James Donald (politician)

The Honourable Sir James Donald
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Auckland East
In office 14 November 1928 – 2 December 1931
Preceded by	John A. Lee
Succeeded by	Frederick Schramm
Personal details
Born	13 October 1879 Auckland, New Zealand
Died	4 December 1971 New Zealand
Political party	United

Sir James Bell Donald JP (13 October 1879 – 4 December 1971) was a United Party Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister in Auckland, New Zealand.

Donald was born in Auckland on 13 October 1879. He was the second son of Mr. A. B. Donald, a local merchant and trader, who owned the firm of Donald and Edeuborough. Donald studied at Queen's College and then entered his father's profession and would later become the firm's managing director. By the age of 48 he became a justice of the peace.

He won the Auckland East electorate off Labour’s John A. Lee in 1928, by 37 votes. According to Olsen, Lee's opponent was "a staunch anti-militarist who had been gaoled during the [Great] war". He was a cabinet minister from 1928 to 1931 in the United Government (Postmaster-General, Minister of Telegraphs, and Minister in charge of Public Service Superannuation, Friendly Societies, and National Provident Fund Departments).

When he retired in 1931, the electorate went back to Labour. In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal. In 1935 he stood again for the Auckland East seat as the newly formed Democrat Party's candidate. He placed third out of four candidates.

He was later appointed a Knight Bachelor for services to the community in the 1969 New Year Honours.

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