Jim Thorn
| Jim Thorn | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Thames |
|
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In office 1935 – 1946 |
|
| Preceded by | Albert Samuel |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| 9th President of the Labour Party | |
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In office 1929–1930 |
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| Vice President | John Archer |
| Leader | Harry Holland |
| Preceded by | John Archer |
| Succeeded by | Rex Mason |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 June 1882 Christchurch |
| Died |
21 November 1956 (aged 74) Thames |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Other political affiliations |
IPLL Social Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Thorn |
| Profession | Journalist |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | New Zealand Army |
| Years of service | 1900-01 |
| Rank |
 Bugler
|
| Battles/wars | Boer War |
James (Jim) Thorn (1 June 1882 – 21 November 1956) was a New Zealand politician and trade unionist. He was an organiser and candidate for the Independent Political Labour League, Social Democratic Party then the Labour Party.
Thorn was born in Christchurch, educated at Christchurch Boys' High School. He worked in the Addington Railway Workshops and as a journalist. Thorn was a bugler in the third New Zealand Contingent to the Boer War in 1900–1901; the experience turned him into a pacifist. He was engaged in trade union and party activity, including 1909–1913 in England and Scotland.
He unsuccessfully stood for the Independent Political Labour League in the Christchurch South electorate in the 1905 and 1908 election. In 1907–08, he was President of the Independent Political Labour League. In 1909, he went to England and then Scotland and worked for labour parties there.
In 1914, he moved to Palmerston North and unsuccessfully stood in the 1914 election in the Palmerston electorate representing the new Social Democratic Party against the incumbent David Buick and two others, with Buick getting elected.
He met his future wife while living in Palmerston North; Margaret Anderson (1897–1969), 15 years his junior, who had joined the Social Democratic Party with her father. The Thorns married on 8 December 1917 in Wellington. He was imprisoned for opposing conscription in World War I.
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