The Liberal Party's Senior Whip was a political post in New Zealand. The whip's task was to administer the "whipping in" system that attempts to ensure that party MPs attend and vote according to the party leadership's wishes.[1] All Liberal whips were members of the House of Representatives with none coming from the Legislative Council. The position held high esteem in the Liberal caucus and it was not uncommon for whips to move into higher positions later on. Two (William MacDonald and George Forbes) would later serve as party leader. Forbes also served as Prime Minister from 1930 to 1935.[2]
The following is a list of senior whips of the Liberal Party (including United) up until the establishment of the National Party:[3]
No. | Name | Portrait | Electorate | Term of Office | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Westby Perceval | Christchurch | 19 June 1890 | 15 September 1891 | ||
2 | Frank Lawry | Parnell | 15 September 1891 | 29 October 1894 | ||
3 | Charles H. Mills | Wairau | 29 October 1894 | 20 October 1900 | ||
4 | John Stevens | Manawatu | 20 October 1900 | 1 July 1902 | ||
5 | Walter Carncross | Taieri | 1 July 1902 | 25 November 1902 | ||
6 | John O'Meara | Pahiatua | 29 June 1903 | 3 July 1904† | ||
7 | Frederick Flatman | Geraldine | 3 July 1904 | 29 August 1906 | ||
8 | Alfred Kidd | Auckland Central | 3 September 1906 | 10 October 1908 | ||
9 | George Laurenson | Lyttelton | 8 June 1909 | 28 June 1910 | ||
10 | William MacDonald | Bay of Plenty | 30 June 1910 | 15 June 1912 | ||
11 | George Forbes | Hurunui | 15 June 1912 | 7 February 1923 | ||
12 | Sydney George Smith | New Plymouth | 7 February 1923 | 16 June 1926 | ||
13 | Alfred Ransom | Pahiatua | 16 June 1926 | 4 December 1928 | ||
14 | Alfred Murdoch | Marsden | 4 December 1928 | 27 May 1930 | ||
15 | George Munns | Roskill | 27 May 1930 | 22 September 1931 | ||
(14) | Alfred Murdoch | Marsden | 22 September 1931 | 13 May 1936 |