Patrick Joseph O'Regan (6 February 1869 – 24 April 1947) was a Member of Parliament for Inangahua and Buller, in the South Island of New Zealand. He was later appointed to the Legislative Council.
Patrick O'Regan | |
---|---|
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Inangahua | |
In office 1893–1896 | |
Preceded by | Robert Stout |
Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Buller | |
In office 1896–1899 | |
Preceded by | Roderick McKenzie |
Succeeded by | James Colvin |
Personal details | |
Born | Patrick Joseph O'Regan 6 February 1869 Charleston, New Zealand |
Died | 24 April 1947 Wellington, New Zealand | (aged 78)
Political party | Liberal |
Spouse |
Clara Emma Haycock (m. 1898) |
Children | 6 |
Relatives | Rolland O'Regan (son) Tipene O'Regan (grandson) Hana O'Regan (great-granddaughter) |
O'Regan was born in Charleston, on the West Coast of New Zealand to Patrick O'Regan (an Irish immigrant and goldminer) and his wife Mary.
Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1893–1896 | 12th | Inangahua | Liberal | ||
1896–1899 | 13th | Buller | Liberal |
O'Regan represented Inangahua (1893–1896) and Buller (1896–1899) in the New Zealand House of Representatives. He was defeated in the 1899 election when he stood for re-election in Buller.[1]
He was involved with the Knights of Labour and Henry George's Single Tax Movement. In 1896, O'Regan introduced the Proportional Representation Bill into Parliament: it failed to carry the second reading by only 6 votes.[2]
A lawyer by profession, O'Regan represented striking workers in 1913 and conscientious objectors charged with sedition in World War I.
O'Regan supported Labour's Peter Fraser in the 1918 by-election in Wellington Central and Harry Holland in the 1918 by-election in Wellington North. However, he did not join the Labour Party.[3]
O'Regan was made a judge of the Court of Arbitration in 1937 and a member of the Legislative Council on 9 September 1946 and he held that position for the few months until his death in Wellington on 24 April 1947.[4][5]
He was the father of surgeon and activist Rolland O'Regan.