellington tramway system. Later, he was the president of the Wellington Municipal Electors Association.[1] Despite never winning office he found alternative ways to bring about change. One such occasion was when he was concerned by the under-utilisation of land in Jam Tin Gully, a former landfill. Goldsmith rang the wives of city councillors and asked that they discuss the matter with their husbands. Soon afterwards the area was designated the site of the soon to be to be constructed Wellington Show Buildings.[4]
His status as a lively perennial candidate in Wellington made him his own brand of local celebrity. A reporter for The Dominion newspaper said in 1971 Goldsmith was a "...political novelty. He is Wellington's best known and perennial loser. In the last 14 years he has been defeated in two parliamentary, five City Council and two mayoral elections. Plus one council by-election and lost more causes than Don Quixote ever dreamed of".[3] His notoriety was such that he was the subject of an entire chapter in a social studies textbook used in New Zealand schools in the 1970s. Published by Farland and McLeod, the chapter was titled the "Lone Campaigner", and discussed Goldsmith's campaigns on local issues and his methods of electioneering and advocacy. Quoted examples were his "save the trams" campaign and his disputes with the Ministry of Transport over the accuracy of its microwave speed detectors.[4]
In 1936, Goldsmith was a foundation member of the National Party.[2] He was involved in local political affairs in Wellington, and was active in the Karori and Island Bay electorates.[2] He stood in the Island Bay electorate for National in the 1957 and 1966 elections.[1] The death of Norman Kirk caused the 1974 Sydenham by-election and the National Party decided not to stand a candidate, but Goldsmith decided to stand as an independent National candidate; he came a distant fourth in the by-election.[1][7] As Goldsmith had gone directly against the decision of the party's dominion executive, party president George Chapman recommended the suspension of his membership. After discussions with the Canterbury-Westland division of the party it was felt that it was no longer necessary to suspend Goldsmith and that public announcements that he was neither an official candidate nor party endorsed had made the party's stance clear to the public.[8] Political historian Barry Gustafson described him as "a colourful character and an entertaining platform speaker".[2] One famed instance at a National Party conference in Dunedin, Goldsmith gave a hilarious speech to the delegates which left them all in hysterics.[3]
Goldsmith's parents were "chess enthusiasts".[11] Goldsmith himself also played chess and joined the committee of the Wellington Chess League at age 23; his father was the inaugural president of the club.[12] Goldsmith contested chess championships in both New Zealand and Australia.[1] He played at the New Zealand championships in 1936 Auckland,[13] and in 1939 in Wellington.[14] When Goldsmith's brother Lionel was killed in Europe during World War II, his parents donated the Goldsmith Chess Trophy in his memory.[11]
From 1948 to 1950, Goldsmith travelled through the United States and Canada and lectured on New Zealand. He was a board member of the Wellington Tramway Museum, and was the organisation's president from 1969 to 1974. In 1974, he was president of the Kelburn Cable Car Preservation Society.[1]
Goldsmith died in 1988.[15] On 7 November, he was buried in the Jewish section of Karori Cemetery[16] next to his mother.[17]
^ abcdGustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. pp. 364f. ISBN0-474-00177-6.
^ abcWatts, Barrie (15 October 1971). "Saul - a loser's loser". The Dominion.
^ abcdMoran, Paul (14 November 1980). "Lone loser won't give up lifelong battle". The Dominion.
^James, T. W. (30 November 1959). Declaration of Election Results (Report). Wellington City Council.
^James, T.W. (23 October 1962). Declaration of Election Results (Report). Wellington City Council.
^Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946–1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. p. 351. ISBN0-475-11200-8.
