Ralph Hanan
| Ralph Hanan | |
|---|---|
Ralph Hanan, circa 1946
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| 17th Minister of Health | |
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In office 26 November 1954 – 12 December 1957 |
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| Prime Minister | Holland, Holyoake |
| Preceded by | Jack Marshall |
| Succeeded by | Rex Mason |
| 20th Attorney-General | |
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In office 12 December 1960 – 24 July 1969 |
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| Prime Minister | Holyoake |
| Preceded by | Rex Mason |
| Succeeded by | Jack Marshall |
| 33rd Minister of Justice | |
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In office 12 December 1960 – 24 July 1969 |
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| Prime Minister | Holyoake |
| Preceded by | Rex Mason |
| Succeeded by | Dan Riddiford |
| 31st Minister of Maori Affairs | |
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In office 12 December 1960 – 24 July 1969 |
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| Prime Minister | Holyoake |
| Preceded by | Walter Nash |
| Succeeded by | Duncan MacIntyre |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Invercargill |
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In office 1946–1969 |
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| Preceded by | William Denham |
| Succeeded by | John Chewings |
| 33rd Mayor of Invercargill | |
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In office 1938–1941 |
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| Preceded by | John Miller |
| Succeeded by | John Robert Martin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 June 1909 Invercargill, New Zealand |
| Died | 24 July 1969 (aged 60) Australia |
| Resting place | Saint Johns Cemetery, Invercargill |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Political party | National |
| Relations |
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Josiah Ralph Hanan (13 June 1909 – 24 July 1969), known as Ralph Hanan, was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. He was Mayor of Invercargill and then represented the Invercargill electorate in Parliament, following in his uncle Josiah Hanan's footsteps. He served in World War II and his injuries ultimately caused his death at age 60. He is best remembered for the abolition of the death penalty, which had been suspended by the Labour Party, but which National was to reintroduce. As Minister of Justice, it was Hanan's role to introduce the legislation to Parliament, but he convinced enough of his party colleagues to vote with the opposition and thus abolished the death penalty in New Zealand.
Hanan was born in 1909 in Invercargill. He was the son of the draper James Albert Hanan and his wife, Johanna Mary McGill. His uncle and aunt were Josiah and Susanna Hanan. He received his education from Southland Boys' High School, Waitaki Boys' High School, and the University of Otago, from where he obtained an LLB. He returned to Invercargill and practised law from 1935. In 1939, he went into partnership with Ian Arthur, practising as Hanan Arthur and Company. In 1940, he enlisted for war service.
On 3 March 1939, he married Ruby Eirene Anderson, known as Eirene, at Invercargill's St Paul’s Presbyterian Church.
Hanan was elected to Invercargill City Council in 1935. Three years later, he was elected Mayor of Invercargill. He relinquished the position in 1941 so that he could participate in the war. His uncle had previously been Mayor of Invercargill (1896–1897).
He served with the 20th Canterbury-Otago Battalion in the Middle East and in Italy. He was wounded at the outbreak of Minquar Qaim. He would have died had it not been for a truck driver who found him unconscious, put him onto the back of the lorry and took him away. The injuries resulted in a serious lung condition that saw him sent home in 1944 as an invalid. He had attained the rank of captain during the war.
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