The Honourable Clarence Skinner MC |
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3rd Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand | |
In office 12 December 1957 – 12 December 1960 |
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Prime Minister | Walter Nash |
Preceded by | Jack Marshall |
Succeeded by | Jack Marshall |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Motueka |
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In office 1938 – 1946 |
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Preceded by | Keith Holyoake |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Buller |
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In office 1946 – 1962 |
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Preceded by | Paddy Webb |
Succeeded by | Bill Rowling |
Personal details | |
Born | 19 January 1900 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
Died | 26 April 1962 Takaka, New Zealand |
(aged 62)
Political party | Labour |
Spouse(s) | Julia Buckley Gray (m. 1924) Lois McHaffey (m. 1958) |
Awards | Military Cross |
Military service | |
Allegiance | New Zealand Army |
Years of service | 1939-43 |
Rank | Major |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Clarence Farrington Skinner MC (19 January 1900 – 26 April 1962) (also known as Gerry or Jerry) was a Labour politician from New Zealand, former Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and a Minister from 1943 to 1949 and 1957 to 1960 in the First and Second Labour governments.
Skinner was born on 19 January 1900 in Melbourne, Australia, before subsequently emigrating to New Zealand. His father was a missionary in Te Kopuru, near Hokianga.
Skinner settled in the Waitaki District and married Julia Buckley Gray in 1924. Skinner established himself politically as a union leader there whilst working as a carpenter by trade. He then turned his profession to farming up until the depression in the early 1930s.
He distinguished himself after being elected the president of the Inangahua Medical Association. He was instrumental in setting up a co-operative medical insurance scheme for labourers working building the Waitaki hydroelectric station alongside Andy Davidson, Arnold Nordmeyer and Gervan & Ethel McMillan. All subsequently becoming members of the Labour party.
Skinner served in the New Zealand Army in the Middle East during World War II. Starting out as a Sapper, Skinner rose to the rank of Major. He was later awarded the Military Cross in 1943 for mine clearing in the North African campaign. He was flown back to New Zealand later that year after promotion to cabinet because of his fine record as a soldier by Prime Minister Peter Fraser.