Gerard was born in
Christchurch on 6 October 1904. He received his education at
Christ's College and then farmed at
Mount Hutt. On 1 August 1928, Gerard married Margaret Scott at All Saints' Church,
Sumner, and the couple went on to have five children. Gerard represented the
Canterbury electorates of
Mid-Canterbury from
1943 to 1946, and then the
Ashburton electorate from
1946 to 1966 when he retired. He was Minister of Marine under
Holland and
Holyoake (1957, 1961–1963), Minister of Social Security (1957) under Holland and Holyoake,
Minister of Lands under Holyoake (1957, 1960–1966), and Minister of Forests under Holyoake (1957, 1960–1966). Outside of Parliament, Gerard was a member of the Nature Conservation Council from 1967 to 1974, and a member of the
Lyttelton Harbour Board from 1968 to 1980. He was appointed a
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, for public services, in the
1981 New Year Honours. In 1990, he received the
New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal. having been predeceased by his wife, Margaret, in 1988. His son
Jim followed in his footsteps, representing the electorate from . ==Notes==