About William Girling
Lived 1882 – 1973 (aged 91). William Girling was a New Zealand politician.
William James Girling (9 March 1882 – 7 September 1973) was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.
He was elected to the Wairau electorate in the 1922 general election, but was defeated in 1928 by Edward Healy of the United Party by a 3% vote margin. He was elected as Mayor of Blenheim and served from 1945 to 1950. For the , the Reform and United parties formed a coalition. Part of the agreement was that all incumbents would become the coalition's candidate. Girling stood as an independent in 1931 in opposition to Healy but was again unsuccessful, this time by a 15% vote margin.
In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal. In November 1947, he was elected Grand Master of the Masonic Order in New Zealand.
In the 1950 King's Birthday Honours, Girling was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for public services, especially in the Marlborough provincial district. He was appointed to the Legislative Council on 22 June 1950 as a member of the so-called suicide squad to vote for its abolition. In 1953, Girling was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.
Girling died in 1973 and was buried at Omaka Cemetery, Blenheim.
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Important facts
People in William Girling's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped William Girling's
Frequently asked questions
Who was William Girling?
New Zealand politician
When was William Girling born?
William Girling was born on 9 March 1882.
When did William Girling die?
William Girling died on 7 September 1973.
What was William Girling's occupation?
William Girling was a politician.
What nationality was William Girling?
William Girling was New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Girling. https://biography.guide/william-girling/
MLA: "William Girling." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-girling/.
Chicago: "William Girling." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-girling/.
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