Thomas Mason Wilford

Infobox_Officeholder
name=Hon. Thomas Wilford


order=8th Leader of the Opposition
term_start=8 September 1920
term_end=13 August 1925
predecessor=William MacDonald
successor=George Forbes
birth_date=20 June 1870
birth_place=
death_date=22 June 1939
death_place=
spouse=
party=
constituency=Hutt
religion=
profession=
Sir Thomas Mason Wilford, KC (20 June 1870 - 22 June 1939) was a New Zealand politician. He held the seats of Suburbs of Wellington then Hutt continuously for thirty years, from 1899 to 1929

He was leader of the New Zealand Liberal Party, and Leader of the Opposition from 1920 to 1925.

He was Minister of Justice, Marine and Stamps in the World War I National government from 14 November 1917 to 22 August 1919, and also Minister in Charge of Police and Inspection of Machinery from 9 April 1918.

From 10 December 1928 to 28 May 1930 he was Minister of Justice, Minister of Defence and Minister in Charge of the Police, Prisons and War Pensions Department in Ward's Ministry.

He represented the seat of Hutt continuously for thirty years, from 1899 to 1929, and also served briefly as Mayor of Wellington in 1910-11.

He was elected to the Suburbs of Wellington seat in the 1896 General Election, but the result was declared void after an election petition on the grounds of corrupt and illegal practices. Charles Wilson was elected MP for that electorate following a by-election on 23rd April 1897.

Wilford then won the Suburbs of Wellington seat in 1899 and the new Hutt seat from 1902, which he held until he resigned on 18 November 1929.

References

*"New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840-1984" by J. O. Wilson (1985, Government Printer, Wellington)
* [http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=3W17 DNZB biography]