George Forbes
George William Forbes was a significant figure in New Zealand's early 20th-century political landscape, born on May 12, 1869, in Lyttelton. He grew up in a maritime environment, influenced by his father's profession as a sailmaker and ship chandler, and later engaged in various sports and debating, showcasing his leadership skills. Forbes transitioned from a merchant role to land ownership, acquiring a large estate in Cheviot, where he built a farm and became involved in community governance. His political career began when he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1908 as a member of the Liberal Party, eventually rising to become party whip and later its leader.
Forbes served as New Zealand's Prime Minister from 1930, during the onset of the Great Depression, where his policies, particularly regarding unemployment and social welfare, garnered significant criticism and ultimately led to political strife. Despite his popularity as a member of Parliament, his tenure as prime minister was not well-regarded, leading to his perception as one of the nation’s less successful leaders. He remained active in politics until 1943, and after his death in 1947, his contributions were honored through the establishment of the George Forbes Library at Lincoln University, reflecting his impact on agricultural education in New Zealand.
George Forbes
Politician
- Born: May 12, 1869
- Birthplace: Lyttelton, New Zealand
- Died: May 17, 1947
- Place of death: Cheviot, New Zealand
Also known as: George William Forbes; Honest George
Significance: A member of New Zealand’s Liberal and United parties, George Forbes served in the House of Representatives from 1908 to 1943 and was prime minister from 1930 to 1935. As prime minister, he implemented harsh measures to reduce government spending during the Great Depression.
Background
George William Forbes was born to Annie Adamson and Robert Forbes on May 12, 1869, in Lyttelton, a port town near Christchurch on South Island, New Zealand. Forbes grew up in Lyttelton, where his father was a sailmaker and ship chandler, or supplier of commodities to ships. Forbes attended Lyttelton School and Christchurch Boys’ High School. After completing his education in 1883, he worked for the merchant firm Garner and Pickering in Christchurch and then for his father’s ship chandler business.
As a young adult, Forbes belonged to a Christchurch debating society and became known for his keen debating skills. He also engaged in multiple sports, including rowing, rugby, and running. He was captain of both the East Christchurch Rugby Football Club and the Canterbury rugby team. Forbes also had a strong interest in the political history of Great Britain and read extensively on it.
In 1893, Forbes obtained more than 1,600 acres of a former estate in Cheviot in North Canterbury through a series of land ballots. Despite having no agricultural experience, he moved to Cheviot, built a home that he named Crystal Brook, and established a farm. Forbes became active in community affairs and was a member of the Cheviot County Council, the Mackenzie Domain Board, and the Cheviot Settlers’ Association, serving as the latter’s president for two years and its acting secretary for eight years.
Political Career
Forbes made his first bid for a seat in the House of Representatives in 1902 when he unsuccessfully ran as an independent Liberal as a member for Hurunui. Three years later, he was appointed to a royal commission on Crown lands, where he promoted land settlement and supported the land ballot system. This activity raised his profile, and when he ran for Parliament in 1908 as a Liberal, again for Hurunui, he was victorious. Four years later, he became the party whip, a position he held through 1922. During this time, the Liberal Party, which had been the first true political party in New Zealand, experienced much internal dissent and several splinter groups formed, including the United Liberal Party and the Labour Party.
By 1928, former members of the Liberal Party had founded the United Party, and Forbes briefly served as its leader. He turned the leadership over to ailing Joseph Ward after he became prime minister following the October 1928 election. Forbes was the minister of lands and agriculture and, because of Ward’s ill health, the unofficial head of the cabinet. During his term as minister of lands and agriculture, he promoted the passage of the Land Laws Amendment Bill of 1929, which allowed for development on unoccupied Crown land. Ward resigned on May 15, 1930, and Forbes became prime minister on May 28, 1930. He also took on the finance portfolio.
At the time Forbes became prime minister, New Zealand was in the early stages of the Great Depression, which started in the United States and went on to grip New Zealand—and much of the world—through 1935. The price of exported items, especially wool, had dropped and unemployment was rising. While Forbes was in London for the Imperial Conference in late 1930, Parliament passed the Unemployment Act, which provided financial benefits for registered unemployed workers. Upon his return, Forbes nixed this plan and required unemployed individuals to work in government work projects to receive money, a decision that damaged his relationship with the Labour Party. As export prices continued to fall, resulting in a steep decline in government revenue, Forbes made additional cuts to reduce government costs. He laid off staff in the public works department and lowered wages. The Court of Arbitration suspended the minimum wage for all workers, resulting in steep declines in income while unemployment rose significantly, especially among laborers, farm workers, and building tradesworkers. Those still employed had lower purchasing power, leading to the bankruptcy of stores and businesses. Forbes also made deep cuts to social welfare programs, such as old age and war pensions, and abolished the family allowance. All of these policies and their consequences set Forbes at odds with the Labour Party, and he formed a coalition government with the Reform Party instead in September 1931.
After the National Party was formed in May 1936, Forbes was elected leader of the party and served as the leader of the Opposition. He resigned from the leadership in late 1938 but remained a member of the House of Representatives through 1943, when he did not stand for reelection. Forbes died at Crystal Brook in Cheviot, New Zealand, on May 17, 1947.
Impact
Forbes was a highly popular member of Parliament but failed to gain the support from New Zealanders and parliamentarians during his term as prime minister. For this reason, he is often considered one of New Zealand’s least successful prime ministers. Yet, he was well liked and respected for his ability to work with colleagues from multiple political parties. He also was admired for the depth of his personal convictions, which earned him the nickname Honest George.
The George Forbes Library at Lincoln University was established in recognition of Forbes’s support for Canterbury Agricultural College (part of Lincoln University). It opened in 1960 and was expanded multiple times, becoming the George Forbes Building by 1989 and housing multiple academic departments and other functions.
Personal Life
Forbes and Emma Serena Gee married on December 12, 1898. They had a son and two daughters and lived in Cheviot, New Zealand.
Bibliography
Gardner, W. J. “Forbes, George William.” Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, 1966. Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3f9/forbes-george-william. Accessed 7 Mar. 2020.
“George Forbes Building.” Lincoln University, livingheritage.lincoln.ac.nz/nodes/view/8191. Accessed 7 Mar. 2020.
King, Michael. “Depression and Recovery.” The Penguin History of New Zealand. Penguin Books, 2003.
McLean, George. “George Forbes.” New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage, 30 Aug. 2019, nzhistory.govt.nz/people/george-forbes. Accessed 7 Mar. 2020.
New Zealand. Legislative Council and House of Representatives. “The Late Right Hon. Mr. G. W. Fraser.” New Zealand Parliamentary Debates, First Session, Twenty-Eighth Parliament, vol. 276, 1947, pp. 17–23.