Tom Brindle (politician)

The Honourable Tom Brindle
6th President of the Labour Party
In office 1922–1926
Vice President	John Archer (1922-5) Jim Thorn (1926-6)
Leader	Harry Holland
Preceded by	Frederick Cooke
Succeeded by	Bob Semple
Member of the New Zealand Legislative Council
In office 9 March 1936 – 8 March 1950†
Appointed by	Michael Joseph Savage
Wellington City Councillor
In office 1933–1941
Personal details
Born	1878 Lancashire or Manchester
Died	19 November 1950
Nationality	New Zealand
Political party	Labour Party
Other political affiliations	Social Democrat

Thomas "Tom" Brindle (1878 – 19 November 1950) was a British-born early activist for the New Zealand Labour Party who was jailed during World War I for speaking out against conscription. He was a member of Wellington City Council and stood for election to the House of Representatives five times. He was a member of the Legislative Council from 1936 until March 1950.

Brindle was born in 1878; sources vary whether his place of birth was Lancashire or Manchester. In England, he was active in the Independent Labour Party.

Brindle emigrated to New Zealand in 1910 or 1912, and he became active with the Social Democratic Party. He was jailed in 1916 during World War I for speaking out against conscription. He stood for secretaryship of the New Zealand Labour Party in 1919, but withdrew and Michael Joseph Savage became the first full-time paid secretary. Brindle stood again in 1920, but lost the ballot. From 1922 to 1926, he was the 6th President of the Labour Party.

Brindle unsuccessfully stood five times for the House of Representatives. In 1919 and 1922, he was one of three candidates in the Gisborne electorate, and he came last on both occasions. In 1925, he was one of three candidates in the Nelson electorate, and he again came last. In 1928 and 1931, he was one of three candidates in the Wellington Suburbs electorate, and he came second on both occasions.

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