PIRANI, FREDERICK (1859-1926), the son of H. C. Pirani (1817-94), was born in Melbourne and came to New Zealand with his parents in 1864, his father being connected with a newspaper on the West Coast. He was educated at the model school, Melbourne, and the Presbyterian and Anglican schools at Hokitika.

He served his apprenticeship to the printing trade in the Wanganui Herald office (under Ballance). In 1883 at Blenheim he had his first experience of public affairs as a member of the school committee. In 1891, with his brother David, he took over the Manawatu Standard (Palmerston North), which they conducted until 1903. Pirani took a vigorous part in public life in Palmerston. He was president of the Manawatu A. and P. association, a member of the Wellington land board and of the Middle District University council, chairman of the licensing committee and of the school committee, a member of the borough council (1888-91, 1901-3) and representative of his district on the Wanganui education board (of which he was chairman for many years).

In 1893 he was elected M.H.R. for Palmerston North. In politics independent, and always a trenchant critic, he was one of the young New Zealand party, which offered the most troublesome opposition to the Seddon Government in the late nineties. He retired in 1902 and never re-entered Parliament, though he contested several elections—Hutt (1902), Palmerston North (1905), Wanganui (1914), and Wellington Central (1919). In 1903 Pirani sold out of the Manawatu Standard and bought a share in the Feilding Star, in which he was interested for some years. In his later years he was connected with The Dominion (Wellington) and the Newspaper Proprietors' association, for which he acted as advocate in industrial disputes. He was chairman of the Kelburn school committee, and a few months before his death was elected to the Wellington education board. He was twice married, and died on 26 Oct 1926. Pirani was an inveterate critic and intrepid debater, with a passion for education, entirely disinterested.

Cycl. N.Z., i (p); N.Z.P.D., 1893-1902 (notably 24 Jun 1927); Evening Post, 27 Oct 1926. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 87

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