George Warren Russell

George Warren Russell (24 February 1854 - 28 June 1937) was a New Zealand politician from Christchurch. He served as Minister of Internal Affairs and Minister of Public Health in the wartime National government, and was responsible for the New Zealand government's response to the 1918 influenza epidemic.

Russell was born in London, England, in 1854. His father was a bricklayer and builder. The family emigrated to Tasmania when he was still a child, and then moved again to New Zealand in 1864. Russell worked as an apprentice journalist, before trying to become a Wesleyan Methodist minister. When that was unsuccessful, he returned to journalism, working on the " Evening Chronicle " in Wellington and founding the "Manawatu Herald" in Foxton. In 1898, he took over the "Spectator", a magazine he would edit until 1928.

Russell first entered Parliament as MHR for Riccarton in 1893. A member of the Liberal Party's "left" (radical) wing, he was a strong critic of Premier Richard Seddon, and at the 1896 election attempted to form a "radical party" to push for stronger reforms. He maintained only a tenuous hold on his seat, losing it in 1896, regaining it in 1899, and losing it again in 1902. In 1908, he won the seat of Avon, and held it for the next 11 years.

Russell was considered a possible Liberal leader in 1912 when Joseph Ward resigned, and served in the cabinet of Thomas Mackenzie. He later served in the wartime National cabinet, holding the portfolios of Internal Affairs, Public Health and Hospitals, as well as a number of lesser responsibilities. As Minister of Public Health, he was responsible for the decision to allow the "Niagara" to dock in Auckland in 1918, and was blamed for the resulting Spanish Flu epidemic which killed at least 8000 New Zealanders. As a result, he lost his seat in the 1919 election. He unsuccessfully contested the 1921 by-election for Auckland East, and Avon again in the 1922 general election, but was never again elected to Parliament.

References

* [http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=2R31 DNZB biography]