Henry James Hobbs Okey (28 May 1857 – 13 September 1918) was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.
Early life and family
Born in New Plymouth in 1857, Okey was the son of Edward Okey, an ironmonger.[1] His brothers included Edward Nelson Okey, who in 1880 won what later became known as the Ballinger Belt for the New Zealand champion shot.[1][2]
On 2 July 1884, Okey married Louisa Morey.[3]
Political career
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1907–1908 | 16th | Taranaki | Independent | ||
| 1908–1909 | 17th | Taranaki | Independent | ||
| 1909–1911 | Changed allegiance to: | Reform | |||
| 1911–1914 | 18th | Taranaki | Reform | ||
| 1914–1918 | 18th | Taranaki | Reform | ||
Okey was a member of the Taranaki County Council, and served as its chairman between 1896 and 1905.[1][4] He was also vice president and then president of the Taranaki Agricultraul and Pastoral Society.[1]
Okey contested the Taranaki electorate at the 1905 general election, coming second, 236 votes behind the incumbent, Edward Smith.[5] However, Smith died in 1907 and Okey won the subsequent by-election as an independent. He gave sympathy and support to the Reform Party, and later formally became a Reform MP. Okey held the Taranaki seat until his death in 1918.[6]
Death
Okey died in New Plymouth on 13 September 1918,[1] and was buried in Te Henui Cemetery.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Obituary: Mr. H. J. Okey, M.P." The Evening Post. 13 September 1918. p. 7. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- ^ "Ballinger Belt". National Rifle Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ "Marriage". Taranaki Herald. 3 July 1884. p. 2. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ "City Council, Henry Okey". Puke Ariki. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ "The general election, 1905". National Library. 1906. p. 2. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer. p. 130.
- ^ "Cemetery search". New Plymouth District Council. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
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