William Wilson McCardle JP (1 April 1844 – 4 January 1922) was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council.

A committed liberal politician, he was appointed to the Legislative Council by the first Ward Ministry in 1907 and served for one term until 1914.

[1] In 1866 at Christchurch,[3] McCardle married Janet Catherine Martin,[4] daughter of Captain James Martin, master of the unfortunate coaster Margaret—a vessel built at Kaiwarra in the Wellington Harbour in 1845, and so completely lost on the way to Lyttelton in the following year that no trace of either ship or cargo was ever seen again.

McCardle moved to Dunedin in 1869 and founded his own nursery, and some six years later sold out and established himself in the same line in Masterton.

[6] In 1884, McCardle moved to Pahiatua himself, and though he discontinued the nursery business, he had, at his homestead on the banks of the Mangahao River, an orchard of some twelve acres and a flower garden containing an extensive collection of Rhododendrons.

McCardle's next move in the founding of Pahiatua was to get the riding placed under the control of a Road Board, his efforts being acknowledged by his election to the position of first chairman.

The next step was to form the county, when McCardle had the satisfaction of seeing fairly launched the scheme of special settlements which he had so consistently advocated and so successfully helped forward.

As early as May 1876, McCardle explored the area of what became the county of Pahiatua; previously covered by dense bush, it was soon converted to farmland.

He introduced an association of some two hundred members, prepared to join in a special settlement scheme "on all fours" with the Acts subsequently passed in 1877 and 1879.

In company with Alfred Renall of Masterton, McCardle waited on the Waste Lands Board, recommending the block as especially suitable for small farms settlements, and urging that it be set apart for these purposes.

But these settlers, led by McCardle, were not disposed to accept any but the best; they kept up the agitation until the Land Acts already mentioned were passed, and Pahiatua was the first block settled thereunder.

He continued work in land matters with the Masterton Special Settlements Association until the block known as Ballance was secured and disposed of.