James Albert Manning Aikins

James Albert Manning Aikins, KC ( born December 10, 1851 in Graham, Ontario, † March 1, 1929 in Winnipeg ) was a Canadian lawyer. From 1911 to 1915 he was a member of the Lower House, 1916-1926 Vice- governor of the province of Manitoba.

Biography

Aikins Father James Cox Aikins was an influential politician ( Senator and member of the Federal Government, and later Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ). The son graduated from the prestigious Upper Canada College and studied law at the University of Toronto. In 1878 he was admitted as a lawyer and moved the following year to Winnipeg, where he opened a law office. From 1879 to 1896 Aikins was an advisor to the Ministry of Justice of Manitoba, 1881 to 1911, he advised the Canadian Pacific Railway in legal matters. From 1900 he was a consultant of the provincial government of Hugh John Macdonald and drafted a law restricting the consumption of alcohol for this.

As a candidate of the Conservative Party Aikins stepped up to the general election in 1911. He won the electoral district Brandon and supported as a backbencher, the federal government of Robert Borden. In May 1915, he gave up his mandate as a surprise. The conservative provincial government under Rodmond Roblin was forced to resign because of a scandal and Aikins took over on an interim basis the party chairmanship. The Conservatives suffered in the early general elections a crushing defeat; Aikins itself has not been selected.

Governor General Prince Arthur William Aikins certified on 3 August 1916 as Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba. This representative office he held until October 9, 1926. His appointment was initially skeptical, but he ultimately proved to be a good occupation. The liberal newspaper Winnipeg Free Press in 1921 even supported a second five- year term.