Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe
Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe, GCMG, KBE, PC (born 21 September 1867 in London, † July 3, 1958 in Lydney, Gloucestershire ) was a British politician of the Conservative Party from 1930 to 1935 and Governor-General of New Zealand.
Early life
Bathurst received his education at Sherborne School at Eton College and at University College, Oxford, where he studied law and graduated in 1890 with a BA.
Member of Parliament
Bathurst worked as a barrister and conveyancer ( lawyer specialized in real estate transactions ). In the elections of 1910 he moved to the Conservative Party for the constituency Wilton Wiltshire entered parliament. He served there as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food. In 1917 he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE ) and included as Baron Bledisloe of Lydney in the County of Gloucester in the Peerage. His motto was " Tien ta foy ".
He stayed until 1928 and was a deputy here from 1924 Parliament secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. From 1926 he was a member of the Privy Council.
Governor-General of New Zealand
Lord Bledisloe in 1928 left the Parliament and was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George appointed. He was appointed Governor-General of New Zealand. He held from March 19 1930 until March 15, 1935, King George V, this Office.
Bledisloe was popular and respected in New Zealand. Above all, his sense of social issues in the time of the Great Depression was recognized. He insisted that his salary would be cut, as this was done with the salaries of civil servants.
Bledisloe also contributed to the improvement of relations between European settlers ( Pākehā ) and Māori at. He bought from private funds, the land on which the Treaty of Waitangi was signed and donated it to the nation as a memorial. 1934 the land as a National Reserve was placed under protection. The conference, organized to mark the occasion ceremony attracted thousands of visitors - Māori and Pākehā. Bledisloe interested in the memorial after his return to England. Bledisloe also contributed to the recognition of the Māori King Movement, and was a friend of King Koroki Mahuta and Te Puea Māoriführerin and Princess Herangi.
Bledisloe donated prices for different occasions. The most famous of which is the 1931 and granted until today discharged annually Bledisloe Cup for Rugby Union competition between New Zealand and Australia.
Later life
After his return to England he was made Viscount Bledisloe of Lydney in 1935 in the county of Gloucester. He has worked in a number of committees and boards and has received honorary doctorates from the universities of Bristol, Edinburgh and Oxford. He was a Fellow of University College, Oxford.
Lord Bledisloe died at the age of 90 years on July 3, 1958 in Lyndley. The title of Viscount Bledisloe inherited by his eldest son, Benjamin Ludlow Bathurst.
Bledisloe was a Freemason. During his tenure as Governor General 1930-1933 he was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand.
Sports
At the foundation of Lydney Rugby Football Club 1888 Charles Bathurst was asked to preside this. He was for over 70 years until his death president of the club. His successor was his son Benjamin Ludlow Bathurst. The Bledisloe Cup and the sports field Bledisloe Park are named after him.