Paddy Webb - Return To Politics

Return To Politics

In the 1932 Motueka by-election, Webb attempted to return to Parliament, but was defeated by Keith Holyoake. The following year, the death of Harry Holland (who had won Webb's old seat in 1918, and who now represented Buller) resulted in another by-election. Although Webb's nomination was opposed by radical members of the union movement, Webb was re-elected to Parliament, for Buller.

When the Labour Party won the 1935 general election, Webb was appointed to Cabinet by Michael Joseph Savage, his old friend from the mines in Australia. He was given the position of Minister of Mines, a role in which he pressed for the nationalisation of the mining industry. Gradually, assisted by the heightened demand for coal during World War II, Webb oversaw the purchase of many major operations. During this slow process, Webb had to contend not only with opponents of nationalisation but with radicals who demanded the immediate nationalisation of the entire industry.

Webb had a reputation as Parliament’s Lothario, and in mid-1939 he was being pursued by a woman for breach of promise to marry; the Hon Mark Fagan got Colin Scrimgeour then the head of commercial broadcasting to give her a job with radio station 1ZB in Auckland.

In 1946, Webb finally retired from politics. He died in Christchurch on 23 March 1950.