Interview with Harry Robert Lapwood

Harry Robert Lapwood was born in Auckland, in 1915. Outlines paternal family connections and history emigrating to New Zealand on the boat Ganges in 1865, work in farming and gum digging, grandfather's former position in the Royal Navy and participation in the New Zealand Land Wars. Discusses maternal family, originating in Bohemia and Australia, involved with early gold mining in the Coromandel region and establishing a flax mill at Tuakau. Talks about childhood on the farm, death of his mother in 1919 and of his father in 1924. Tells how siblings were raised by various family members. Outlines education and position as a milker on the Dilworth School farm. Names school principal Noel Gibson and former students Michael Bassett, Mike Moore and David Beattie.

Discusses employment as a sharemilker in Edgecumbe, as a policeman working with Bert Knapp and Angus Sharpe and enlisting in the army in 1939. Outlines advancement within 1st Echelon from private to regimental seargent major. Talks about action in Crete, Greece and Maleme. Recounts serious shrapnel wounds from the battle of El Alamain in 1942, hospitalisation, bone grafts, blood poisoning and repatriation to Auckland.

Talks about marriage to Catherine Gow in 1944, daughter of a legislative councillor in the Reform Government, and the birth of their children. Discusses employment running a lending library in Dominion Road, grocers business in Rotorua from 1947 to 1966 and active participation and presidentship of his local Returned Servicemen's Association (RSA). Outlines candidacy for the National Party in Rotorua electorate in 1949, election win and displacing Ray Boord. Names neighbouring MPs Bill Sullivan and Percy Allen. Details Keith Holyoake and the growth of the National Party through 1950's. Touches on allegations of wrongdoings in Rotorua. Recounts positions held in Parliament including chief government whip, 1970-1972, opposition whip, 1972-1974, spokesperson for tourism, 1975-1987, and chairmanship of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Discusses fellow Members of Parliament Henry May, Norm Kirk, Bill Rowling, Esme Tombleson, Sir Leslie Munro, Ralph Hanan, Brian Talboys and Robert Muldoon.

Outlines Keith Holyoake's eventual replacement as National Party leader by Jack Marshall in 1972. Recounts circumstances regarding this event.

Interviewer(s) - David Young

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-012368, OHC-012369, OHC-012370, OHLC-6868, OHLC-6869, OHLC-6870

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-4186.

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-006868 - OHLC-006870