42 Facts About Frank Kitts

Sir Francis Joseph Kitts was a New Zealand politician.

Frank Kitts was the Member of Parliament for Wellington Central between 1954 and 1960.

Frank Kitts was the longest-serving Mayor of Wellington, holding the post from 1956 to 1974.

Frank Kitts was a member at various times of several other local bodies and was still an elected official at his death.

Frank Kitts was born in Waimate, the son of an Australian quarryman, and attended Marist Brothers primary school alongside his half-brother John before completing his education at Timaru Boys' High School.

Frank Kitts was an active athlete and was a talented swimmer having an interest in both boxing and rugby.

Frank Kitts was a firm believer in physical fitness and had a lifelong twice-a-day exercise regimen.

In 1938 Frank Kitts stood unsuccessfully for the Timaru Borough Council as a Labour candidate.

Frank Kitts enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in July 1940 during World War II and served for five years with the home forces as a staff sergeant.

Frank Kitts became the vice-president of the Wellington Central branch of the Labour Party in 1947.

Frank Kitts was a competent debater and was a team leader for the Wellington Metropolitan Debating Club.

Frank Kitts held Saturday morning talks along a walking route down Bowen Street Lambton Quay and Willis Street with residents from all around Wellington, which earned him a public reputation in the city.

Frank Kitts walked the route nearly every day for the next 25 years.

Frank Kitts stood unsuccessfully for Labour in two elections, in 1949 for Waitomo, and in 1951 for Mount Victoria.

Frank Kitts was speculated as a potential successor to Peter Fraser in the 1951 Brooklyn by-election but declined to stand.

Frank Kitts was finally elected as the Member of Parliament for Wellington Central from 1954 to replace the retiring Charles Chapman.

Frank Kitts was appointed to neither and remained a backbencher.

Frank Kitts supported the 1959 National Roads Amendment Bill, which allowed the construction of free-flowing state highways into urban centres by the government funded by petrol taxes.

Frank Kitts supported the controversial plan by the Ministry of Works to build the Wellington Urban Motorway through the historic Bolton Street Cemetery, arguing it was necessary for commuters to get to and from work.

Frank Kitts was to hold the seat to 1960, when he was unexpectedly defeated by the National candidate Dan Riddiford.

Frank Kitts later failed to win back the electorate in 1963.

Frank Kitts' brother said that not remaining in Parliament longer had been his biggest regret.

Frank Kitts likewise stood for the Wellington City Council, Wellington Harbour Board and Wellington Hospital Board.

Frank Kitts was however elected to the City Council, Harbour Board and Hospital Board.

Frank Kitts's popularity had grown significantly and was not only re-elected to the three local bodies, but topped the poll for all three, gaining more votes than any other candidate, the first time this had been achieved in Wellington history.

Frank Kitts served on the Wellington Fire Board from 1954, the Hospital Board from 1950 to 1956 and the Harbour Board from 1950 until his death in 1979.

Frank Kitts was the chairman of the Wellington City and Suburban Water Supply Board, director of the New Zealand Municipalities Co-operative Insurance Company and patron of the City of Wellington Highland Pipe Band.

In 1956 Frank Kitts was elected mayor on his third attempt, exploiting a split vote on the centre-right with Macalister running as an independent after losing the Citizens' Association nomination to Ernest Toop.

Accordingly, Frank Kitts adopted a leadership style that encouraged impartial chairmanship of council committees.

Frank Kitts was re-elected over Toop in 1959 despite Labour's council ticket faring much worse with its representation being halved from six seats to three.

Frank Kitts would attend thousands of meetings and functions in the city every year.

Frank Kitts' had a legendary reputation for food consumption at such functions.

Frank Kitts was said to swallow sausage rolls "like he was posting a letter" and famously devoured two cooked chickens in a single sitting.

Frank Kitts was unexpectedly defeated by a narrow margin in 1974 by Michael Fowler.

Labour city councillor Joe Aspell said "Thousands expected Frank Kitts to be given something to make use of his considerable ability".

Frank Kitts did become President of the Sporting Clubs Association of New Zealand.

Frank Kitts was again defeated by Fowler with his vote share falling further, though contrarily his vote increased for the Harbour Board, to which he was again elected.

Frank Kitts died suddenly on 16 March 1979, aged 67, collapsing at his home after completing a morning shopping trip with his wife.

Frank Kitts's funeral was held in St Mary of the Angels and attracted over 400 mourners.

Frank Kitts was still a member of the Harbour Board at his death.

Frank Kitts was known for his tireless public service, which continued after his retirement, including helping Wellington's immigrant community.

The trophy is named after Frank Kitts, who donated it in 1967 to encourage excellence in impromptu speaking.