KYLE, Herbert Seton Stewart OBE (1873-1955)

Modified on Wed, 31 Oct 2018 11:51 by Con — Categorized as: Biography - All, Biography - Collegians in the News 1861-1910, Biography - Students, Geelong College, Biography of Government, Administration and Politics

KYLE, Herbert Seton Stewart OBE (1873-1955)

'Bert' Kyle (Football 1891)

'Bert' Kyle was a prominent veterinarian who moved to New Zealand becoming a member of the Reform Party and later the National Party from which he resigned in 1942. He held the seat of Riccarton in Christchurch from his election in 1925 to 1943. He held the seat as an independent from 1942 to 1943 and did not contest the 1943 election.

Herbert Kyle, the son of William Stuart Kyle was enrolled at Geelong College on 16 April 1888 as 'Stuart Herbert Kyle'. He was born at Brunswick, Melbourne on 29 August 1873. His address at enrolment was LaTrobe Terrace, Geelong. After leaving College he attended the Melbourne Veterinary College and initially practised in Ballarat before going to New Zealand in 1899.

Pegasus in October 1936 noted: 'We were pleased to welcome Herbert S S Kyle, chief whip of the Opposition in the New Zealand Government, who visited the School after many years' absence. Bert has done solid work in the New Zealand Government for many years, and again retained his seat in the notable election of 1935.'

He was awarded the King George V Silver Medal in 1935 and became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for public and local Government services in the 1953 New Year Honours.

He died on 5 January 1955 and was interred at Bromley Cemetery, Chrictchurch. Pegasus reported his death: ' Stewart Herbert Kyle entered Geelong College in 1888 and was prominent in sport as a half-miler and a member of the XVIII in 1891. After studies at the Melbourne Veterinary College he practised in Ballarat, then later moved to New Zealand, where he was widely known as a breeder of Guernsey cattle, Clydesdale horses and cob ponies. He became prominent in public life, was a mayor of Riccarton for 28 years (arecord for NZ) and its parliamentary representative for 18 years. He died at Christchurch in January at the age of 81 years'

Sources: Pegasus October 1936 p56; Supplement to the London Gazette 1 January 1953 p44; Pegasus June 1955 p 48.