HARKNESS, JOSEPH GEORGE (1851-1930) was born in Nelson, the son of William Dixon Harkness, of Scotland, who represented Waimea East in the Provincial Council (1863-65). Educated at Nelson College (1867-68), he became a school teacher and then a farmer. Elected to Parliament as a supporter of the Atkinson Government, Harkness represented Nelson City (1889-93). He was a member of the Waimea county council (for eight years), of the school committee and of the Nelson education board, and chairman of the Richmond town board. In 1893 he took up land at Tariki, Taranaki. He was the chief promoter (in 1896) of the Midhirst Dairy Co., of which he was secretary and general manager till 1905, when he moved to Wellington. Harkness contested the Egmont seat in Parliament in 1897. In Wellington he became president of the chamber of commerce (1907-08), and president (and afterwards secretary) of the National Dairy Association, from which he retired in 1921. He was a member of the harbour board from 1908 and chairman (1919-22). In 1907 he was elected mayor of Onslow. He afterwards lived at Te Horo, where he was chairman of the dairy company, and he was one of the founders of the Wellington Co-operative Freezing Co. Harkness married a daughter of George MacRae. He died on 9 Jan 1930.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Cycl. N.Z., iv; Philpott (p); The Dominion, 10 Jan 1930. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 196

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