21 Facts About Gerry Wall

Sir Gerard Aloysius Wall was a surgeon and a politician in New Zealand.

Gerry Wall was Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1985 to 1987.

Gerry Wall was noted for his firmly held socially conservative views and opposition to legalising abortion and homosexuality, which frequently brought him into conflict with his contemporaries.

Gerry Wall was educated at St Bede's College then attended Canterbury University College for two years studying law before instead deciding on a career in medicine.

Gerry Wall completed courses at the University of Otago, graduating with an MBChB.

Gerry Wall then went to Britain and qualified as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, specialising in orthopaedic and plastic surgery.

Gerry Wall first entered politics at a local level and was a member of both the Marlborough Hospital Board and Blenheim Borough Council for two terms.

Gerry Wall was elected a member of the Labour Party's executive.

Gerry Wall was a member of the Catholic faith and his socially conservative views frequently led him to clash with other Labour MPs and party members.

At the 1972 Labour Party conference Gerry Wall chaired the health policy committee.

Gerry Wall went as far as to propose a two-year prison sentence for anyone telling persons under the age of 20 that homosexual behavior was normal.

Gerry Wall had a reputation as a "prickly character" and his inclination to follow his convictions, even when they contradicted his colleagues, cost him political advancement.

Gerry Wall was thrice challenged for the Labour Party nomination in Porirua.

Ahead of the 1978 election he was again challenged for the nomination by Reverend Don Borrie, a local Presbyterian minister, believing Gerry Wall was "out of touch" with his constituents particularly regarding health issues.

Gerry Wall was reselected by the Labour Party and claimed his reselection was an "absolute" endorsement of his stances on issues such as abortion.

Gerry Wall was elected as Speaker following Sir Basil Arthur's death in 1985 and served in this role until 1987.

Muldoon issued a lengthy statement criticising how he thought Gerry Wall chaired sessions, particularly Gerry Wall's predilection for ejecting members from the house.

Muldoon had previously moved a motion of no confidence in Gerry Wall which was defeated.

Gerry Wall was replaced in the Porirua electorate by Graham Kelly.

Gerry Wall retired in 1987 and was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the 1987 Queen's Birthday Honours.

Gerry Wall married Uru Raupo Cameron in 1951, a nurse from Northland.