TWELVE YEARS IN HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 83, 8 April 1940, Page 9

TWELVE YEARS IN HOUSE.

SERVICE IN LAST WAR. Born in Carterton in 1886, the Hon. W. E. Barnard lias represented Napier in the House of Keprcscntatives for the last twelve years. lb- was returned in 1928, the year the United party won oflico after the dismissal of the Reform (iovermneiit under Mr. (.'oates. Mr. Barnard studied at Victoria University College and commenced practice as a solicitor in 1908. He followed his profession at Fox ton, Te Aroha and Helensville, going to tlie last-named town at the close of the (Jrcat War. In 1923 he was instrumental in forming the Helensville branch of the Labour party, of which he was secretary for the following live years. Also ho was president of the Kaipara Labour Representation Committee from. 1924 to 1928. and has served on tlve national executive of the party. In 1920 he unsuccessfully contested the Kaipara seat in Parliament against the lit. Hon. J. G. Coates, who was then Prime Minister. Selected to contest Napier in 1928, Mr. Barnard won the seat and sold his Helensville law practice in order to free his hands for political duties. After the Napier earthquake in J931 he was vice-chairman of the eiti7A"iis' control committee which took charge of the wrecked town until a special commission was. set up. When the Labour party was voted to power in 1935 Mr. Barnard was elected Speaker of t he House of Representatives. Mr. Barnard served with the ImperialForces in the Great War from 1916 to 1919, first in the Royal Army Medical Corps and then in the Royal Field Artillery.