Sir William Alexander Bodkin (28 April 1883 – 15 June 1964) was a

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

politician of the United Party, and from 1936, the National Party.

Biography

Early life

Bodkin was born in Queenstown in 1883.

Political career

He represented the rural

Otago Otago (, ; mi, Ōtākou ) is a region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately , making it the country's second largest local government reg ...

electorate of

Otago Central Otago Central or Central Otago was a parliamentary electorate in the Otago region of New Zealand, from 1911 to 1919 as ''Otago Central''; from 1928 to 1957 as ''Central Otago''; and from 1957 to 1978 as ''Otago Central''. It was replaced by the ...

from to 1954, when he retired. He was Chairman of Committees from 1930 to 1931. He was Minister of Civil Defence in the War Administration in 1942. In the Holland Ministry of the

First National Government The Anniversary of the First National Government ( es, Primer gobierno patrio) is a public holiday of Argentina, commemorating the May Revolution and the creation of the Primera Junta on May 25, 1810, which is considered the first patriotic govern ...

, he was

Minister of Internal Affairs Minister may refer to: * Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric ** Minister (Catholic Church) * Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department) ** Minister without portfolio, a member of governme ...

(1949–1954) and Minister of Social Security (1950–1954). In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal, and in 1953 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal. He was appointed a

Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order The Royal Victorian Order (french: Ordre royal de Victoria) is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the British monarch, Canadian monarch, Australian monarch, or ...

in 1954. In 1955, Bodkin was granted the use of the title of "Honourable" for life, having served more than three years as a member of the Executive Council.

Notes

References

* * , - , - New Zealand National Party MPs Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand New Zealand Liberal Party MPs 1883 births 1986 deaths United Party (New Zealand) MPs Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives New Zealand MPs for South Island electorates New Zealand Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order {{NZNational-politician-stub