Robert Thompson (New Zealand politician)

Robert Thompson
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Marsden
In office 1887–1902
Preceded by	Edwin Mitchelson
Succeeded by	Francis Mander
Personal details
Born	1840 Newtownbutler, Ireland
Died	21 April 1922 Whangarei, New Zealand
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Mary Catherine Aubrey

Robert Thompson (1840 – 21 April 1922) was a Member of Parliament for Marsden, in Northland, New Zealand.

Born at Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh, Thompson migrated to New South Wales in 1864, and New Zealand in 1870. He was a commission agent and auctioneer in Whangarei.

He married Mary Catherine Aubrey, eldest daughter of Harcourt Richard Aubrey, Resident Magistrate for Kaipara and Whangarei, in 1879.

Robert Thompson represented Marsden in the House of Representatives for fifteen years from 1887 to 1902.

According to Wilson, he changed his political allegiance; initially a Conservative he was a Liberal in 1893, but in 1896 was Independent and in 1899 was an Independent Liberal but was not part of the governing Liberal Government.

He acquired the labels 'Marsden Thompson' and 'the member for roads and bridges' in Parliament. He was known for his devotion to the interests of his district, which was desperately in need of good roads, and his only reason for being a Liberal was that the government was the only source of funding for roads and bridges. He was pro-freehold (land), and was opposed to Liberal policies such as labour legislation and old age pensions. In 1908, when he stood unsuccessfully for Auckland West against a sitting Liberal member, he was once more an Independent, and his programme – freehold (land), acquisition of Maori land and opposition to prohibition had not altered.

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