MORRISON, ARTHUR (1846-1901) was born at Darvel, Ayrshire, and educated in the parish school to the age of nine, after which he attended night schools and taught himself. He was for some time a farm worker and later was employed in the hide and skin department of Ramsay and Co., Glasgow. In 1874 he came to Otago, and from 1875 was employed as salesman by the Walton Park Coal Co. He was prominent in the U.A.O.D., the I.O.G.T., and the Freemasons. In 1887 he went to Melbourne as delegate to the Druids' conference and he was first district grand president when the U.A.O.D. received autonomy in Otago. He was three years on the Caversham borough council and was chairman of the school committee.

Morrison took some part in the Labour movement of 1890 and in 1893 was elected M.H.R. for Caversham in the Labour interest (defeating Barron by 1,335 votes to 1,199). He was a cautious reasoner, a moderately good speaker and retained an independent attitude in Parliament though consistently supporting Seddon. Morrison died on 21 Nov 1901.

N.Z.P.D.; Cycl. N.Z., iv (p); Otago Daily Times, 23, 26 Nov 1901. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 54

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