WILLIAMSON, JOHN (1815-75) was born at Newry, County Down, Ireland, educated there and apprenticed to a printer. In 1840 he arrived at Sydney, and in 1841 came to Auckland under engagement to the Auckland Printing Co., and worked at his profession till 1845. He then purchased a printing plant from the Rev H. H. Lawry, and on 7 Jun established the New Zealander, in which he was joined in Jan 1848 by W. C. Wilson (q.v.). Williamson held strong views on politics, being a consistent Liberal, and on the inauguration of the constitution (1853) he was elected by the Pensioner Settlements to the Provincial Council, in which he sat until 1856. In Oct of that year he was elected Superintendent of the province, defeating J. A. Gilfillan by 162 votes. After working with a hostile council for a year, he was re-elected unopposed (1857). He carried through his 40 acre land settlement proposals to encourage immigration. At the elections in 1861 he retained the superintendency against Dr Stratford by a narrow majority (1,166 votes to 1,117). The Council was again hostile, and on the passing of the native lands act he felt that his power for carrying out what he considered a good policy was neutralised. He accordingly retired (18 Oct 1862) and Robert Graham, then the most popular man in the province, was nominated. Williamson was nominated at the last moment and defeated (1,625 votes to 1,141). His strong advocacy of a peaceful policy towards the Maori was very unpopular at the time. Had he desired he could have retired wealthy at this period. He did, in fact, remain out of provincial politics for three years. Meanwhile he had been a member of Parliament continuously (for Pensioner Settlements, 1855-60; City of Auckland West, 1861-75). He was a private member throughout, except for three weeks in Fox's executive (1861). He intended to contest the superintendency in 1865, but agreed with Graham to withdraw in favour of Whitaker, as the strongest man to defend provincial privileges against the central government. He re-entered the Council, however, at the head of the poll (Nov 1865); became a member of Whitaker's executive as commissioner of waste lands; and carried the election of O'Rorke to be speaker.

Whitaker resigned the superintendency in Mar 1867 and Williamson was elected unopposed. Financial depression lay heavily on the province which the courageous policy of Williamson was powerless to ameliorate. Meanwhile he coped vigorously with the demands of the new mining population on the Thames fields. At the dissolution of 1869 he was opposed by Gillies, and after one of the severest contests defeated by 52 votes. He was, however, again elected to the highest post in the province in Nov 1873 (defeating Dargaville and Lusk), and held it until his death (on 16 Feb 1875). In 1870 he was commissioner of crown lands for a few months. Williamson was a man of high character, strong will and great determination, with advanced Liberal views. His partnership with Wilson terminated in 1863, when the New Zealand Herald was established.

Auckland P.C. Proc.; Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); Morton; Cox; N.Z. Herald, 19 Feb 1875, 7 Jul 1876, 15 Jul 1929. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 262

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