Bill Sullivan (politician)


Sir William Sullivan , in later life known as Bill Sullivan, was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Biography

He was born in Inglewood in 1891 to Irish parents Samuel John Sullivan and Sarah Maria. Sullivan received his education in Inglewood and Stratford. He was a Taranaki rugby representative. He served in World War I in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and in World War II at Trentham Military Camp in New Zealand. He set up a construction company in the Bay of Plenty, and in Whakatane was Mayor 1925–1938, the Harbour Board Chairman 1923–1926 and on the Council for almost 26 years. In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.

Member of Parliament

Sullivan was one of three candidates in the in the electorate. He was a member of the United Party, but Charles MacMillan was the official candidate of the United-Reform Coalition, hence Sullivan stood as an Independent. He was defeated by MacMillan. Sullivan represented the electorate from a after the death of Gordon Hultquist to 13 February 1957, when he resigned following the death of his son who ran the family construction business.
He was the Minister of Labour, Mines, Housing and the State Advances Corporation in the First National Government from 1949 to 1957, including the period of the 1951 Waterfront dispute. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1957 Queen's Birthday Honours.

Personal life

On 12 September 1916, Sullivan married Elvina Coral Brayshaw at Stratford. They had a family of three daughters and four sons. Three of his sons died before him, and his wife died in 1963. He died in Whakatane on 17 March 1967.