User:Schwede66/mayors/John Archer (politician)

Rev John Kendrick Archer (3 March 1865 – 25 July 1949) was a Baptist Minister, Mayor of Christchurch and member of the New Zealand Legislative Council.

Early life
Archer was born in Leicestershire, England on 3 March 1865. He married Phoebe Elizabeth Gee on 10 July 1894 and they had two sons. Rev Archer and his family came to New Zealand in 1908.

Baptist church involvement
Archer was a Baptist Minister in Napier (1908–1913), Invercargill (1913–1916), Wellington (1916–1919) and Sydenham (1919–1932). He was President of the Baptist Union of New Zealand between 1916–18 and Foundation President of the Invercargill WEA (Workers' Educational Association) in 1915.

Local body
Archer was a Councillor for Invercargill Borough in 1915–1916. He served as a Councillor for Christchurch City Council from 1921–1925 and from 1931–1935. He was Mayor of Christchurch from 1925 to 1931.

Labour Party
John Archer was President of the New Zealand Labour Party in 1928-29, and its Vice-President 1922-25, 1927–28 and 1929-31.

He stood unsuccessfully for New Zealand Parliament on four occasions; 1919 in Invercargill, 1922 and 1928 in Christchurch North, and 1931 in Kaiapoi.

Legislative Council
He was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council 1937-49.

Passing
Rev Archer died on 25 July 1949.