Herbert Seton Stewart Kyle OBE (29 August 1873 – 5 January 1955) was a member of the Reform Party and since 1936 National Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.

Bert Kyle
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Riccarton
In office
19251943
Preceded byGeorge Witty
Succeeded byJack Watts
Personal details
Born
Herbert Seton Stewart Kyle

(1873-08-29)29 August 1873
Brunswick, Victoria, Australia
Died5 January 1955(1955-01-05) (aged 61)
Christchurch, New Zealand
Political partyReform (1922–36)
National (1936–42)
Independent (1942–43)
OccupationVeterinary surgeon
Farmer

Early life and profession edit

Kyle was born in Brunswick, Melbourne, Australia, in 1873. He received his education from The Geelong College and the Melbourne Veterinary College. He was a vet in Ballarat until 1899, when he migrated to New Zealand.[1]

He was a New Zealand government vet in Christchurch from 1901 to 1918.[2] Afterwards, he had his private practice in Christchurch.[1]

Member of Parliament edit

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1925–1928 22nd Riccarton Reform
1928–1931 23rd Riccarton Reform
1931–1935 24th Riccarton Reform
1935–1936 25th Riccarton Reform
1936–1938 Changed allegiance to: National
1938–1942 26th Riccarton National
1942–1943 Changed allegiance to: Independent

The Christchurch electorate of Riccarton was contested by three candidates in the 1922 election. George Witty was successful, with Kyle coming second and Jack McCullough coming third.[3] Kyle won the Riccarton electorate in the 1925 election, and held it to 1943 when he was defeated (he withdrew).[4]

Independent edit

Kyle resigned from the National Party in 1942.[5] He stated: "The National Party organization has built up a watertight compartment that makes one become a 'yes man' with expulsion as an alternative". Kyle thought it "better to retire from the party than to place on it the onus of expulsion, a point which the gentleman (Sid Holland) who moved the resolution was expounding when I left the caucus meeting".[6][7] Kyle remained an Independent until 1943, but did not contest the election in that year.

In 1935, Kyle was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.[8] He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for public and local government services, in the 1953 New Year Honours.[9]

Death edit

Kyle died on 5 January 1955,[1] and was buried in Bromley Cemetery.[10]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c Gustafson 1986, p. 325.
  2. ^ New Zealand Gazette No 50, 27 April 1916;, Public Service List of 28 April, p. 1316
  3. ^ "South Island Seats". Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle. Vol. XVIII, no. 909. 12 December 1922. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  4. ^ Wilson 1985, p. 211.
  5. ^ Wood 1996, p. 117.
  6. ^ Milne 1966, p. 141.
  7. ^ "Mr. Kyle's position". The Evening Post. 5 October 1942. p. 4. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Official jubilee medals". Evening Post. 6 May 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  9. ^ "No. 39735". The London Gazette (4th supplement). 1 January 1953. p. 44.
  10. ^ "Cemeteries database results detail". Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 13 June 2015.

References edit

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Riccarton
1925–1943
Succeeded by