New Zealand politician (1885–1969)
Sir Matthew Henry Oram (2 June 1885 – 22 January 1969) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. He was the 13th Speaker of the House of Representatives, from 1950 to 1957.
Early life.
Oram was born in 1885 at Christchurch. His mother was May Eltham, originally from Hobart in Tasmania. His father, Matthew Henry Oram, died three months before Matthew Oram's birth. His formal education started at age 12, as he went to live with his aunt in Wellington after his mother's death. He attended Wellington College (1898–1904), followed by Victoria University of Wellington (1905–1911). He graduated BA (1908) and received a Sir George Grey Scholarship (he came equal in the examinations with Miss Barkas, but as she had also won and accepted another scholarship, Oram was given the Sir George Grey Scholarship), and then graduated MA (Hons) (maths and physics, 1909) and LLB (1912). During his education, he competed in athletics. He belonged to Victoria's debating society and won prizes (Plunket Medal for Oratory and the Joint Challenge Scroll and Union Prize). He was also a member of the Territorial Force.
He formed a partnership with John Mason and practised law in Palmerston North from 1912 or 1913. He also lectured in law at Victoria.
On 5 March 1913, he married Margarette Ann Florence Johnson at St John's Church, Wellington. She was the daughter of Captain Johnson, the harbour master; John Mason was best man. When New Zealand declared war against Germany in 1914, Oram sold his law practice and joined the army. He was declared unfit for overseas service and served first in Palmerston North, and then at Base Records in Wellington, where he attained the rank of captain. He was awarded an MBE (military) in 1919.
Life post World War I.
After the war, he returned to practising law in Palmerston North. He also owned a farm in the Manawatū.
Oram was instrumental in the establishment of Palmerston North as a flying hub for the North Island. He obtained his pilot's licence in the 1920s and became the first president of the Manawatu Aero Club. He promoted that the club compete in the handicap section of the MacRobertson Air Race and paid half the entry fee, but ceased to support the event when his nominated pilot was not chosen.
Oram supported multiple groups. He was involved in setting up the Palmerston North branch of YMCA and was their chairman for seven years. He was involved in establishing the local debating club, and helped form the competitions society. He helped establish the Manawatu Repertory Society and was involved in their annual productions for two decades. He chaired this group for five years (1935–1940) and was later chairman of the New Zealand Players board. One of his main interests was in education. He was on the board of Palmerston North Boys' High School for 29 years, 14 years of that as chairman. He served on the Wanganui Education Board for over a decade. In 1937, he was appointed to the Victoria University College Council and a year later, he joined the Massey Agricultural College council; he held both positions until 1950. He was chairman of the Chamber of Commerce in Palmerston North.
Oram owned race horses, and in 1955, Golden Galleon won the Wellington Cup.