{{Short description|New Zealand politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2014}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = David Seath.jpg | caption = Seath in 1959 | office = Member of Parliament for Waitomo | term_start = 1954 | term_end = 1972 | birth_date = 31 March 1914 | birth_name = David Coutts Seath | death_date = 18 October 1997 | death_place = Taumarunui, New Zealand | birth_place = Musselburgh, Scotland | alma_mater = University of Edinburgh | predecessor = Walter Broadfoot | successor = ''Constituency abolished'' | office1 = Mayor of Taumarunui | term_end1 = 1955 | term_start1 = 1953 | party = National Party }}
'''David Coutts Seath''' (31 March 1914 – 18 October 1997) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.
==Biography== Seath was born in Musselburgh, Scotland. He received his education at Waihi District High School, Waihi School of Mines, and the University of Edinburgh. From 1937, he was a public accountant in Taumarunui. During World War II, he was with the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNZNVR), and served as Lieutenant Commander with British naval forces.{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|p=341}}
== Career == He was Mayor of Taumarunui from 1953 to 1955.{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|p=341}} He was elected in the {{NZ electorate link|Waitomo}} electorate in the {{NZ election link|1954}}, following the retirement of National Party colleague Walter Broadfoot.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|pp=185, 233}} In 1960 Seath was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Finance, and held that position from 12 December 1960 to 24 January 1962.<ref>"Appointment of Parliamentary Under-Secretaries" (12 December 1960) 82 The New Zealand Gazette 1943</ref>
In 1963 Seath was appointed as Minister of Internal Affairs, and held the position from 20 December 1963 to 9 February 1972, when the Marshall Ministry replaced the second Holyoake Ministry.<ref>"Ministers Appointed" (20 December 1963) 82 The New Zealand Gazette 2077</ref>{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=90}} He was described as ''a nervous man easily frightened by Holyoake.''{{sfn|Bassett|1997|p=184}}
He was a Member of the Executive Council (initially as an Undersecretary) from 24 January 1962 to 9 February 1972.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=90}} In 1972 Seath was granted the right to retain the title of Honourable for life.<ref>"Retention of the title 'Honourable'" (15 May 1972) 42 The New Zealand Gazette 1061</ref>
He retired at the {{NZ election link|1972}},{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=233}} and died in Taumarunui in October 1997.
==Notes== {{Reflist|30em}}
==References== *{{cite book |last = Gustafson |first = Barry |author-link = Barry Gustafson |title = The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party |year = 1986 |publisher = Reed Methuen |location = Auckland |isbn = 0-474-00177-6 }} *{{cite book |last= Wilson |first= Jim | author-link=Jim Wilson (librarian) |title= New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 |edition= 4 |orig-year= First ed. published 1913 |year= 1985 |publisher= V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |oclc= 154283103}} *{{cite book |last= Bassett |author-link= Michael Bassett |first= Michael |title= The Mother of All Departments:The history of the Department of Internal Affairs |year= 1997 |publisher= Auckland University Press |location= Auckland |isbn= 1-86940-175-1 }} *''Who’s Who in New Zealand'' (1968, 9th edition)
{{s-start}} {{s-par | nz}} {{s-bef | before=Walter Broadfoot}} {{s-ttl | title=Member of Parliament for Waitomo | years=1954–1972}} {{s-non | reason = Constituency abolished}} {{end}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Seath, David}} Category:1914 births Category:1997 deaths Category:New Zealand National Party MPs Category:New Zealand accountants Category:People from Musselburgh Category:Mayors of places in Manawatū-Whanganui Category:Scottish emigrants to New Zealand Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Category:New Zealand military personnel of World War II Category:New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates Category:Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand Category:20th-century New Zealand politicians Category:Mayors of Taumarunui
{{NZNational-politician-stub}} {{NewZealand-mayor-stub}}