25 Facts About Phil Holloway

Philip North Holloway was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Phil Holloway's father was an Anglican parson and he received his secondary education at Waitaki Boys' High School.

Phil Holloway attended the University of Otago, but did not finish his degree because he went overseas in 1936.

Phil Holloway was a door-to-door salesmen for vacuum cleaners in England before undertaking more study at Boston University.

Phil Holloway then became a public circuit lecturer in the United States before returning to London and briefly became an assistant to prominent Labour MP Sir Stafford Cripps from 1938 to 1939.

When World War II broke out, Holloway joined the army.

Phil Holloway was a second lieutenant with the 26th Battalion, and saw service in North Africa and Italy.

Phil Holloway was for a time the secretary of the Wellington Journalists Union and later employed by the Labour Party from 1953 to 1954.

Phil Holloway was a "loyal Orangeman" and disliked the Catholic Irish.

Phil Holloway stood in the 1946 election in the Manawatu electorate, but was defeated by the incumbent, Matthew Oram of the National Party.

Phil Holloway represented the Heretaunga electorate from 1954 to 1960, when he retired.

Phil Holloway was both Minister of Industries and Commerce and Minister for Science and Industrial Research from 1957 to 1960 in the Second Labour Government.

Phil Holloway initiated several capital works initiatives to improve New Zealand's manufacturing capacity.

Phil Holloway oversaw the construction of the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter, the Marsden Point Oil Refinery and New Zealand Steel's mill at Glenbrook.

Phil Holloway had one of the largest majorities of any member of Parliament when he surprisingly decided he would not seek re-election in the 1960 election.

In Truth Ltd v Phil Holloway, he sued the tabloid newspaper New Zealand Truth for libel after an article in its 24 March 1959 issue which featured an article "This Ex-Russian's Export Licences Should Be Investigated" which demanded an immediate government inquiry into dealings between Henry Judd, an emigre importer, and Warren Freer, Labour MP for Mt Albert.

Phil Holloway vehemently denied the suggestion and sued the paper for libel and sought in damages.

Phil Holloway wrote to Prime Minister Walter Nash early in 1960 to inform him he would not be standing again.

In 1962 Phil Holloway became manager of the New Zealand branch of the Chandris Shipping Lines.

Phil Holloway remained an active member of the Labour Party and stood twice for the party presidency.

Phil Holloway unsuccessfully challenged incumbent president Norman Douglas at both the 1967 and 1968 party conferences.

In 1973, following the election of the Third Labour Government, Phil Holloway was appointed as Ambassador to Italy and High Commissioner to Malta from 1973 to 1976.

Phil Holloway was a co-owner of a number of successful race horses with his friend Woolf Fisher.

Phil Holloway was survived by his second wife Beverley, two daughters and one stepson from his second marriage.

Phil Holloway's funeral was attended by Labour leaders, including then Prime Minister Helen Clark.