1. Clarence Farrington Skinner, commonly known as Jerry or Gerry Skinner, was a Labour politician from New Zealand, the third deputy prime minister of New Zealand between 1957 and 1960, and a minister from 1943 to 1949 and 1957 to 1960 in the First and Second Labour governments.
Jerry Skinner's father was a missionary in Te Kopuru, near Hokianga.
Jerry Skinner settled in the Waitaki District and married Julia Buckley Gray of Palmerston North in 1924.
Jerry Skinner established himself politically as a union leader in Westport whilst working as a carpenter by trade.
Jerry Skinner then turned his profession to farming up until the depression in the early 1930s.
Jerry Skinner distinguished himself after being elected the president of the Inangahua Medical Association.
Jerry Skinner served in the New Zealand Army in the Middle East during World War II.
Jerry Skinner was wounded in action in 1942 and was mentioned in dispatches.
Jerry Skinner was later awarded the Military Cross in 1943 for mine clearing during the First Battle of El Alamein.
Jerry Skinner was a Member of Parliament from 1938 to 1962; he was MP for Motueka between 1938 and 1946, then MP for Buller from 1946 to 1962.
Early on in his career as an MP, Skinner was somewhat sympathetic to the plight of John A Lee, but did not to support him openly.
Jerry Skinner made good impressions as an MP and gained a reputation for possessing "down-to-earth Kiwi common sense".
In government, Jerry Skinner still did not make further impressions in public opinion, where he was still seen by the public as merely in Nash's shadow.
Jerry Skinner led a delegation of officials which persuaded the British government to reduced tariff preferences for New Zealand goods in return for exempting British goods from quantitative restrictions.
Jerry Skinner likewise passed an act of parliament to safeguard New Zealand's livestock against Hydatid disease.
Jerry Skinner was effectively in charge of the governments domestic affairs whilst Nash busied himself with international matters.
Jerry Skinner was the acting Prime Minister at the time of his wedding.
Jerry Skinner attended the Anzac Day ceremony at the Wellington Cenotaph as opposition representative before returning to his home in Takaka later in the day.
Jerry Skinner died in his sleep early the next morning, aged 62.
Jerry Skinner was survived by his second wife and two sons.
Jerry Skinner remained on friendly terms with Rowling and continued as secretary for many years.