William Bodkin (New Zealand politician)
Sir William Bodkin | |
|---|---|
| 14th Minister of Internal Affairs | |
| In office 13 December 1949 – 26 November 1954 | |
| Prime Minister | Sidney Holland |
| Preceded by | Bill Parry |
| Succeeded by | Sid Smith |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Otago Central | |
| In office 14 November 1928 – 5 October 1954 | |
| Succeeded by | Jack George |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 April 1883 Queenstown, New Zealand |
| Died | 15 June 1964 (aged 81) Alexandra, New Zealand |
| Political party | Liberal (1914-1928) United (1928-1936) National (from 1936) |
| Spouse |
Elizabeth McCorkindale
(m. 1920) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | University of Otago |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Sir William Alexander Bodkin KCVO (28 April 1883 – 15 June 1964) was a New Zealand politician of the United Party, and from 1936, the National Party.
Biography
Early life
Bodkin was born in Queenstown in 1883.[1] In 1889 his father moved to Clyde in a farm named "Monte Cristo" next to the Clutha River. The farm had the first irrigation scheme in Central Otago built by Jean Desire Feraud. After attending Clyde School to the sixth standard, Bodkin worked on his father's farm where he saved his salary to study law. Aged 18 he entered Wilson's Grammar School, Christchurch where he passed his university entrance examination. He then attended University of Otago and in 1908 he qualified as a solicitor. The next year he was admitted as a barrister and began practice at Alexandra, specialising in mining law.[2]
On 1 September 1920 Bodkin married schoolteacher Elizabeth Lillias McCorkindale at Manuka Creek, South Otago. They had one daughter.[1] He formed the first irrigation league in Central Otago and for more than 30 years he advocated the extension of irrigation in the region. As a result irrigation schemes were developed in places such as Manorburn, Manuherikia, Teviot, Tarras, Poolburn, Idabur leading to hundreds of acres being brought into production.[2]
Political career
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928–1931 | 23rd | Otago Central | United | ||
| 1931–1935 | 24th | Otago Central | United | ||
| 1935–1936 | 25th | Otago Central | United | ||
| 1936–1938 | Changed allegiance to: | National | |||
| 1938–1943 | 26th | Otago Central | National | ||
| 1943–1946 | 27th | Otago Central | National | ||
| 1946–1949 | 28th | Otago Central | National | ||
| 1949–1951 | 29th | Otago Central | National | ||
| 1951–1954 | 30th | Otago Central | National | ||
After a stint as Alexandra's borough solicitor he served one term as a member of the Alexandra Borough Council.[1] At the 1914 election he contested the rural Otago electorate of Otago Central as the Liberal Party candidate, but was defeated by the incumbent Robert Scott.[2] At the 1928 election election he was successful at winning the seat which he held until 1954, when he retired.[3] He was Chairman of Committees from 1930 to 1931.[4] In 1935 he was an attendee at the Empire Parliamentary Conference.[2]
He was Minister of Civil Defence in the War Administration in 1942.[5] In the Holland Ministry of the First National Government, he was Minister of Internal Affairs (1949–1954) and Minister of Social Security (1950–1954).[6]
In 1954 Bodkin proposed to celebrate the centenary of Parliamentary government in New Zealand by a series of authoritative studies on the history of government in New Zealand. Dr Alexander Hare McLintock was appointed to write the works. Only one work was completed, 1958's Crown Colony Government in New Zealand.[7]
Honours
In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal,[8] and in 1953 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.[9] He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1954.[10]
In 1955, Bodkin was granted the use of the title of "Honourable" for life, having served more than three years as a member of the Executive Council.[11]
Notes
- ^ a b c Brooking, Tom. "Bodkin, William Alexander". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Death of Former Cabinet Minister". The Press. Vol. CIII, no. 30468. 16 June 1964. p. 3.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 184.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 252.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 85.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 86.
- ^ "Parliamentary Historian". The Press. Vol. CVIII, no. 31695. 3 June 1968. p. 8.
- ^ "Official jubilee medals". The Evening Post. 6 May 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
- ^ Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 71. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
- ^ "No. 40103". The London Gazette. 16 February 1954. p. 1007.
- ^ "No. 40421". The London Gazette. 1 March 1955. p. 1269.
References
- 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.