Ronald Leslie Bailey (15 December 1926 – 16 April 2015) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. Biography Early life and career Bailey was born in Napier in 1926. He grew up in various public works camps during the Great Depression and attended four different primary schools in the central North Island. After attending four different primary schools, he received his secondary education at Wairoa District High School (now Wairoa College) and Gisborne High School. His first jobs were as a clerk and a carpenter. He became a union organiser in 1956 where he inspected living conditions in the agricultural sector. He and his union were staunch Anti-communist and allegedly he was a member of the far-right World Anti-Communist League's New Zealand chapter. Political career When Phil Holloway unexpectedly retired from the electorate, Bailey contested the Labour Party nomination for the seat which resulted in a deadlock in the selection committee between himself and Jim Bateman, a Wellington City Councillor. As a result of the deadlock the matter was referred to the party national executive. Bailey was eventually victorious for the nomination and won the seat at the subsequent election. He served seven terms and retired in 1981, when he was succeeded by Bill Jeffries. Labour spent all but one of those terms in opposition, a situation he described in his valedictory speech as a "brick wall of frustration". During his time in Parliament Bailey was noted for lobbying for a new wing for Wellington Hospital, opposing increases in railway fares in the Hutt Valley and advocating for an increase in state house building. Bailey was Labour's junior whip from 1966 to 1972. Bailey narrowly missed out on election to cabinet following the formation of the Third Labour Government. He was tied for the final place in cabinet with Henry May (whom he had shared an office with for many years) with May narrowly winning. Prime Minister Norman Kirk regretted two friends being pitted against one another and was relieved when Bailey took the defeat graciously. He was upset though thinking he had lost his only opportunity to ever enter cabinet. Subsequently he was given the consolation job of Chairman of Committees from 16 February 1973 until 10 September 1974. As Chairman of Committees he deputised for the Speaker and notably chaired the session that saw the passing of Labour's short-lived compulsory superannuation scheme. He is also reputed