Lance Adams-Schneider Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Right Honourable
Sir Lance Adams-Schneider
Order:9th Ambassador to the United States
Primeminister:Robert Muldoon
David Lange
Term Start:18 May 1982
Term End:5 March 1985
Predecessor:Frank Gill
Successor:Bill Rowling
Order2:3rd Minister of Trade and Industry
Primeminister2:Robert Muldoon
Term Start2:12 December 1975
Term End2:11 December 1981
Predecessor2:Warren Freer
Successor2:Hugh Templeton
Order3:21st Minister of Health
Primeminister3:Jack Marshall
Term Start3:9 February 1972
Term End3:8 December 1972
Predecessor3:Don McKay
Successor3:Bob Tizard
Order4:42nd Minister of Customs
Primeminister4:Keith Holyoake
Term Start4:12 December 1969
Term End4:9 February 1972
Predecessor4:Norman Shelton
Successor4:George Gair
Order5:10th Minister of Broadcasting
Primeminister5:Keith Holyoake
Term Start5:15 February 1967
Term End5:12 December 1969
Predecessor5:Jack Scott
Successor5:Bert Walker
Constituency Mp6:Waikato
Parliament6:New Zealand
Term Start6:29 November 1969
Term End6:28 November 1981
Successor6:Simon Upton
Constituency Mp7:Hamilton
Parliament7:New Zealand
Term Start7:2 May 1959
Term End7:29 November 1969
Predecessor7:Hilda Ross
Birth Date:1919 11, df=y
Birth Place:Wellington, New Zealand
Birthname:Lancelot Raymond Adams
Party:National
Spouse:Shirley Lois Brunton
Children:Two sons, one daughter
Occupation:Retailer

Sir Lancelot Raymond Adams-Schneider (11 November 1919 – 3 September 1995) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Biography

Early life and career

Lancelot Raymond Adams was born in Wellington, New Zealand, to Arthur Archibald Adams and Hilda Mary Adams (née Biggs). His mother died when he was three years old, and his paternal aunt, Susan Isabella Schneider (née Adams) took on the care of her nephew. Later, Susan and her husband, Theodore Schneider, adopted Lancelot and he became Lance Adams-Schneider. He was educated at Eastern Hutt Primary School, Petone Memorial Technical College, and Mount Albert Grammar School, Auckland.

He entered the drapery trade on leaving school and founded his own business in Auckland. Later he managed a large store in Taumarunui. During World War II, Adams-Schneider served in the Medical Corps. He later became a member of the Taumarunui Borough Council, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and an executive member of the New Zealand Retailers' Association.

In 1944, Adams-Schneider became engaged to Shirley Lois Brunton, and the couple married the following year.[1]

Political career

His private enterprise position and retail experience influenced him politically and led him to become involved with the National Party. He became chairmans of the party's Taumaranui Branch and was later a publicity officer for the party's Waikato Division.[2] He later sought the National Party nomination at a by-election in Bay of Plenty in early 1957, but was unsuccessful.[3]

Adams-Schneider stood in the Hutt electorate against Labour Party leader Walter Nash in, coming second for National. He then contested and won for National the 1959 Hamilton by-election held after the death of the incumbent MP, Dame Hilda Ross. He continued to represent the Hamilton electorate until its disestablishment in, after which he represented the Waikato electorate until his retirement in .

Adams-Schneider was a parliamentary under-secretary from 1964 to 1967, Minister of Broadcasting from 1967 to 1969, Minister of Customs from 1969 to 1972, Minister of Health and Minister of Social Welfare in 1972, and Minister of Trade and Industry from 1975 to 1981.

He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977, and the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[4]

Diplomatic career

Following his retirement from national politics, Adams-Schneider was appointed the Ambassador from New Zealand to the United States (1982–85) and to Mexico (1982–83).

In the 1984 Queen's Birthday Honours, Adams-Schneider was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, for public services. He was also a member of the Privy Council.

Later life and death

Adams-Schneider was active in youth work and was a lay preacher in the Baptist Church.

He died on 3 September 1995.[5] His wife, Shirley, Lady Adams-Schneider, died in Wellington on 20 May 2020.[6]

Further reading

External links

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Notes and References

  1. News: Engagements announced . 8 July 1944 . . 7 . 27 May 2020.
  2. Web site: Interview with Lance Adams-Schneider . Gustafson . Barry . Barry Gustafson . . 21 August 1985 . 24 March 2022 .
  3. News: Bay of Plenty Seat – National Party Candidate . . 27 February 1957 . XCV . 28213 . 12 . 24 February 2022 .
  4. Book: Taylor . Alister . Coddington . Deborah . Alister Taylor . Deborah Coddington . Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand . 1994 . New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa . Auckland . 0-908578-34-2 . 42.
  5. http://www.vdig.net/hansard/archive.jsp?y=1995&m=09&d=12&o=2&p=2 Obituary - Rt Hon. Sir Lancelot Raymond Adams-Schneider
  6. News: Lady Adams-Schneider death notice . 27 May 2020 . The New Zealand Herald. 27 May 2020.