Career
Wilkinson represented the Egmont electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives from a 1912 by-election to 1919 (when he retired) and then again between 1928 and 1943. He was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1951 for services to New Zealand. Wilkinson was a Reform Member of Parliament between 1912–1919 and an Independent from 1928 to 1943 In 1935 and 1938 he was not opposed by National, and he habitually voted with National.
He was briefly involved with the National Party, but after he lost its first leadership vote by one vote against Adam Hamilton, he continued to represent the Egmont electorate as an Independent.
In 1935, he was awarded the.