Richard Francis Bollard (23 May 1863 – 25 August 1927) was a farmer and New Zealand politician of the Reform Party. He represented the Raglan electorate from 1911 to 1927, when he died. As Minister of Internal Affairs, he was a cabinet minister from 1923 to 1927 in the Reform Government.
He was reported making speeches and opening events and buildings; in 1912 farewelling the local publican, in 1914 opening Matangi post office, in 1915 opening the Winter Show of the Raglan A. and P. AssociationWaikato Times, Volume 84, Issue 13181, 22 May 1915, Page 4 and opening Whatawhata post office. As Minister for Internal Affairs he opened Te Uku post officeTe Uku 1975 R T Vernon page 70 and Te Hutewai School in 1924,Raglan Settlers Centennial Booklet 1940 Raglan footbridge in 1926 and in 1924 was reported as making three calls one day and two the next, in between catching the train from Auckland to Wellington.
Personal life Bollard was the oldest of 14 children of John Bollard, also a Member of Parliament. He was educated at Whau School, which was later renamed Avondale Primary School. In his youth he worked on his father's farm. He married Louisa Dakin at St Jude's Church, Avondale, on 30 December 1881. They had 6 children, Mrs Wallace Hunter (Wellington), Mrs D. Bennett (Ratotonga), Miss Muriel Bollard (Wellington), Miss Madge Bollard (Wellington), Jack Bollard (Tauwhare), and Charles Bollard (Wellington). In 1884 he was chair of Avondale Cricket Club. His first employment was with Avondale Road Board, for which he became clerk in 1892, when it was chaired by his father. In 1899 he and his brother in law bought a sawmill at Taupiri, which they sold in 1908. He then farmed at Tauwhare, until moving to Wellington in 1923, when he was made a minister. In April 1926 he moved to the ministerial house at 123 Tinakori Rd, where he died on 25 August 1927, a few days after catching pneumonia. He was buried at Karori Cemetery.
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