George Manning (politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir George Manning CMG
(11 February 1887 – 29 December 1976) was Mayor of Christchurch
from 1958 to October 1968, when he retired. He served a total of 34 years on the Christchurch City Council
.
, Wales, on 11 February 1887. He was the son of Richard Manning (steelworker) and Sarah Davies. Together with a friend, he emigrated to Christchurch
in 1910. He married Scottish-born Sarah Edith Willmore at the Trinity Congregational Church, Christchurch Central City
, on 11 October 1923.
in 1917 and 1919 as a Labour Party
candidate. In 1920, he got offered a position as organising secretary of the Canterbury WEA
on the condition that he abstained from political office. This restriction was lifted in 1925. He served WEA from February 1921 to 1948.
He was elected onto Christchurch City Council in 1927 and served one term until 1929. He was again successful in a 1936 by-election and served a continuous 32 years, first as councillor (until 1958) and then mayor.
in the 1943 election
in the Christchurch North electorate
, but lost against Sidney Holland
. He then contested the St Albans electorate
in the 1949 election
, but was unsuccessful against Jack Watts.
awarded him an honorary doctorate
(LLD) in 1972. He died in Christchurch on 29 December 1976, survived by his wife and their son. His wife died in 1998.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(11 February 1887 – 29 December 1976) was Mayor of Christchurch
Mayor of Christchurch
The Mayor of Christchurch is the head of the municipal government of Christchurch, New Zealand, and presides over the Christchurch City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system...
from 1958 to October 1968, when he retired. He served a total of 34 years on the Christchurch City Council
Christchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
.
Early life
Manning was born in GowertonGowerton
The village of Gowerton is situated about 4 miles north west of Swansea city centre, Wales. Gowerton is often known as the gateway to Gower. Gowerton's original name was Ffosfelin...
, Wales, on 11 February 1887. He was the son of Richard Manning (steelworker) and Sarah Davies. Together with a friend, he emigrated to Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
in 1910. He married Scottish-born Sarah Edith Willmore at the Trinity Congregational Church, Christchurch Central City
Christchurch Central City
Christchurch Central City is the geographical centre and the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is defined as the area within the four avenues and thus includes the densely built up central city, some less dense surrounding areas of residential, educational and industrial usage, and green...
, on 11 October 1923.
Councillor
Manning stood unsuccessfully for Christchurch City CouncilChristchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
in 1917 and 1919 as a Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
candidate. In 1920, he got offered a position as organising secretary of the Canterbury WEA
Workers' Educational Association
The Workers’ Educational Association seeks to provide access to education and lifelong learning for adults from all backgrounds, and in particular those who have previously missed out on education. The International Federation of Workers Education Associations has consultative status to UNESCO...
on the condition that he abstained from political office. This restriction was lifted in 1925. He served WEA from February 1921 to 1948.
He was elected onto Christchurch City Council in 1927 and served one term until 1929. He was again successful in a 1936 by-election and served a continuous 32 years, first as councillor (until 1958) and then mayor.
Mayor of Christchurch
Manning served as Deputy Mayor from 1950 to 1958, and was elected as Mayor in 1958. In the 1968 election, he did not stand as a candidate again.National politics
Manning stood for the Labour PartyNew Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
in the 1943 election
New Zealand general election, 1943
The 1943 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 27th term. With the onset of World War II, elections were initially postponed, but it was eventually decided to hold a general election in September 1943, around two years after it...
in the Christchurch North electorate
Christchurch North (New Zealand electorate)
Christchurch North is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.The electorate was in the northern suburbs of Christchurch, New Zealand.-History:The electorate existed three times:*1881 to 1890;*1905 to 1946;...
, but lost against Sidney Holland
Sidney Holland
Sir Sidney George Holland, GCMG, CH was the 25th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957.-Early life:...
. He then contested the St Albans electorate
St Albans (New Zealand electorate)
St Albans was a parliamentary electorate in Christchurch, New Zealand from 1881 to 1890, then from 1946 to 1996.-Population centres:The electorate was centred on the Christchurch suburb of St Albans.-History:...
in the 1949 election
New Zealand general election, 1949
The 1949 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 29th term. It saw the governing Labour Party defeated by the opposition National Party...
, but was unsuccessful against Jack Watts.
Later life
Manning was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1960 for services to local government and education, and was knighted in 1967. For his contributions to adult education, the University of CanterburyUniversity of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
awarded him an honorary doctorate
Legum Doctor
Legum Doctor is a doctorate-level academic degree in law, or an honorary doctorate, depending on the jurisdiction. The double L in the abbreviation refers to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both Canon Law and Civil Law, the double L indicating the plural, Doctor of both...
(LLD) in 1972. He died in Christchurch on 29 December 1976, survived by his wife and their son. His wife died in 1998.