Sir Roy Emile Jack (12 January 1914 – 24 December 1977) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. He was a cabinet minister and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Biography

Early life and career

Jack was born in New Plymouth in 1914. He was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and graduated from the Victoria University with an LLB. Jack was a Judge's Associate from 1935–1938, before enlisting with the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War Two. He was first elected onto Wanganui City Council in 1946 and was deputy mayor in the following year. He served on the city council until 1955.

Member of Parliament

He represented the electorate of Patea from to 1963, then from to 1972, then Rangitikei from to 1977 when he died. The electorate became because of post-census boundary changes before the, and though a sitting MP he was challenged by Ruth Richardson (who he had advised about a career in politics). George Chapman who chaired the selection said that "the tensions were tremendous, but Roy was finally confirmed as the candidate." He had an election-night majority of 2067 in 1972, down from Shelton's 1969 majority of 4214. In the 1972 Marshall Ministry of the last year of the Second National Government, he was Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. He was Chairman of Committees between 1961 and 1966. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1967 to 1972 and 1976 to 1977.

Death

Jack underwent surgery in August 1977. He did not resume his parliamentary duties after this operation but stayed in his apartment in Parliament Buildings. He died in 1977 on Christmas Eve in his apartment with his family by his side.

Honours

In the 1970 Queen's Birthday Honours, Jack was appointed a Knight Bachelor, for outstanding services as Speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1977, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.