15 Facts About Bill Barnard

William Edward Barnard was a New Zealand lawyer, politician and parliamentary speaker.

Bill Barnard was a member of Parliament from 1928 until 1943, and was its Speaker from 1936 till 1943.

Bill Barnard was known for his association with John A Lee, a prominent left-wing politician.

Bill Barnard was born in Carterton, a town in the Wairarapa region.

Bill Barnard studied law at Victoria University College, and became a lawyer in 1908.

Bill Barnard eventually settled in Te Aroha, where he served on the borough council.

Bill Barnard was a good friend of John A Lee, one of the more radical members of the Labour Party.

Bill Barnard rose quickly, being elected to the Labour Party's national executive in 1924.

Bill Barnard was elected to this position in March 1936.

Politically, Bill Barnard was on the left of the Labour Party, and was strongly influenced by the social credit theory of monetary reform.

Bill Barnard was a strong Anglican, and considered himself to be a Christian socialist.

Lee was eventually expelled, and after Peter Fraser, an opponent of Lee, was elected leader on 4 April 1940, Bill Barnard himself resigned from the party.

Bill Barnard then assisted Lee in the launch of the new Democratic Labour Party, becoming one of its two MPs.

Soon Bill Barnard became dissatisfied with Lee's style of leadership, considering it to be egotistical and autocratic.

Bill Barnard undertook considerable work with various non-profit organisations, including the Society for Closer Relations with the USSR, the Institute of Pacific Relations's New Zealand branch, the New Zealand Five Million Club, and the New Zealand Council for the Adoption of Chinese Refugee Children.