Early Parliamentary Career
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1887–1890 | 10th | Dunedin East | Independent | |
| 1892–1893 | 11th | Bruce | Independent | |
| 1893–1896 | 12th | Bruce | Independent | |
| 1896–1899 | 13th | Bruce | Independent | |
| 1899–1902 | 14th | Bruce | Independent | |
| 1902–1905 | 15th | Bruce | Independent | |
| 1905–1908 | 16th | Bruce | Independent | |
| 1908–1909 | 17th | Bruce | Independent | |
| 1909–1911 | Changed allegiance to: | Reform | ||
| 1911–1914 | 18th | Bruce | Reform | |
| 1914–1919 | 19th | Bruce | Reform | |
| 1919–1920 | 20th | Bruce | Reform | |
In 1887, Allen decided to enter national politics, standing in the Dunedin East seat as a conservative opponent to Robert Stout, the Premier. Few expected a first-time challenger to defeat the Premier, but amazingly, Allen did just that. Allen's own tenure as MP for Dunedin East was short, however, as he was himself voted out of office at the next (1890) election. In 1892, however, Allen returned to Parliament after winning a by-election in the rural Otago electorate of Bruce, which he held until he retired in 1920.
Gradually, Allen developed a reputation as a solid performer in Parliament. He lacked the skills at oratory of some of his contemporaries, and was often seen as humourless and uncharismatic. But he was nevertheless considered dependable, reasonable, and practical. He was sometimes cited as a possible leader for Parliament's conservative faction, but when the conservatives eventually came together to found the Reform Party, the more charismatic William Massey became leader instead.
Read more about this topic: James Allen (New Zealand Politician)
Famous quotes containing the words early and/or career:
“Yet, haply, in some lull of life,
Some Truce of God which breaks its strife,
The worldling’s eyes shall gather dew,
Dreaming in throngful city ways
Of winter joys his boyhood knew;
And dear and early friends—the few”
—John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892)
“The problem, thus, is not whether or not women are to combine marriage and motherhood with work or career but how they are to do so—concomitantly in a two-role continuous pattern or sequentially in a pattern involving job or career discontinuities.”
—Jessie Bernard (20th century)