John A. Lee | |
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Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Grey Lynn | |
In office 2 December 1931 – 25 September 1943 | |
Preceded by | John Fletcher |
Succeeded by | Fred Hackett |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Auckland East | |
In office 7 December 1922 – 14 November 1928 | |
Preceded by | Clutha Mackenzie |
Succeeded by | James Donald |
Personal details | |
Born | Dunedin, New Zealand | 31 October 1891
Died | 13 June 1982 Auckland, New Zealand | (aged 90)
Political party | Democratic Labour Party (1940–49) Labour Party (1919–40) |
Spouse | Mollie Lee |
Awards | Distinguished Conduct Medal |
Military service | |
Allegiance | New Zealand Army |
Years of service | 1916-18 |
Rank | ![]() |
Battles/wars | World War I |
John Alfred Alexander Lee DCM (31 October 1891 – 13 June 1982) was a New Zealand politician and writer. He is one of the more prominent avowed socialists in New Zealand's political history.
Lee was elected as a member of parliament in 1922. After the Labour Party's victory in 1935, Lee was passed over for appointment to cabinet, instead becoming an under-secretary. He became a critic of the leadership of his party and was expelled in 1940, subsequently founding his own left-wing party, the Democratic Labour Party. He lost his parliamentary seat at the 1943 election.