Arthur Guinness (New Zealand politician)

The Honourable Sir Arthur Guinness
Arthur Guinness in the 1900s
7th Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office 1903 – 10 June 1913
Prime Minister	Richard Seddon
Preceded by	Maurice O'Rorke
Succeeded by	Frederic Lang
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Grey (previously Greymouth)
In office 1884 – 10 June 1913
Succeeded by	Paddy Webb
Personal details
Born	(1846-01-11)11 January 1846 Calcutta, India
Died	10 June 1913(1913-06-10) (aged 67)
Political party	Liberal
Father	Frank Guinness

Sir Arthur Robert Guinness (11 January 1846 – 10 June 1913) was a New Zealand politician, and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He was born in Calcutta, India, son of Frank V. Guinness, who arrived at Lyttelton by the ship Tory in August 1852. He was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch 1854–1859 (being no. 31 on the list). He received his legal education from Edward Harston and then from Garrick and Cowlishaw, before being admitted to the bar in 1867. He then practised as a barrister and solicitor in Greymouth, where he served on the Westland Provincial Council from 1874–1876, and was then a member of the Grey County Council from 1876–1890, including nine as its chair.

Guinness first stood for two-member Grey Valley in the 1876 election and out of the four candidates, he came last. In his second attempt in 1884, he defeated the incumbent, Joseph Petrie, in the single-member electorate that was by now called Greymouth. He remained a member of the House of Representatives for Greymouth until 1890, and then represented the Grey electorate until his death in 1913. He belonged to the Liberal Party.

He was Chairman of Committees from 1893 to 1902, then the 7th Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1903 until his death in 1913. Upon the death of William Steward on 30 October 1912, he became Father of the House. When he died, his replacement from the Grey by-election was Paddy Webb, who was elected on the second ballot with Liberal support.