Venn Spearman Young QSO (16 February 1929 – 14 January 1993) was a New Zealand politician. He was a member of the National Party, and served as a Cabinet Minister in the government of Robert Muldoon. He is known for his failed attempt to legalise "homosexual acts" in 1975.

Venn Young
16th Minister for Social Development
In office
12 February 1981 – 26 July 1984
Prime MinisterRobert Muldoon
Preceded byGeorge Gair
Succeeded byAnn Hercus
4th Minister for the Environment
In office
12 December 1975 – 11 December 1981
Prime MinisterRobert Muldoon
Preceded byWhetu Tirikatene-Sullivan
Succeeded byDavid Thomson
19th Minister for Forestry
In office
12 December 1975 – 11 December 1981
Prime MinisterRobert Muldoon
Preceded byColin Moyle
Succeeded byJonathan Elworthy
37th Minister of Lands
In office
12 December 1975 – 11 December 1981
Prime MinisterRobert Muldoon
Preceded byMatiu Rata
Succeeded byJonathan Elworthy
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Waitotara
In office
25 November 1978 – 27 October 1990
Preceded byConstituency Reestablished
Succeeded byPeter Gresham
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Egmont
In office
26 November 1966 – 25 November 1978
Preceded byWilliam Sheat
Succeeded byConstituency Abolished
Personal details
Born
Venn Spearman Young

16 January 1929
Stratford, New Zealand
Died14 January 1993(1993-01-14) (aged 63)
Resting placeHawera Cemetery
Political partyNational
Children9, including Jonathan
EducationNelson College

Early life

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Young was born in Stratford, Taranaki. He attended primary school in Stratford, but received his high school education in Nelson, at Nelson College from 1942 to 1944.[1] He then returned to Taranaki, becoming a dairy farmer. He gained some distinction as a rugby player, representing Taranaki. He was also active in the Anglican Church.[2]

Member of Parliament

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New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1966–1969 35th Egmont National
1969–1972 36th Egmont National
1972–1975 37th Egmont National
1975–1978 38th Egmont National
1978–1981 39th Waitotara National
1981–1984 40th Waitotara National
1984–1987 41st Waitotara National
1987–1990 42nd Waitotara National

In the 1966 election, Young stood as the National Party's candidate for the Egmont electorate, and was successful. He was to hold Egmont in the next three elections, gaining a straight majority each time. At the 1978 election, the Egmont electorate was abolished, and Young successfully contested the new Waitotara electorate. He remained the MP for Waitotara until his departure from politics.[3]

Private members' Bill

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In mid 1974, Young attracted considerable controversy by putting forward a private members' bill to legalise private "homosexual acts" between consenting adults. The proposed age of consent was twenty-one, and although this was later reduced to twenty by a select committee, a number of homosexual lobbyists criticised it on this count. By far the most vocal criticism, however, came from conservatives, including many of his National Party colleagues. On 4 July 1975, the bill was defeated, with 34 votes against and 29 votes in favour. There were 24 abstentions.[4]

Cabinet minister

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Despite having alienated many of his party colleagues, Young entered Cabinet when National won the 1975 election. Robert Muldoon, the new Prime Minister, appointed Young to the Lands, Forests, and Environment portfolios, which he held for two parliamentary terms from December 1975 to 1981. In 1981, Young was moved to the Social Welfare portfolio, which he retained until National's defeat in the 1984 election.[5]

In the 1990 New Year Honours, Young was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.[6]

Later life, death, and legacy

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In 1986, Young voted against the Homosexual Law Reform Bill (promoted by Labour's Fran Wilde), after an amendment he had proposed setting the homosexual age of consent at 20 was rejected.[7]

Young retired from parliament at the 1990 election.

He died in January 1993 following a heart attack, and was buried in Hawera Cemetery.[8] He was survived by his wife and nine children, including Jonathan Young who served as the National MP for the New Plymouth electorate from 2008 to 2020.

Notes

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  1. ^ Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006, 6th edition
  2. ^ Gustafson 1986, p. 351.
  3. ^ Wilson 1985, p. 247.
  4. ^ Guy, Laurie (2002). Worlds in collision: the gay debate in New Zealand, 1960–1986. Wellington: Victoria University Press. p. 83. ISBN 0-86473-438-7.
  5. ^ Wilson 1985, p. 95.
  6. ^ "No. 51982". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 30 December 1989. p. 31.
  7. ^ "Homosexual Law Reform Act". Archived from the original on 31 March 2018.
  8. ^ "Venn Spearman Young". South Taranaki District Council. Retrieved 10 May 2014.

References

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  • Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
  • Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Egmont
1966–1978
Constituency abolished
Vacant
Constituency recreated after abolition in 1893
Title last held by
George Hutchison
Member of Parliament for Waitotara
1978–1990
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for the Environment
1975–1981
Succeeded by