saul, goldsmith, abraham, february, 1911, november, 1988, importer, merchant, from, wellington, zealand, foundation, member, national, party, active, local, level, goldsmith, also, noted, chess, player, 1960, contents, early, life, political, career, other, in. Abraham Saul Goldsmith MBE 17 February 1911 4 November 1988 was an importer and merchant from Wellington New Zealand He was a foundation member of the National Party and was active at a local level Goldsmith was also a noted chess player Saul Goldsmith in 1960 Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Other interests 4 ReferencesEarly life editGoldsmith was born in 1911 in Auckland His parents were Joseph Isaac Goldsmith and Deborah Goldsmith nee Cohen 1 Goldsmith received his education at Brooklyn School 1 and at Wellington College 2 He was also the cousin of Auckland Mayor Dove Myer Robinson 3 In the 1920s he started work as a messenger clerk before leaving to start his own business 4 In 1930 he founded the General Agencies Company and was its managing director the company concerned itself with importing goods 1 By 1980 the company imported over two thousand product lines the majority tobacconist lines 4 Political career editGoldsmith was for many years an executive member of the Brooklyn Municipal Electors Association He was also a member of the Wellington Travel Club and the Brooklyn Progressive Association 1 He was a foundation member of the Independent United Action Group 1 and led ten candidates including himself in the 1959 Wellington City Council election none of the group were elected 5 In the 1962 Wellington City mayoral election Goldsmith was one of three mayoral candidates and came a distant last 6 Goldsmith stood out as a proponent of the retention of the Wellington tramway system Later he was the president of the Wellington Municipal Electors Association 1 Despite never winning office he found alternative ways to bring about change One such occasion was when he was concerned by the under utilisation of land in Jam Tin Gully a former landfill Goldsmith rang the wives of city councillors and asked that they discuss the matter with their husbands Soon afterwards the area was designated the site of the soon to be to be constructed Wellington Show Buildings 4 His status as a lively perennial candidate in Wellington made him his own brand of local celebrity A reporter for The Dominion newspaper said in 1971 Goldsmith was a political novelty He is Wellington s best known and perennial loser In the last 14 years he has been defeated in two parliamentary five City Council and two mayoral elections Plus one council by election and lost more causes than Don Quixote ever dreamed of 3 His notoriety was such that he was the subject of an entire chapter in a social studies textbook used in New Zealand schools in the 1970s Published by Farland and McLeod the chapter was titled the Lone Campaigner and discussed Goldsmith s campaigns on local issues and his methods of electioneering and advocacy Quoted examples were his save the trams campaign and his disputes with the Ministry of Transport over the accuracy of its microwave speed detectors 4 In 1936 Goldsmith was a foundation member of the National Party 2 He was involved in local political affairs in Wellington and was active in the Karori and Island Bay electorates 2 He stood in the Island Bay electorate for National in the 1957 and 1966 elections 1 The death of Norman Kirk caused the 1974 Sydenham by election and the National Party decided not to stand a candidate but Goldsmith decided to stand as an independent National candidate he came a distant fourth in the by election 1 7 As Goldsmith had gone directly against the decision of the party s dominion executive party president George Chapman recommended the suspension of his membership After discussions with the Canterbury Westland division of the party it was felt that it was no longer necessary to suspend Goldsmith and that public announcements that he was neither an official candidate nor party endorsed had made the party s stance clear to the public 8 Political historian Barry Gustafson described him as a colourful character and an entertaining platform speaker 2 One famed instance at a National Party conference in Dunedin Goldsmith gave a hilarious speech to the delegates which left them all in hysterics 3 In the 1979 Queen s Birthday Honours Goldsmith was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to the community 9 His mother had received the same honour in the 1947 New Year Honours for her services in connection with patriotic and social welfare movements during and after World War II 10 Other interests editGoldsmith s parents were chess enthusiasts 11 Goldsmith himself also played chess and joined the committee of the Wellington Chess League at age 23 his father was the inaugural president of the club 12 Goldsmith contested chess championships in both New Zealand and Australia 1 He played at the New Zealand championships in 1936 Auckland 13 and in 1939 in Wellington 14 When Goldsmith s brother Lionel was killed in Europe during World War II his parents donated the Goldsmith Chess Trophy in his memory 11 From 1948 to 1950 Goldsmith travelled through the United States and Canada and lectured on New Zealand He was a board member of the Wellington Tramway Museum and was the organisation s president from 1969 to 1974 In 1974 he was president of the Kelburn Cable Car Preservation Society 1 Goldsmith died in 1988 15 On 7 November he was buried in the Jewish section of Karori Cemetery 16 next to his mother 17 References edit a b c d e f g h i j Traue James Edward ed 1978 Who s Who in New Zealand 1978 11th ed Wellington Reed Publishing p 124 a b c d Gustafson Barry 1986 The First 50 Years A History of the New Zealand National Party Auckland Reed Methuen pp 364f ISBN 0 474 00177 6 a b c Watts Barrie 15 October 1971 Saul a loser s loser The Dominion a b c d Moran Paul 14 November 1980 Lone loser won t give up lifelong battle The Dominion James T W 30 November 1959 Declaration of Election Results Report Wellington City Council James T W 23 October 1962 Declaration of Election Results Report Wellington City Council Norton Clifford 1988 New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946 1987 Occasional Publications No 1 Department of Political Science Wellington Victoria University of Wellington p 351 ISBN 0 475 11200 8 Party Rebel Not Dropped The New Zealand Herald 17 October 1974 p 18 No 47871 The London Gazette 3rd supplement 16 June 1979 p 29 No 37836 The London Gazette 2nd supplement 1 January 1947 p 32 a b Goldman Lazarus Morris 1958 The History of the Jews in New Zealand Wellington Reed Publishing p 214 Chess The Evening Post Vol C no 54 5 March 1934 p 5 Retrieved 6 January 2017 Chess Tourney Auckland Star Vol LXVII no 306 26 December 1936 p 11 Retrieved 6 January 2017 Chess The Evening Post Vol CXXVIII no 154 28 December 1939 p 5 Retrieved 6 January 2017 Showing results 1 2 of 2 for Goldsmith Abraham Saul 1911 1988 National Library of New Zealand Retrieved 6 January 2017 Details Wellington City Council Retrieved 6 January 2017 Details Wellington City Council Retrieved 6 January 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Saul Goldsmith amp oldid 1217275811, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
