Arthur Edgar Gravenor Rhodes - Political Career

Political Career

Member of Parliament

Arthur Rhodes represented the Gladstone (1887–1890) and Geraldine (1890–1893) electorates in the New Zealand House of Representatives. He was defeated in the 1893 general election for the Pareora electorate that replaced Geraldine by Frederick Flatman. Rhodes again contested the Geraldine electorate in the 1896 election, but was again beaten by Flatman. He was the first New Zealand-born person to be elected to the House of Representatives.

"The Member for Geraldine", wrote a brutally frank parliamentary reporter, "has few of the requisites for a public speaker. His manner is singularly awkward. Words do not come readily to his bidding and when they do come they are not always employed in the right place"

Local body politics

Christchurch mayoral elections had so far been held in the second half of December, but in 1900, that would have clashed with the Canterbury Jubilee celebrations (the First Four Ships first arrived in December 1850). Mayoral elections were postponed until April 1901. The incumbent, William Reece, declared in December 1900 that he could not serve another term due to other commitments, and shortly afterwards Rhodes received a requisition asking him to be nominated as mayoral candidate. At the nomination meeting on 16 April 1901, Rhodes was the only candidate and was thus declared elected unopposed. He was Mayor for one year and was succeeded by Henry Wigram, who was elected unopposed in 1902.

Rose Rhodes was President of Victoria League Canterbury between 1910 and 1917. The inaugural meeting of the Canterbury branch was held at Te Koraha.