BOLLARD, RICHARD FRANCIS (1863-1927) was born at Tamaki, Auckland, the son of John Bollard (q.v.). He was educated at the public schools there and at Avondale, and was for seven years secretary of the Avondale road board. He resigned to move to Waikato, where he started a sawmill at Taupiri, which employed 60 hands and had an output of 40,000 feet per day. After operating it successfully for 40 years he sold out in 1909 and took a farm at Tamahere. Bollard was a member of the Kirikiriroa road board and of the Waikato county council and hospital board, and was a prominent supporter of the Waikato racing club and the hunt club. He married Louisa, daughter of Robert Dakin (Avondale).

In 1911 he was elected M.H.R. for Raglan. He sat in his first Parliament while his father was still a member (1911-14). Bollard represented Raglan continuously till his death (on 25 Aug 1927). He was a useful member of parliamentary committees and was chairman of the railways committee. For some time he was Reform whip, and in 1923 he joined the Massey Government as Minister of Internal Affairs. In this capacity (which he continued under Coates and Bell) he did much for the control of racing and regularised the conduct of lotteries.

Who's Who N.Z., 1924; N.Z. Times, 25, 26 Aug 1927; N.Z. Herald, 26 Aug 1927 (p).

Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 54

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