Frank Gill (politician)

Thomas Francis "Frank" Gill CBE DSO (31 January 1917 – 1 March 1982) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party, and an Air Commodore in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).

Member of Parliament

He represented the Waitemata electorate in Parliament from 1969 to 1972, and then the East Coast Bays electorate in Parliament from 1972 to 1980, when he resigned.^[1]

He was a Cabinet Minister, and held the positions of Minister of Health 1975-1978,^[2][3] Minister of Immigration 1975–1978,^[2][3] Minister of Defence 1978–21 August 1980^[4][5] and Minister of Police 1978–1980^[4][5] in the Third National Government.^[6]

He was New Zealand's Ambassador to the United States from 1981 until his death.^[7]

On 23 September 1941 as a Flight Officer, Gill was appointed a Companion of The Distinguished Service Order^[8] and retired from the RNZAF with the rank of Air Commodore. In the 1961 New Year Honours Gill was appointed a Commander of The Order of the British Empire.^[9] On 25 August 1980 Gill was granted the right to retain the title The Honourable on his retirement as a member of the Executive Council of New Zealand.^[10]

His grandson, Mark Mitchell, was elected to parliament in 2011.^[11]

Notes

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.