Ronald Algie

Infobox_Officeholder
name=Hon. Sir Ronald Algie


imagesize=
caption=
constituency_MP=Remuera
parliament=New Zealand
term_start=25 September 1943
term_end=26 November 1966
predecessor=William Endean
successor=Allan Highet
order2=15th Speaker of the House of Representatives
term_start2=1961
term_end2=26 November 1966
primeminister2=Keith Holyoake
predecessor2=Robert Macfarlane
successor2=Roy Jack
birth_date=22 October 1888
birth_place=Wyndham, Southland, NZL
death_date=death date and age|1978|7|23|1888|10|22
death_place=Auckland, NZL
spouse=
party=National
religion=
profession=Professor

Sir Ronald Macmillan Algie (22 October 1888 - 23 July 1978) was a New Zealand politician who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives for six years in the 1960s. He described himself as "a Tory in the old tradition".

Early life

Algie was born on 22 October, 1888, in Wyndham a small town in New Zealand's Southland region. He was educated in Arrowtown and Balclutha before attending the University of Auckland. He gained an LLB in 1913 and an LLM in 1915. In 1920, he became the University of Auckland's first Professor of Law, aged thirty-one. He was noted for his strong intellectual performance, and also for his conservative views.

Member of Parliament

In 1937, Algie became the director of the Freedom Association, an organization which strongly opposed the left-wing Labour Party government of the time. The Freedom Association quickly became linked to the new National Party, and Algie became one of the party's more prominent supporters. In the 1943 elections, Algie was selected as the National Party's candidate for the Remuera seat, controversially displacing sitting National MP William Endean. Algie won the seat and entered Parliament.

Algie proved to be a skilled Parliamentary debater, and has been described by Hugh Templeton as the best debater of his time. Even opponents such as Bob Semple respected Algie's rhetorical abilities. He was also noted for remaining polite throughout debates, and for his willingness to apologise for any offence he accidentally gave.

Cabinet minister

After the 1949 election, when Sidney Holland formed the first National government, Algie was immediately elevated to Cabinet. He was initially appointed Minister of Education, and later became Minister of Broadcasting and Minister of Scientific and Industrial Research. He also co-led the committee that looked into the future of the Legislative Council, the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament. In the end, however, Algie's proposals for a reworked Legislative Council were not pursued, and New Zealand's parliament has not had an upper house since that time.

peaker of the House

Algie briefly returned to Opposition after the 1957 election, which National lost. When National regained power after the 1960 election, Algie is believed to have wanted the post of Minister of External Affairs, but was not given it (possibly because of his age; he was seventy-two). Instead, he was convinced to take up the Speakership. He officially assumed office at the beginning of the 1961 parliamentary term.

As Speaker, Algie was known for his strong insistence on politeness in debates. He also undertook a number of reforms of Parliamentary procedure to accommodate the changing nature of politics. He served six years as Speaker, retiring at the 1966 election. He was generally praised for his performance in the role, and had been given a knighthood in 1964. Algie was succeeded in the Remuera seat by Allan Highet.

Algie died in Auckland on 23 July, 1978.

Further reading

:*citation |title = Bible in schools: the opposition of prominent educationalists |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = Issued by the State Education Defence League |year = 1926

:*"This tract lists the views of several prominent politicians and educators, including Algie."

:*citation |first = Morton |last = Aldis |title = Socialism, capitalism & freedom: a reply to Professor Algie and the Freedom Association |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = Auckland Fabian Club |year = 1938

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = Report on certain aspects of legal education |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = Auckland University College |year = 1933

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = The law of defamation [Bulletin (Auckland University College); no. 28; Bulletin (Auckland University College). Journalism series ; no. 2.] |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = Auckland University College |year = 1935

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = The holding of elections |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand Freedom Association |year = 1939?

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = Ministerial control |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand Freedom Association |year = 1939

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = The British empire |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand Freedom Association |year = 1940

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = The Statute of Westminster: its background, purpose and content: a compilation of views and opinions |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand Freedom Association |year = 1940?

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = The British parliament |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand Freedom Association |year = 1940

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = Democracy and its modern rivals |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand Freedom Association |year = 1940

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = Democracy and our economic system : a compilation of views and opinions prepared for consideration and study |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand Freedom Association |year = 1940

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = Democracy: some views and opinions |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand Freedom Association |year = 1940

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = The development of the British Commonwealth : some views and opinions |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand Freedom Association |year = 1941?

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = The economic problem: Conservative and labour opinions : a summary of the views expressed by Mr Geoffrey Crowther |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand Freedom Association ; Worthington Press |year = 1941

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = Our way of life: an address to young New Zealanders: a few thoughts on democracy |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand National Party |year = 1941?

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = The socialisation of the land: an examination of the policy of the Labour government, 1936-1940 |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand Freedom Association |year = 1941

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = The State and the Small Farms Act: soldier settlement or state socialisation |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand Freedom Association |year = 1941

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = Developments in foreign relations: opinions upon certain important questions |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand Freedom Association |year = 1943

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = The government and the banks |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand Freedom Association |year = 1943

:*citation |first = Ronald M. |last = Algie |title = True education: that boys and girls should learn how to live, not merely how to earn a living: extracts from a speech delivered...civic reception in the city of Nelson, Thursday, 15th June, 1950 |place = Nelson, [N.Z.] |publisher = Stiles & Co. |year = 1950

:*citation |first = Ronald M. (chair) |last = Algie |title = Report of Juvenile Delinquency Committee |place = Wellington, [N.Z.] |publisher = Government Printer |year = 1955

:*citation |first = Hugh |last = Templeton |title = 'Algie, Ronald Macmillan 1888-1978'. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 22 June 2007 |url = http://www.dnzb.govt.nz |accessdate = 2008-04-11