Cyril Harker

Cyril Geoffrey Edmund Harker OBE (17 November 1890 – 4 November 1970) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Biography

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1940–1943	26th	Waipawa		National
1943–1946	27th	Waipawa		National
1946–1949	28th	Hawkes Bay		National
1949–1951	29th	Hawkes Bay		National
1951–1954	30th	Hawkes Bay		National
1954–1957	31st	Hawkes Bay		National
1957–1960	32nd	Hawkes Bay		National
1960–1963	33rd	Hawkes Bay		National

Harker was born at Havelock North and attended Napier Boys' High School. He graduated in 1915 from the Victoria College (now Victoria University of Wellington) with an LLB.^[1][2] He served in WWI in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force departing 13 June 1918^[3] and rising to the rank of Company Sergeant Major. He returned in August 1919^[4] and in that year bought a share of the law partnership in Waipawa that is now McKay Mackie.^[5] He was Mayor of Waipawa^[1] and held offices in both the Returned Services Association and the Chamber of Commerce.^[6]

In 1936 and 1937 he represented the abortionist Isabel Annie Aves, who was tried four times for 'using an instrument with the intent to procure a miscarriage.' Neither the first trial in Napier in August 1936 nor the retrials in Wellington in October 1936,^[7] December 1936 and February 1937 resulted in the jury reaching a verdict.^[8][9][10] Harker's defence rested on lack of direct evidence; none of the women were gave evidence and the crown prosecutor relied on circumstantial evidence. In 1938 he also defended Colin Herbert Hercock who shot Aves after her return to the Hawkes Bay, getting him convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter rather than murder^[11] and subsequently getting his prison term reduced.^[12]

He represented the Hawke's Bay electorates of Waipawa from a 1940 by-election to 1946, and then Hawke's Bay from 1946 to 1963, when he retired.^[13] He was Chairman of Committees from 1950 to 1957.^[14]

His maiden speech to the house concerned the Small Farms Amendment Bill which dealt with the settlement and rehabilitation of returned soldiers.^[15]

In the 1964 Queen's Birthday Honours Harker was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for public services.^[13][16] He died on 4 November 1970.^[1]

Notes

1. Gustafson 1986, p. 319.
2. "Papers Past – Feilding Star – 4 June 1915 – EDUCATIONAL". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 4 June 1915. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
3. "Auckland War Memorial Museum – Harker-Cyril-Geoffrey-Edmund-World-War-I,-1914-1918". Muse.aucklandmuseum.com. 13 June 1918. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
4. "Papers Past – Wanganui Chronicle – 24 July 1919 – RETURNING HOME". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 24 July 1919. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
5. "McKay Mackie Lawyers Waipawa History". Mmlawyers.co.nz. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
6. "Papers Past – Evening Post – 18 November 1940 – Page 9". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 18 November 1940. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
7. "Papers Past – Evening Post – 21 October 1936 – CASE COMPLETED". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 21 October 1936. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
8. "Papers Past – Evening Post – 4 February 1937 – CROWN CASE ENDS". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 4 February 1937. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
9. "Papers Past – Evening Post – 17 February 1937 – MRS. AVES FREED". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 17 February 1937. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
10. Brookes, Barbara. "Isabel Annie Aves". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved December 2011.
11. "Papers Past – Evening Post – 2 November 1938 – TWELVE YEARS' GAOL". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 2 November 1938. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
12. "Papers Past – Evening Post – 28 April 1939 – SENTENCE REDUCED". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 28 April 1939. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
13. Wilson 1985, p. 203.
14. Wilson 1985, p. 252.
15. "Papers Past – Auckland Star – 27 November 1940 – Page 9". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 27 November 1940. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
16. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 43345. p. 4978. 5 June 1964. Retrieved 29 June 2013.

References

• Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.