Hugh Poland (politician)

Hugh Poland
Poland in the 1920s
Member of Parliament for Ohinemuri
In office 6 December 1905 – 14 October 1925
Preceded by	Edward George Britton Moss
Succeeded by	Albert Samuel
Personal details
Born	1868 Tuakau, Franklin District, New Zealand
Died	3 January 1938 Paeroa, New Zealand
Political party	Liberal Party
Other political affiliations	Independent Liberal
Spouse(s)	Mary Ellen Poland (née Hand, m. 1892)
Occupation	storekeeper
Profession	teacher

Hugh Poland (1868 – 3 January 1938) was a member of parliament for the Ohinemuri electorate in New Zealand.

Poland was born in Tuakau, the son of John and Teresa Poland. All sources give his year of birth as 1868, but the birth certificated held by the Department of Internal Affairs is dated 29 June 1867. He received his education at Tuakau School and at Auckland Grammar School. In his youth, he was a prominent athlete, and he represented Auckland in rugby from 1887 to 1891, and in 1894. After school, he was initially a teacher for two years, worked as a flaxmiller in Helensville, and then had stores in Rotorua and Paeroa; he remained in the latter place for the rest of his life.

Poland first stood for election to the Ohinemuri County Council in November 1899. He was the highest-polling candidate in his riding and was thus declared elected. He served on the county council until 1908, and was chairman from 1901 to 1905, and was on the Licensing Committee and Education Committee.

Hugh Poland represented the Ohinemuri electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives for twenty years from 1905 to 1925. Poland was a Liberal until the 1919 election when he stood as an Independent and was successful. Whilst not a member of the Labour Party, he was regarded by his voters as a "miners' advocate" and his lobbying contributed to the establishment of the phthisis pension.

In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.