William Dickie

Who was William Dickie?

William James Dickie was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand, and opposition Whip.

Dickie was one of six children; he was born in Cobden, Westland, on 10 April 1869 to William Dickie and Mary Dent, who were early settlers to Greymouth. He farmed 2,550 acres with Arthur Ingham Dent from 1902 in Lyndhurst near Ashburton.

He won the Selwyn electorate in 1911, and again in December 1914. The electorate was abolished for the 1919 election, and he was defeated in 1919 by William Nosworthy standing for Ashburton.

Dickie committed suicide on 24 June 1921 at his farm in Lyndhurst; he died from a gunshot wound to the head. Dickie was buried at the Methven cemetery. He was survived by his wife, two sons and one daughter.