Lee was the faction's de facto leader. As Lee's relationship with the Labour Party leadership deteriorated, Barnard sided with Lee. Lee was eventually expelled, and after Peter Fraser, an opponent of Lee, was elected leader on 4 April 1940, Barnard himself resigned from the party. Barnard then assisted Lee in the launch of the new Democratic Labour Party, becoming one of its two MPs. Despite his departure from the governing party, he retained the office of Speaker. Soon, however, Barnard became dissatisfied with Lee's style of leadership, considering it to be egotistical and autocratic. Rather than seek re-election as a Democratic Labour Party candidate, he opted to stand as an independent, but was defeated. Later life Following his departure from Parliament, Barnard returned to law, setting up a legal practice in Tauranga. In 1950, he became mayor, serving for two years. He also undertook considerable work with various non-profit organisations, including the Society for Closer Relations with the USSR (Russia), the Institute of Pacific Relations's New Zealand branch, the New Zealand Five Million Club (promoting population growth), and the New Zealand Council for the Adoption of Chinese Refugee Children. For the latter, he was awarded the Order of the Brilliant Star by the government of the Republic of China. In 1953, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal. In the 1957 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for political and public services. Barnard died in Auckland on 12 March 1958. References Further reading New Zealand Labour Party MPs Independent MPs of New Zealand New Zealand Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Speakers of the New Zealand House of Representatives New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates 20th-century New Zealand lawyers British Army personnel of World War I Victoria University of Wellington alumni People from Carterton, New Zealand Mayors of Tauranga 1886 births 1958 deaths Democratic Labour Party (New Zealand) politicians Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Unsuccessful candidates in the 1943 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1925 New Zealand general election Royal Army Medical Corps soldiers Royal Field Artillery soldiers