Charles Barrell

For the American writer and art critic, see Charles Wisner Barrell. For the American soldier, see Charles L. Barrell.

Charles "Charlie" Abraham Barrell (2 September 1880 – 14 January 1958) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Charles Barrell
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Hamilton
In office 27 November 1935 – 25 September 1943
Preceded by	Alexander Young
Succeeded by	Frank Findlay
Personal details
Born	Charles Abraham Barrell (1880-09-02)2 September 1880 Rangiora, New Zealand
Died	14 January 1958(1958-01-14) (aged 77) Auckland, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Annie Jane Malvina Quinlon
Children	3

Biography

Early life and career

Barrell was born in Rangiora in 1880. He became a farmer but later found employment with the New Zealand Railways Department and eventually qualified as an engineer. In 1902 he married Annie Jane Malvina Quinlon. He then was the manager of branches of Booth Macdonald and Co., Ltd at New Plymouth, Auckland and Invercargill. He then became the Town Clerk and Harbourmaster at Kawhia in the Waikato. He then left Kawhia and moved to Hamilton.^[1]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament

Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1935–1938	25th	Hamilton			Labour
1938–1943	26th	Hamilton			Labour

He represented the Hamilton electorate from 1935, when he defeated Sir Alexander Young of the Reform Party.^[2][3] In the 1938 election, he defeated Albert William Grant of the National Party.^[3][4] In 1943, he was defeated by National's Frank Findlay.^[5] He unsuccessfully contested the Hamilton seat again in a 1945 by-election.^[6]

In 1940 he was appointed a member of the Auckland Harbour Board to fill a vacancy, but chose not to stand for re-election in 1941 stating that the war effort was taking a heavy demand on his time and he could not give warranted attention to the board's affairs.^[7]

Barrell was a Social Crediter and later became the president of the Hamilton Social Credit Association.^[8]

Later life and death

In later life he was the patron of the Waikato Trotting Club.^[1]

He died in Auckland on 14 January 1958, aged 77. He was survived by his wife, son and two daughters.^[1]