In the 1935 election , he was returned with a comfortable majority , perhaps assisted by his work in response to the Napier earthquake . When the Labour Party won power in 1935 , many believed that he would be appointed Minister of Justice . In the end , however , this position was given to Rex Mason . Instead , Barnard was nominated as Speaker of the House . He was elected to this position in March 1936 . In the , he was challenged in the electorate by John Ormond of the National Party , but he won with a large majority
Napier earthquake
1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake
Bill Barnard