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United Independents
The United Independents were a centrist oriented local body electoral ticket in Auckland, New Zealand. The group was formed in 1953 by combining a selection process for council candidates backed by several civic interest groups and lobby groups opposed to a proposed sewerage scheme. Its main ambition was to control the balance of power on the Auckland City Council and stop the sewerage scheme. History The United Independents group traces its origins back to a group of grassroot locals voicing their opposition to a council proposal to discharge Auckland's sewage into Waitemata Harbour, known as the 'Brown's Island' scheme. Lobbying tactics proved ineffective to stopping the scheme and so opponents turned to political action in order to dissuade local politicians. The most noted public opponent to Brown's Island, Dove-Myer Robinson, used his local renown from the issue and won an Auckland City Council by-election in 1952 and thereby gained membership to the Auckland Metropolitan Dr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dove-Myer Robinson
Sir Dove-Myer Robinson (15 June 1901 – 14 August 1989) was Mayor of Auckland City from 1959 to 1965 and from 1968 to 1980, the longest tenure of any holder of the office. He was a colourful character and became affectionately known across New Zealand as "Robbie". He was one of several Jewish mayors of Auckland, although he rejected Judaism as a teenager and became a lifelong atheist. He has been described as a ''"slight, bespectacled man whose tiny stature was offset by a booming voice and massive ego"''. Biography Early life and career Born Mayer Dove Robinson in Sheffield, England, he was the sixth of seven children of Ida Brown and Moss Robinson. While his father described himself as a master jeweller, he actually sold trinkets and second-hand furniture, and the family was poor and often on the move. Robinson's mother influenced his upbringing by transmitting the strict values her rabbi father had taught her. His Jewish heritage ensured that he was often targeted by anti-se ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Val Chapman
Valentine Jackson Chapman (14 February 1910 – 5 December 1980) was a New Zealand botanist, university professor, and conservationist. Biography He was born in Alcester, Warwickshire, England, on 14 February 1910. Chapman was an associate of Auckland's Mayor Dove-Myer Robinson and was a member of the Auckland Metropolitan Drainage Board between 1955 and 1956. He was a member of the Auckland City Council winning two by-elections in 1954 and 1961. Despite these successes, he was defeated in both subsequent elections in 1956 and 1962, missing out by only 172 votes in his second attempt. In the 1974 New Year Honours, Chapman was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for academic and public services. In 1977, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (french: link=no, Médaille du jubilé d'argent de la reine Elizabeth II) is a commemorative medal created in 1977 to mark the 25th anniversary of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thomas Ashby
Thomas Ashby, (14 October 1874 – 15 May 1931) was a British archaeologist. Family He was the only child of Thomas Ashby (1851–1906), and his wife, Rose Emma, daughter of Apsley Smith. His father belonged to the well-known Quaker family to whom belonged Ashby's brewery at Staines – this became a private company in 1886. Appearance and manner Stocky in figure, he had a tall and forceful head and a neat beard (first red and later white). His English and Italian were both equally brusque (John Ward-Perkins recalled a 'flow of impeccably idiomatic Italian spoken in an accent which to his dying day remained obstinately British'), and the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography calls him "shy with strangers, blunt with acquaintances, and devoted to his friends". Life Early life Ashby was educated initially at Sunningdale School, a prep school close to his childhood home. He was later an exhibitioner at Winchester College (1887–93), where he gained the lasting nickname Ti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eric Armishaw
Eric Cameron Armishaw (3 December 1905 – 30 May 1971) was a New Zealand local-body politician and boxing referee. Biography Early life and career Armishaw was born in Denniston on the West Coast in 1906. His family moved to Auckland when he was a child and was educated in New Lynn. After leaving school he gained employment with the Farmers Trading Company. In 1928 he married Brenda Mary Ann Arthur. Boxing career Armishaw was a keen boxer in his youth and maintained an interest in the sport his whole life. He fought his first match as a bantamweight aged 15. He won the Auckland amateur welterweight title in both 1925 and 1927. He won the New Zealand welterweight title (Morgan Cup) in 1927 after finishing runner-up in 1925. Later he was a referee in over 3,000 fights from the 1940s to the 1960s and controlled bouts at the 1950 British Empire Games. He later became the first New Zealander to be on an international panel of referees. He retired from officiating and training in 196 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ken Cumberland
Kenneth Brailey Cumberland (1 October 1913 – 17 April 2011) was a New Zealand geography academic and local-body politician. Academic career After a bachelor's in geography at Nottingham University College and a MSc at University College, London, Cumberland emigrated to Canterbury College, Christchurch (now the University of Canterbury) immediately before the outbreak of World War II. After the war he moved to Auckland University College (now the University of Auckland). In each place he played a key role in the establishment of teaching of physical geography. After retiring in 1978 he made and narrated a television series, ''Landmarks'', on the geography of New Zealand. Political career Cumberland was an associate of Dove-Myer Robinson and were both members of the Drainage League that opposed the Brown's Bay scheme supported by the then mayor John Allum. Later, he was elected to the Auckland City Council in 1953 as part of Robinson's United Independents ticket. He was re-e ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1962 Auckland City Mayoral Election
