Garnet Hercules Mackley (9 December 1883 – 24 April 1986) was a New Zealand businessman, railways manager and politician.
Career
Mackley was born in
Port Chalmers.
He became general manager of
New Zealand Railways in 1933. During his tenure, Mackley worked hard to improve the standard and range of services provided by the railways. He won approval
for the construction of an inspection car known as the
"Red Terror" in which he travelled the entire system inspecting stations and meeting staff.
[ Published: New Zealand Government Railways Department, Wellington] The car's success encouraged him to order the construction of
railcar
A railcar (not to be confused with a railway car) is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach (carriage, car), with a drive ...
s that were to serve the railways for many years, specifically the
Midland
Midland may refer to:
Places Australia
* Midland, Western Australia
Canada
* Midland, Albert County, New Brunswick
* Midland, Kings County, New Brunswick
* Midland, Newfoundland and Labrador
* Midland, Ontario
India
* Midland Ward, Kohima, Nagal ...
,
Wairarapa,
Standard, and
Vulcan
Vulcan may refer to:
Mythology
* Vulcan (mythology), the god of fire, volcanoes, metalworking, and the forge in Roman mythology
Arts, entertainment and media Film and television
* Vulcan (''Star Trek''), name of a fictional race and their home p ...
classes.
He also wanted to improve the comfort of passengers and initiated a local building programme which provided the basis of passenger carriage stock for many years.
In the
1938 New Year Honours
The 1938 New Year Honours were appointments by King George VI to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the United Kingdom and British Empire. They were announced on 1 January 1938.United Kingdom and Britis ...
, Mackley was appointed a
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, George III, King George III.
...
.
In 1940 he retired,
[ Published: New Zealand Government Railways Department, Wellington] and was made managing director of the Whakatane Paper Mills.
Member of Parliament
Mackley then entered politics, becoming a Member of Parliament for the
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party ( mi, Rōpū Nāhinara o Aotearoa), shortened to National () or the Nats, is a centre-right political party in New Zealand. It is one of two major parties that dominate contemporary New Zealand politics, alongside ...
. He was elected as the MP for
Masterton
Masterton ( mi, Whakaoriori), a large town in the Greater Wellington Region of New Zealand, operates as the seat of the Masterton District (a territorial authority or local-government district). It is the largest town in the Wairarapa, a r ...
(1943–1946) and then for
Wairarapa (1946–1949), after which he retired.
In 1950 he was appointed to the
Legislative Council by National, as a member of the so-called
suicide squad charged with voting for the abolition of the Council (or Upper House).
Notes
References
*
*
External links
Photos of Mackley and the ''Red Terror''
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mackley, Garnet
1883 births
1986 deaths
New Zealand centenarians
Men centenarians
New Zealand National Party MPs
New Zealand public servants
New Zealand people in rail transport
Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council
New Zealand National Party MLCs
People from Port Chalmers
Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates
New Zealand Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George