George Witty

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use New Zealand English George Witty (1856 – 21 November 1941) was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for Riccarton, in the South Island.

Early life

He was born in North Ferriby, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England and came to New Zealand in 1875 with two shillings in his pocket. He was a farmer and a director of the local sale yards company in Christchurch.

Member of Parliament

Template:NZ parlbox header Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox footer George Witty represented the Riccarton electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives for twenty three years from 1902 to 1925 .Template:Sfn Witty was a Liberal but at the 1922 election he stood as an Independent and was successful. Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Witty was a member of the Legislative Council from 1925 to 28 October 1932. Witty and Leonard Isitt were both appointed to the Legislative Council by Gordon Coates on 28 October 1925; shortly before the 1925 election on 4 November. Both were Liberals but their retirement removed "a source of some bitterness from the Party’s ranks (Coates rewarded them with seats in the Legislative Council the day after the election)". Gordon Coates was Reform, and both of their former seats went to Reform candidates.Template:Sfn

After Witty, Bert Kyle of the Reform Party represented the Riccarton electorate.

In 1935, Witty was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal. He received the King George VI Coronation Medal in 1937, and served as chairman of the Paparua County Council.

Death

Witty died in Christchurch on 21 November 1941, aged 85 years.