Sir Matthew Henry Oram was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.
29 Facts About Matthew Oram
1.
2.
Matthew Oram was the 13th Speaker of the House of Representatives, from 1950 to 1957.
3.
Matthew Oram attended Wellington College, followed by Victoria University of Wellington.
4.
Matthew Oram graduated BA and received a Sir George Grey Scholarship, and then graduated MA and LLB.
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Matthew Oram belonged to Victoria's debating society and won prizes.
6.
Matthew Oram formed a partnership with John Mason and practised law in Palmerston North from 1912 or 1913.
7.
Matthew Oram was the daughter of Captain Johnson, the harbour master; John Mason was best man.
8.
When New Zealand declared war against Germany in 1914, Oram sold his law practice and joined the army.
9.
Matthew Oram was declared unfit for overseas service and served first in Palmerston North, and then at Base Records in Wellington, where he attained the rank of captain.
10.
Matthew Oram was instrumental in the establishment of Palmerston North as a flying hub for the North Island.
11.
Matthew Oram obtained his pilot's licence in the 1920s and became the first president of the Manawatu Aero Club.
12.
Matthew Oram promoted that the club compete in the handicap section of the MacRobertson Air Race and paid half the entry fee, but ceased to support the event when his nominated pilot was not chosen.
13.
Matthew Oram was involved in setting up the Palmerston North branch of YMCA and was their chairman for seven years.
14.
Matthew Oram was involved in establishing the local debating club, and helped form the competitions society.
15.
Matthew Oram helped establish the Manawatu Repertory Society and was involved in their annual productions for two decades.
16.
Matthew Oram chaired this group for five years and was later chairman of the New Zealand Players board.
17.
Matthew Oram was on the board of Palmerston North Boys' High School for 29 years, 14 years of that as chairman.
18.
Matthew Oram served on the Wanganui Education Board for over a decade.
19.
Matthew Oram was chairman of the Chamber of Commerce in Palmerston North.
20.
Matthew Oram owned race horses, and in 1955, Golden Galleon won the Wellington Cup.
21.
When John Cobbe retired from Parliament in 1943, Matthew Oram won National's nomination for the Manawatu electorate.
22.
Matthew Oram beat Labour's candidate, Corporal W H Oliver, by a considerable margin, with an Independent coming a distant third.
23.
Matthew Oram held the Manawatu electorate until his retirement in 1957.
24.
When National came to power in the 1949 election, many expected Matthew Oram to become Minister of Education.
25.
When Parliament first assembled after the election in June 1950, Matthew Oram was elected Speaker of the House.
26.
Matthew Oram held the role of Speaker until his retirement from Parliament on 29 October 1957.
27.
Matthew Oram executed the role in a fair and effective way.
28.
Matthew Oram died on 22 January 1969 at Palmerston North, survived by his wife, two daughters, and two sons.
29.
Matthew Oram's grandson, named Matthew Oram and based in Hong Kong, shares his hobby and has racehorses.