Bert Walker (politician)

Herbert John Walker CMG JP (2 June 1919 – 4 January 2008) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1960–1963 33rd St Albans National
1963–1966 34th St Albans National
1966–1969 35th St Albans National
1969–1972 36th Papanui National
1972–1975 37th Papanui National
1975–1978 38th Papanui National

Biography

Walker was born in Rangiora in 1919, and was educated at Rangiora High School. In World War II he served in the Pacific as a NCO in the No. 9 Squadron of the RNZAF from 1942 to 1945, and then qualified as an accountant.

He represented the Christchurch electorates of St Albans in Parliament from 1960 to 1969, and then Papanui from 1969 to 1978,[1] when he was defeated by Mike Moore.[2]

In 1961 he was one of ten National MPs to vote with the Opposition and remove capital punishment for murder from the Crimes Bill that the Second National Government had introduced.[3] In 1969–1972 he was a cabinet minister in the Second National Government: Minister for Broadcasting and Tourism, and Postmaster-General in 1972.[1] In 1973 when the Labour government of Norman Kirk introduced the Domestic Purposes Benefit (DPB) he said that many lone (solo) mothers on the DPB were "bludgers living off the state".[4]

In 1975–1978 he was Minister of Social Welfare in the Third National Government,[1] and threatened to take legal action against (DPB) beneficiaries in de facto relationships. In the 1978 election he lost to Mike Moore.

Walker was a President of Victoria League Canterbury. In the 1983 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, for public and community service.[5] He died in Rangiora on 4 January 2008.[2]

References
  1. "Obituaries — Hon Herbert John Walker CMG, Sir George Robert Laking KCMG, Sir Edmund Percival Hillary KG, ONZ, KBE, Hone Tūwhare". Wellington: New Zealand Parliament. 12 February 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  2. "Muldoon minister and roommate dies". Dominion Post. January 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  3. Time line: Bert Walker. OneNews, 9 January 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  4. "Controversial former Cabinet minister dies". New Zealand Herald. 8 January 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  5. "No. 49214". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 31 December 1982. p. 47.
  • Obituary in Dominion Post of 10 January 2008 page B7.
  • Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
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