Douglas Lysnar


William Douglas Lysnar, known as Douglas Lysnar, was a New Zealand politician of the Reform Party.

Early life

He was born in Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand on 30 April 1867. He was educated by his father, who was a school teacher.

Political career

Local body politics

From 1908 to 1911, he was Mayor of Gisborne.

Member of Parliament

He represented the Gisborne electorate from 1919 to 1931, when he was defeated.
In the 1928 contest Lysnar stood as an Independent supporter of the Reform Party and was successful. During 1930, he stopped supporting the Reform Party and became fully independent. At the following election in 1931 he ran as an Independent, but was not returned, beaten by Labour's David Coleman.
In his 1919 campaign, he employed Albert Davy as organiser. Davy went on to be an effective organiser for the Reform Party, though disagreeing over policies.
Douglas Lynsar was a brother of Frederick J. Lynsar the Liberal candidate in the Bay of Plenty, who lost to the Reform candidate.
In 1935, Lysnar was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.

Death

Lysnar died on 12 October 1942 in Gisborne, and was buried at Makaraka Cemetery.