SIDEY, SIR THOMAS KAY (1863-1933) was born in Dunedin, and was a son of John Sidey, who arrived in the Blundell (1848). He received his early education at Napier and at Barrett's collegiate school in Dunedin, the Otago Boys' High School (1876-81) and Otago University. (B.A. 1885; LL.B. 1889.) He was for some time in a law office and then practised law. Sidey took an early interest in politics. He contested the Caversham seat against Morrison in 1896, and on Morrison's death in 1901 he won it against five opponents (including Earnshaw, Bedford, Hally and J. J. Meikle). He retained the seat continuously (as Dunedin South after 1908) till retiring from the House in 1928. Sidey was a consistent Liberal and a supporter of Seddon and Ward. His efforts in politics were mainly directed towards the enactment of measures of law reform and of his daylight saving proposal. In 1909 he introduced a bill which proposed to extend the daylight time for one hour during the summer months. Each year his summer-time bill was brought in and secured a first reading, but failed to make any further progress, the main opposition coming from the country districts. In 1915 it passed the House after an all-night sitting, but the Legislative Council rejected it. In 1926 it had the same treatment. In 1927 it was passed by both Houses, but with a proviso that it should operate for one year only. In 1928 it was reenacted, but the period of extension was reduced from an hour to half an hour; and in the following year the act became permanent. Sidey brought into Parliament also proposals regarding indeterminate sentences, the control of legal training and of dentists (involving the sound establishment of the Otago Dental School), and the registration of music teachers. He was deputy-leader of the Liberal opposition prior to the election of 1928 and on the accession of the Liberal party to office, having been called to the Legislative Council, he became Attorney-general and Minister of Justice. In this capacity he completed the daylight-saving legislation, and carried out many measures of law reform, including the establishment of a council of legal education. In 1930 he attended the Imperial Conference with the Prime Minister, and he was responsible for the inclusion in the Statute of Westminster of the clause exempting New Zealand from its operation except in so far as the Parliament of New Zealand might enact. In 1931 he resigned his portfolios in order to enable the Prime Minister to form a coalition cabinet. He was knighted in 1930.

Sidey was a member of the Caversham borough council (1892-1902) and mayor (1894, 1899 and 1901). He was a member of the school committee (1890-1901) and president of the Dunedin and Suburban school committees' association (1893); a governor of the Otago High Schools (1901-02 and 1905-29), and chairman (1914-19); a member of the council of Knox College; and of the council of Otago University, of which he was vice-chancellor (1921-25), and chancellor (1925-33). As a member of the senate of the New Zealand University he was specially associated with the movement to grant theological degrees. Sidey was associated with many public bodies and associations and public companies. He married (1903) Helena, daughter of David Baxter (Dunedin). His death occurred on 22 May 1933.

N.Z.P.D.; Otago Daily Times, 23 May 1933; Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1932; Sidey, A Record Of Public Service (1933).

Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 153

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