THOMSON, JOHN CHARLES (1866-1934) was born in Invercargill and attended Macdonald's and Henry's private schools, Invercargill Grammar School and the district high school. After serving his indentures to a printer, he took up journalism and later established a school of shorthand. In 1891 he joined the Western Star at Riverton, which he conducted until he sold his interest in 1904. He was a member of the Wallace and Fiord hospital trust (1893-1902), of the Wallace licensing committee (1893-96), of the Wallace hospital board, and of the Riverton Borough Council (mayor 1901-04). A fluent speaker, Thomson was a founder of the Invercargill debating society, and for 20 years was Liberal member for Wallace in the House of Representatives (1902-19, 1922-25), being defeated in 1919 by A. Hamilton. He was for 33 years a member of the Southland education board (1900-34; chairman six times), was a delegate to the Imperial conference of education in 1907, a governor of the Southland High Schools and the Technical College, and a member of the Otago University council (1920-32). Thomson was a member of the Southern court of foresters from 1879, and of the Aparima lodge. He married (1893) Miss Keyling, of Greymouth. At the time of his death (on 9 Apr 1934) he was writing a history of Riverton for the centenary celebrations of 1937.

N.Z.P.D., 29 Jun 1934; Cycl. N.Z., iv; Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1920, 1932; Riverton Record (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 194

🌳 Further sources