Allan McCready
New Zealand politician

Allan McCready

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New Zealand politician
Gender:
Male
Work field:
Birth:
1 September 1916
Death:
8 August 2003
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Biography

Introduction

Allan McCready QSO (1 September 1916 – 8 August 2003) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Biography

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate Party
1960–1963 33rd Otaki National
1963–1966 34th Otaki National
1966–1969 35th Otaki National
1969–1972 36th Otaki National
1972–1975 37th Manawatu National
1975–1978 38th Manawatu National

McCready was born in Kawakawa in 1916, the son of Alexander McCready. He received his education at Kawakawa District High School. In 1942, McCready married Grace Lorraine Maher, the daughter of James Joseph Maher, later the MP for Otaki. They had one son and one daughter. In World War II he served in the New Zealand Army for 3½ years.

He worked for the Post Office Department for ten years. He was then the director of the Wellington Dairy Farmers Co-op, and then director of the Hutt Valley Milk Treatment Corporation, the Featherston Co-op, and finally the Dairy Company Limited. He was vice-president of the Wellington and Hutt Valley A & P Association.

He stood unsuccessfully for the Heretaunga electorate in 1954 and 1957. When his father-in-law retired from the Otaki electorate at the 1960 election, McCready succeeded him. He represented the Otaki electorate until 1972, then the Manawatu electorate from 1972 to 1978, when he retired.

He was a Cabinet Minister in the Second and Third National Government, including the position of Postmaster-General (1969–1972), Minister of Marine and Fisheries (1969–1972), Minister of Defence (1975–1978), and Minister of Police (1975–1978).

In the 1992 Queen's Birthday Honours, McCready was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services. McCready died on 8 August 2003, aged 86. He was survived by his wife and children.