KELLY, JAMES WHYTE (1855-1938) was born at Carluke, Lanarkshire, educated at the parish school and apprenticed to tailoring, at which he worked in Scotland and England. Having married Elizabeth, daughter of James Millar (Motherwell), they sailed for New Zealand in the Aldergrove (1875). Kelly worked for Thomas Millar (Invercargill) till 1890, in which year he contested Invercargill in the Labour interest (defeating Feldwick and J. W. Bain). He was re-elected in 1893 (defeating Joseph Hatch) and again in 1896 (defeating Scandrett and John Sinclair). In 1899 he was defeated by J. A. Hanan. Kelly was a borough councillor and mayor of South Invercargill, secretary of the Southland trades and labour council, and chairman of the Southland Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. He died on 15 Dec 1938.

Cycl. NZ., iv; Who's Who NZ., 1908; Lyttelton Times, 8 Dec 1890; Timaru Herald, 17 Dec 1938; Otago Daily Times, 22 Dec 1938. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 244

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