GRAHAM, JOHN (1843-1926) was born in Nelson and educated there. He was a member (1877-94) and chairman of the Nelson school committee, a member of the Nelson education board, a governor of Nelson College (1894) and a member of the council of Victoria College (1898-1912). For some years he was on the harbour board and the land board.

Graham was elected in 1893 to represent Nelson in the House of Representatives. He was a supporter of the Seddon government and retained his seat till 1911, when he retired voluntarily from politics. He was chairman of the banking inquiry committee in 1896 and in 1894 successfully opposed the Midland railway bill in so far as it proposed to abandon the obligations of the company to provide a railway to Nelson. Graham died on 7 Feb 1926.

N.Z.P.D., 18 Jun 1926; Cycl. N.Z., v (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1908; The Colonist, 8 Feb 1926. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 175

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