WALKER, WILLIAM CAMPBELL (1837-1904) was born at Bowlandstow, Midlothian, Scotland, the son of Sir William Stuart Walker (1813-96), chairman of the board of supervision in Edinburgh. He was educated at Glenalmond, Perthshire, at Rugby School and finally at Trinity College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1861, subsequently proceeding M.A. Arriving in Canterbury with his brother (A. J. Walker) by the Evening Star (1862), they took up the Mount Possession run in the Ashburton district. He represented Ashburton in the Canterbury Provincial Council (1866-67, 1874-75). He was a member of the first Ashburton county council (1877), and was chairman from that date to 1893. He was 25 years chairman of the Mt Somers road board. In 1884 he won the Ashburton seat in Parliament as a supporter of Vogel, and represented it till 1890, when he was defeated by E. G. Wright. He was called to the Legislative Council in 1892 and was a member until his death (on 5 Jan 1904).

Early in 1896 Walker joined Seddon's executive, and he presently assumed the portfolios of Immigration and Education, which he administered until 1903. He relinquished them to become Speaker of the Legislative Council, a position he held until his death. He was keenly interested in education and was a governor of Canterbury College (1886-97). In 1897 he obtained the passage of a bill separating Canterbury College from the Agricultural College. He was a member of the Ashburton school committee, the A. and P. association, the High board, and the land board (1891-96). In 1901 he was created a C.M.G.

Walker married (1871) Margaret, daughter of Archdeacon Wilson. While living in Wellington he promoted the Canterbury Society of Wellington.

Cycl. N.Z., i (p), iii; N.Z.P.D., 28 Jun 1904; Acland; N.Z. Times, 17 Oct 1892; Lyttelton Times and The Press, 6 Jan 1904.

Reference: Volume 2, page 229

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