20 Facts About Phil Connolly

Phil Connolly was educated at McAndrew Road School and Otago Boys' High School until leaving school in 1914 upon the death of his father to work for a living as an apprentice fitter.

Phil Connolly worked for New Zealand Railways Department at the Hillside Workshops.

Phil Connolly was later elected a member of the Institute of Marine and Power Engineers union and was chairman of the Hillside branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and later its secretary.

Phil Connolly was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross in 1941 for his service in safeguarding Channel convoys.

Phil Connolly first developed an interest in politics upon the formation of the Labour Party in 1916.

Phil Connolly was a member of the South Dunedin branch of the Labour Party and was a member of the Otago Labour Representation Committee.

Phil Connolly was to become deeply involved in local body politics in Dunedin.

Phil Connolly first ran for local office in 1933 unsuccessfully standing for the Dunedin City Council, Otago Harbour Board and Otago Hospital Board.

Phil Connolly was likewise unsuccessful at the 1935 and 1938 local-body elections.

Phil Connolly was eventually elected a member of the city council in a 1939 by-election.

Phil Connolly represented the Dunedin West electorate from 1943 to 1946, and then the Dunedin Central electorate from 1946 to 1963, when he retired.

Phil Connolly narrowly missed selection for a cabinet portfolio in 1947 under Peter Fraser, though that year he was elected as the Labour Party's junior whip, being elevated to the senior whip in 1951.

Phil Connolly ran as the Labour candidate for Mayor in 1953, but lost to incumbent Len Wright.

Phil Connolly was an agitator against the leadership of Walter Nash during Labour's spell in opposition in the 1950s.

Phil Connolly was one of the main instigators of the challenge to Nash in June 1954, which was unsuccessful.

Phil Connolly was later appointed a Cabinet Minister by Walter Nash, and was Minister of Defence and from 12 December 1957 to 12 December 1960 in the Second Labour Government.

Phil Connolly was the Minister responsible for Police and War Pensions.

Phil Connolly fulfilled an election pledge by government and abolished compulsory military training, despite strenuous opposition from the opposition National Party, the Returned Servicemen's Association and the Chief of the General Staff General Stephen Weir.

Phil Connolly was sure he would have won had he been able to stand, a feeling which was reinforced after his comparatively inexperienced replacement as Labour candidate, councillor Russell Calvert came very close to winning against the incumbent Stuart Sidey.

In 1970, Phil Connolly was offered a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.