FLEMING, DAVID THOMAS (1861-1938) was born at Blackwater, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, the son of Alexander Fleming, with whom he came to New Zealand in the Lady Milton in 1863 (Sir Robert Stout being a fellow passenger). His father taking up land at Otokia, Taieri, he was educated at Allanton and Otokia, and at the Otago Boys' High School and farmed with his father for a while at Hindon. He was secretary of the Henley river board from 1879 to 1884, in which year he joined the staff of the Clutha Leader. He became successively editor, manager and part proprietor of the Leader and controlled the Bruce Herald (1906-11).

In 1912 Fleming retired from journalism and became interested with his brother in sheep and cattle farming at Titiroa. He was a member of the Clutha river trustees (1907-24), and of the river board (1910-16) and chairman (1912-14); a member of the Balclutha High School committee (1893-1905); of the Otago education board (1915-18), and chairman (1913-16); of the technical college board (1913-16); a founder and governor of the South Otago High School; a member of the Otago High Schools board (1915) and of the general Council of Education (1918-30). He was on the Balclutha borough council (1891-1914) and mayor (1897-99 and 1903-07). He married (1889) Emilia, daughter of the Rev J. Menzies (Milton).

Fleming was organiser of the Reform party in Southland and was a member of the Legislative Council (1918-32). He died on 18 Oct 1938.

N.Z.P.D., 1918-32; Clutha Leader, 19 Oct 1938. Portrait: Parliament House

Reference: Volume 1, page 150

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