James George Barnes
Encyclopedia
Sir James George "Jim" Barnes, MBE
(1908 – 6 June 1995) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party
.
Barnes attended Andersons Bay School and King Edward Technical College
.
in 1940, and trained in Canada. He qualified as a navigator
and bomb aimer
, and joined the No. 75 (NZ) Squadron
. In 1942, Barnes was shot down over France, and spent three years in German concentration camps. He put a lot of pressure on German resources helping fellow prisoners escape, and received various punishments, including a sentencing to be shot, though later the camp brutality eased, and Barnes was not executed.
electorate from 1951
when he defeated Fred Jones to 1957
, when he was defeated by William Fraser
.
From 1968 to 1977 he was the Mayor of Dunedin
. He had been on the Dunedin City Council from 1947, and deputy Mayor from 1959.
He was knighted in 1976.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1908 – 6 June 1995) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
.
Barnes attended Andersons Bay School and King Edward Technical College
King Edward Technical College
King Edward Technical College is the former name for a school and technical college in Dunedin, New Zealand, which was established as the Dunedin Technical School in 1889. It renamed itself the King Edward Technical College after King Edward VII, and new buildings on Stuart Street officially opened...
.
Military service
Barnes joined the Royal New Zealand Air ForceRoyal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
in 1940, and trained in Canada. He qualified as a navigator
Navigator
A navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to...
and bomb aimer
Bombardier (air force)
A bombardier , in the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force, or a bomb aimer, in the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces, was the crewman of a bomber responsible for assisting the navigator in guiding the plane to a bombing target and releasing the aircraft's bomb...
, and joined the No. 75 (NZ) Squadron
No. 75 Squadron RAF
No. 75 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operated as a bomber unit in World War II, before being transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1945.-First World War, Royal Flying Corps, Home Defence Squadron :...
. In 1942, Barnes was shot down over France, and spent three years in German concentration camps. He put a lot of pressure on German resources helping fellow prisoners escape, and received various punishments, including a sentencing to be shot, though later the camp brutality eased, and Barnes was not executed.
Athletics career as runner and official
JG (Jimmy) Barnes was well known in Otago and NZ as a mile and cross-country runner of national class. Later, before he became Mayor of Dunedin, he was loyally and consistently active as an official, and leader of Otago Athletics. Jim was particularly supportive of Women's Athletics, at a time when that section of the sport was indeed the poor relation. The Otago Ladies' NZ Record relay team, which included Yvette Williams, Shirley Hardman, Norah Donald, Myrie Ives, and Roslyn Pierson, was most grateful for his support in the late 40s and 50s. Jim Barnes' name has become enshrined in the Otago Harrier Programme in the J G Barnes Cross-country Race, first held in the early 50s in the Chisholm Park area of Dunedin.Political career
He represented the St KildaSt Kilda (New Zealand electorate)
-Population centres:The electorate is in the southern suburbs of Dunedin, New Zealand, and was centered on the suburb of St Kilda.-History:The electorate was created in 1946, and was abolished in 1996 , when it was absorbed into the Dunedin South electorate.-Election results:-External links:...
electorate from 1951
New Zealand general election, 1951
The 1951 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 30th term. It saw the governing National Party remain in office, increasing its lead over the opposition Labour Party.-Background:...
when he defeated Fred Jones to 1957
New Zealand general election, 1957
The 1957 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 32nd term. It saw the governing National Party narrowly defeated by the Labour Party...
, when he was defeated by William Fraser
William Fraser (New Zealand)
William Alex Fraser was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He represented the Dunedin electorate of St Kilda from 1957 to 1981, when he retired....
.
From 1968 to 1977 he was the Mayor of Dunedin
Mayor of Dunedin
The Mayor of Dunedin is the head of the municipal government of Dunedin, New Zealand, and presides over the Dunedin City Council. The Mayor is directly elected, using the Single Transferable Vote system in 2007....
. He had been on the Dunedin City Council from 1947, and deputy Mayor from 1959.
He was knighted in 1976.