until 2 October when he resigned. In 1943 he was acting Leader of the Opposition whilst Holland was overseas. During World War II he was a strong advocator that New Zealand forces should be deployed in the Pacific theatre, not Europe. In 1943 he married Mary Grigg, who had represented the electorate from 1942, after her MP husband Arthur Grigg, then a major in the NZEF, was killed in Libya in 1941. He was appointed to the Legislative Council on 15 March 1950, as a member of the suicide squad which was to vote the Council out of existence. From 15 March 1950 until 12 December 1950 he was a Minister without portfolio in the First National Government. Later life and death He died at his home in Mangamahu on 8 October 1960, survived by his second wife and two sons and a daughter from his first marriage. Honours In 1935, Polson was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal. In the 1951 King's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George for public and political services. Notes References 1875 births 1960 deaths Independent MPs of New Zealand New Zealand National Party MPs Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council People educated at Whanganui Collegiate School New Zealand National Party MLCs New Zealand Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates New Zealand politicians awarded knighthoods