OKEY, HENRY JAMES HOBBS (1857-1918) was born at Frankley Road, Taranaki, and educated in New Plymouth, thereafter spending many years as a cattle and sheep farmer. He was for 25 years a member of the Frankley Road board (and much of the time chairman and secretary) and 12 years on the Taranaki county council (nine years chairman) and a member of the school committee. He promoted the Frankley Road Dairy Co. of which he was chairman; was once president of the Taranaki A. and P. association, and a member of the licensing bench. Okey twice contested the Taranaki seat in Parliament (on the first occasion as an independent Liberal). In May 1907 he won the seat against E. Dockerill (Liberal) and W. G. Malone (Independent Liberal). He represented Taranaki until his death on 13 Sep 1918. He married (1883) Louise Morey (New Plymouth), who died on 28 Aug 1937.

N.Z.P.D., 25 Oct 1918; Taranaki Herald, 14 Sep 1918. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 69

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