19 Facts About Bruce Barclay

Bruce Gillespie Barclay was a New Zealand politician, being the Member of Parliament for Christchurch Central in the South Island.

Bruce Barclay received his education at Whangarei High School while his father was working as a farming manager.

From 1941 to 1951 Bruce Barclay was an agriculture instructor at the then Department of Agriculture in Timaru.

Bruce Barclay was a member of the Lyttelton Harbour Board from 1965 to 1968.

Bruce Barclay stood unsuccessfully for Labour in the Fendalton electorate in the 1963 election, the 1966 election, and the 1967 by-election.

Bruce Barclay represented the Christchurch Central electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1969 to 1979 when he died.

Bruce Barclay preferentially kept a low profile in Wellington but was renown for his hard work in his electorate for constituents and was involved in many community and social groups in Christchurch.

When interviewed before the 1978 election Bruce Barclay stated his main ambition as local MP was to help develop community spirit through his activity within voluntary groups.

In late 1972 after the formation of the Third Labour Government Bruce Barclay was appointed chairman of a government caucus committee to determine the details of the government's irrigation policy, wishing to increase farm production by improving farm management of water to improve soil quality.

Bruce Barclay was Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and from 26 March 1973 to 12 December 1975 and Under-Secretary to the Minister of Lands from 16 September 1974 to 12 December 1975.

Bruce Barclay was involved in investigating for a new and consistent supply of feedstuffs for the pig and poultry industry after seeing that both were becoming increasingly reliant on grain production which had instable and fluctuating prices.

Bruce Barclay convened a wine institute, bringing in growers and industry representatives, to define and regulate standards to improve the production quality of New Zealand made wine.

Bruce Barclay's approach was to encourage and steer rather than command or push.

Bruce Barclay was later promoted further and was additionally Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries after Moyle resigned from parliament.

Bruce Barclay had been ill for some months prior to his death where it was reported he was suffering from cancer and had already had two surgical operations.

Bruce Barclay's absence was noticed at Labour's first caucus meeting in February 1979 and Rowling stated he had visited Barclay earlier and expressed concern at his health after Barclay had become unable to perform his electorate duties earlier in the month.

Bruce Barclay died on 28 June 1979 aged 56, survived by his wife and three children.

Bruce Barclay's death caused the 1979 Christchurch Central by-election that was won by Geoffrey Palmer.

Bruce Barclay was the son of Jim Barclay, a farmer, MP for Marsden and Minister of Agriculture between 1941 and 1943.