James Parr (politician)

Sir Christopher James Parr GCMG (18 May 1869 – 2 May 1941) was a New Zealand lawyer and politician of the Reform Party. He was Mayor of Auckland, a Member of Parliament representing the Eden electorate, a Minister in the Reform Government, High Commissioner in London and a Member of the New Zealand Legislative Council.

Parr was born in Pukerimu near Cambridge in 1869.

Parr was Mayor of Auckland from 1911 to 1915, succeeded by Sir James Gunson.

He represented the electorate of Eden from 1914 to 1926. He was Minister of Education (3 April 1920 – 24 April 1926) in three successive ministries of the Reform Government. He was Minister of Public Health (3 April 1920 – 27 June 1923) under William Massey. He was Minister of Justice (27 June 1923 – 18 January 1926) under Massey, Francis Bell and Gordon Coates. He was Postmaster General and Minister of Telegraphs (30 May 1925 – 24 April 1926) under Coates.