George Forbes (New Zealand politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable George Forbes
Forbes c. 1930s
22nd Prime Minister of New Zealand
In office 28 May 1930 – 6 December 1935
Monarch	George V
Governor-General	Charles Bathurst George Monckton-Arundell
Preceded by	Joseph Ward
Succeeded by	Michael Joseph Savage
9th Leader of the Opposition
In office 13 August 1925 – 4 November 1925
Preceded by	Thomas Wilford
Succeeded by	Harry Holland
In office 6 December 1935 – 2 November 1936
Preceded by	Michael Joseph Savage
Succeeded by	Adam Hamilton
Personal details
Born	George William Forbes (1869-03-12)12 March 1869 Lyttelton, New Zealand
Died	17 May 1947(1947-05-17) (aged 78) Cheviot, New Zealand
Political party	Liberal (1908–1928) United (1928–1936) National (1936–1947)
Spouse	Emma Serena Gee ​ (m. 1898)​
Children	3
Signature

George William Forbes (12 March 1869 – 17 May 1947) was an important New Zealand politician. He served as the 22nd prime minister of New Zealand from 1930 to 1935. A prime minister is the leader of the government in a country.

Forbes was born in Lyttelton and later became a farmer. He got involved in local politics, which means he helped make decisions for his community. In 1908, he joined the Liberal Party and became a Member of Parliament. Later, he led the United Party. It was a surprise when he became Prime Minister, especially because it was during the difficult time of the Great Depression. He stayed in power for five years and helped form the National Party.

People often called George Forbes "Honest George" because he was known for being fair and trustworthy. He was also a good speaker and had an amazing memory. He was friendly and polite, which made other politicians like and respect him. Even when he was Prime Minister, he would help load sheep from his farm onto trains, showing he was still connected to his roots.

Early Life and Education

George Forbes was born in Lyttelton, a town near Christchurch. He went to Christchurch Boys' High School but did not go to university. He was very good at sports, especially running, rowing, and rugby. He even led the Canterbury rugby team.

After school, he worked briefly in his father's business, which supplied ships. But soon, he became a successful farmer near Cheviot, north of Christchurch. He quickly became active in local politics, working with the Cheviot County Council and the Cheviot Settlers' Association.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In 1902, Forbes first tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Hurunui area. He ran as an independent candidate but lost. However, in 1908, he became the official candidate for the Liberal Party in Hurunui and won the seat. He held this position for 35 years!

For a while, Forbes was a backbencher, meaning he was a regular MP without a special leadership role. But in 1912, he became the Liberal Party's Whip. A whip helps make sure party members vote the way their party wants. Even though he was a whip, many people didn't think he would become a party leader.

In the early 1920s, the Liberal Party was struggling. The Reform Party was very strong, and the new Labour Party was gaining popularity. Many Liberals thought they should team up with the Reform Party to stop Labour. When the Reform Party leader died in 1925, the Liberal leader suggested they combine and call themselves "the National Party." Forbes was chosen to represent the Liberals in these talks. However, the new Reform leader said no.

Leading a Political Party

Forbes in 1914

Soon after the merger idea failed, the Liberal leader stepped down. George Forbes unexpectedly became the new leader of the Liberal Party. In the election that year, his party did not do well, winning only 11 seats. The Labour Party won more seats, so their leader became the Leader of the Opposition.

But things soon got better for Forbes's party. In 1927, the Liberal Party joined forces with a group led by Albert Davy, who had left the Reform Party. The old Liberal Party, still called National, became the "United Party." Forbes wanted to lead this new party, but the job went to a former Prime Minister, Joseph Ward. Forbes became one of two deputy leaders, looking after the South Island.

The United Party, with new members, became strong again. In the 1928 election, they won as many seats as the Reform Party. They formed a government with help from the Labour Party. Forbes became the Minister of Lands and Agriculture.

Joseph Ward, the Prime Minister, was not well. By 1930, he couldn't do his job, so Forbes took over as acting Prime Minister. In May 1930, Ward officially resigned, and George Forbes became the leader of the United Party and the Prime Minister. He also took on the role of Minister of Finance, managing the country's money.

Prime Minister During the Great Depression

As Prime Minister, Forbes faced a very tough time because of the Great Depression, a worldwide economic crisis. Some people said he seemed a bit uninterested and just reacted to problems instead of planning ahead. Others criticized him for listening too much to his friends. However, his supporters said he did the best he could during such a difficult period. While Prime Minister, Forbes was also the Minister of External Affairs, dealing with New Zealand's relationships with other countries.

His government faced problems when the Labour Party stopped supporting them. Labour didn't like Forbes's plans to fix the economy, saying they hurt poorer people. So, Forbes had to rely on the Reform Party for support.

In 1931, Forbes suggested a "grand coalition" of his United Party, the Reform Party, and the Labour Party to solve the country's economic problems. He said he wouldn't make tough decisions without wide support. Labour refused to join, but the former Prime Minister Gordon Coates from the Reform Party eventually agreed.

In the 1931 election, the United-Reform Coalition won many seats. Forbes remained Prime Minister, but he gave the finance role to William Stewart. However, many people felt that Coates had too much power. This feeling grew when Coates and Stewart disagreed about money policies. Even though Forbes preferred Stewart's ideas, he publicly sided with Coates, and Stewart resigned.

Coates then became the Minister of Finance and had even more influence in the government. Both Forbes and Coates started to get blamed for the country's ongoing economic problems. In the election of 1935, the Labour Party won by a lot, defeating Forbes's government.

In 1935, Forbes received the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal, and in 1937, he was given the King George VI Coronation Medal. These medals were given to people who served the country well.

Life After Being Prime Minister

By 1935, Forbes was tired of politics. He agreed with a friend who called politics "slavery that is miscalled power." Still, his colleagues chose him to be the Leader of the Opposition. From May to October 1936, he led the new National Party, which was formed from the United and Reform parties. He only led for a short time because he wanted to step back, and younger politicians felt his time as Prime Minister might be a disadvantage.

Forbes remained a Member of Parliament until 1943, serving for 35 years. He was offered a knighthood, a special honor, but he said no. Four years after he retired, he passed away at his farm, Crystal Brook, near Cheviot.

Today, the national memorial for George Forbes is the George Forbes Memorial Library at Lincoln University near Christchurch.