The 1962 Auckland City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1962, elections were held for the Mayor of Auckland City, Mayor of Auckland plus other local government positions including twenty-one city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method. Background Incumbent Mayor Dove-Myer Robinson was re-elected against past president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce Edgar Faber, who despite possessing a low public profile and comparative lack of local body experience did better than expected. The election also saw the New Zealand Labour Party, Labour Party split from the Civic Reform ticket. To assist in publicity it was thought that the Labour ticket should include a mayoral candidate as well. The MP for (and former Minister of Works (New Zealand), Minister of Works from 1957 to 1960) Hugh Watt was speculated as Labour's likely candidate. However, Watt ruled himself out stating he felt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1959 Auckland City Mayoral Election
The 1959 Auckland City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1959, elections were held for the Mayor of Auckland plus other local government positions including twenty-one city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method. Background High profile councillor Dove-Myer Robinson defeated incumbent Mayor Keith Buttle of the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket, who had not been opposed by Robinson and his United Independent colleagues in the 1957 contest. Campaigning as "Robbie", Robinson campaigned on an independent and populist platform. He charged Buttle with lethargy and the Citizens & Ratepayers councillors as being out of touch with Aucklanders and taking power for granted. Media coverage (both the '' Auckland Star'' and ''New Zealand Herald ''The New Zealand Herald'' is a daily newspaper published in Auckland, New Zealand, owned by New Zealand Media and Entertainment, and considered ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1956 Auckland City Mayoral Election
The 1956 Auckland City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1956, elections were held for the Mayor of Auckland plus other local government positions including twenty-one city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method. Background Mayor John Luxford was challenged over his claim of wasteful expenditure by the Council by former Town Clerk Thomas Ashby Thomas Ashby, (14 October 1874 – 15 May 1931) was a British archaeologist. Family He was the only child of Thomas Ashby (1851–1906), and his wife, Rose Emma, daughter of Apsley Smith. His father belonged to the well-known Quaker family ... who claimed Luxford had not remedied the problem with the programmes he had initiated. Ashby was endorsed by the United Independents electoral ticket after Luxford had joined the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket after a falling out with Robinson and his United Independent colleagues who ha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1953 Auckland City Mayoral Election
The 1953 Auckland City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1953, elections were held for the Mayor of Auckland plus other local government positions including twenty-one city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method. Background Long serving incumbent mayor John Allum was successfully challenged by former magistrate John Luxford. Allum was the first mayor in the 20th century who had stood for re-election unsuccessfully. Luxford was endorsed by the new United Independents electoral ticket who gained the balance of power between the Labour Party and Citizens & Ratepayers, costing the latter the majority they had held since 1938. The Labour Party initially intended to stand a candidate and it was seen that MP for and former councillor John Stewart would stand. Stewart was selected as Labour's nominee but later withdrew his candidacy prompting the party to re-open nominations. Lab ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Stewart (New Zealand Politician)
John "Jock" Skinner Stewart (23 April 1902 – 5 February 1973) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. Biography Early life and career Stewart was born in Greenock, Scotland and served in the British Army during World War I. He then emigrated to New Zealand when he was 24. He later gained employment with the Auckland Transport Board as a clerk. During World War II he joined the military and was given a staff job as his medical grading prevented him from going abroad. At the end of 1942 he was released from service. Political career In 1935 he was elected to the Auckland City Council on a Labour Party ticket where he was chairman of the Library Committee. In both 1933 and 1938 Stewart was defeated standing for the City Council. He was also a member of the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board. In both the 1950 and 1956 local elections as well as a 1957 by-election he was the Labour Party's candidate for the Auckland mayoralty, placing second, third and second respec ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Keith Buttle
Keith Nicholson Buttle (23 November 1900 – 15 December 1973) was a New Zealand businessman and politician. He served as mayor of Auckland City from 1957 to 1959. Biography Born 23 November 1900 in Auckland, Buttle attended Auckland Grammar School. On 23 March 1927, he married Una Agnes Parkinson at the Pitt Street Methodist church in Auckland. He was a sharebroker and partner in an Auckland firm of sharebrokers. He served on the Auckland City Council for 18 years, the Auckland Harbour Board for five years and Auckland Harbour Bridge Authority for three years. Buttle was elected mayor of Auckland City, replacing Thomas Ashby in a by-election in November 1957 after Ashby died part-way through his term.''New Zealand Who’s Who'' 8th edition 1964 In the 1961 New Year Honours, Buttle was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
