Bill Dillon (politician)

Joseph Gilbert "Bill" Dillon (16 April 1933 – 17 April 1994) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party in the Fourth Labour Government of New Zealand.

Bill Dillon
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Hamilton East
In office 14 July 1984 – 27 October 1990
Preceded by	Ian Shearer
Succeeded by	Tony Steel
Personal details
Born	16 April 1933
Died	17 April 1994 (aged 61) Hamilton, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Children	4
Alma mater	University of Auckland
Profession	Lawyer

Biography

Early life and career

Dillon studied at Auckland University College and graduated LLB in 1957.[1][2] Dillon then entered the legal profession and joined the Hamilton legal firm of McCaw, Smith and Arcus in 1961, becoming a partner in 1963.[3] He was also a member of the Territorial Force where he held the rank of Flying Officer.[1]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate	List	Party
1984–1987	41st	Hamilton East		Labour
1987–1990	42nd	Hamilton East		Labour

Prior to entering Parliament Dillon was a member of the Auckland Harbour Board from 1971 to 1986 and was deputy-chairman from 1980 to 1981. He was also a member of the Hamilton Civic Trust and Hamilton District Law Society Council.[1]

He represented the Hamilton East electorate in Parliament from 1984 to 1990, when he was defeated by Tony Steel, and the Labour Party was defeated overall by the National Party.[4] While in Parliament Dillon was the Chair of the Justice and Law Reform committees. He was also a member of the Electoral, Foreign Affairs and State Owned Enterprises committees.[1]

Later life and death

After losing his seat Dillon accepted an appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court in Samoa.[3]

Dillon died aged 61 in Hamilton on 17 April 1994 following a short illness.[3]

Notes

1. Who's Who 1987, p. 46. sfn error: no target: CITEREFWho's_Who1987 (help)
2. "NZ university graduates 1870–1961: Da–Do". Shadows of Time. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
3. "Death saddens Labour". The Evening Post. 18 April 1994. p. 2.
4. Wilson 1985, p. 193.

References

• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
• Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946–1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. ISBN 0-475-11200-8.
• Who's Who in the New Zealand Parliament 1987. Wellington: Parliamentary Service. 1987.