Harry Ell
The Honourable Henry George (Harry) Ell MP |
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Shows a clean shaven man looking towards the camera. He wears a shirt and tie, a waistcoat, and a suit jacket.
Harry Ell in October 1914
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Christchurch City councillor | |
In office 1903–1903 |
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In office 1917–1919 |
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Member of Parliament for City of Christchurch electorate |
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In office 1899–1905 |
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Preceded by | George John Smith |
Succeeded by | electorate discontinued |
Member of Parliament for Christchurch South |
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In office 1905–1919 |
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Preceded by | new electorate |
Succeeded by | Ted Howard |
Personal details | |
Born | Christchurch |
24 September 1862
Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Christchurch |
Nationality | New Zealand |
Political party | Independent Liberal |
Other political affiliations |
New Liberal Party |
Spouse(s) | Adelaide Eleanor Gee |
Henry George Ell (probably 24 September 1862 – 27 June 1934), commonly known as Harry Ell, was a Christchurch City councillor and a New Zealand Member of Parliament. He is famous for his conservation work around Christchurch's Port Hills, his advocacy for the Summit Road, and his construction of the Sign of the Takahe and other road houses along the Summit Road.
Contents
Early years
Ell was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and grew up on his father's farm in Halswell. As a teenager he worked at the Canterbury Museum, then as a farm hand. Between 1881 and 1884 he was a member of the Armed Constabulary in Taranaki, where he participated in the destruction of Parihaka. This experience turned him into a stern critic of the race-relations policies of the time.
Ell was a Christchurch City councillor in 1903 and then again between 1917 and 1919. He was a member of the Knights of Labour and the Canterbury Liberal Association.
Member of Parliament
Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
1899–1902 | 14th | City of Christchurch | Independent Liberal | |
1902–1905 | 15th | City of Christchurch | Liberal | |
1905–1908 | 16th | Christchurch South | New Liberal | |
1908–1911 | 17th | Christchurch South | Independent Liberal | |
1911–1914 | 18th | Christchurch South | Liberal | |
1914–1919 | 19th | Christchurch South | Liberal |
Ell stood as a prohibitionist for a seat in the City of Christchurch electorate in 1896. He was unsuccessful, coming fifth in the three-member electorate,[1] but was elected as an Independent Liberal in the 1899 general election. He held the seat, and the subsequent seat of Christchurch South as an Independent, until the 1919 general election.[2] Ell stood for the Lyttelton electorate, which contained the Port Hills. He was defeated and did not win a seat in Parliament again.[3]
Ell was associated with the New Liberal Party in 1905.
As a Member of the House of Representatives, Ell spoke against the relaxation of liquor laws, the jailing of alcoholics and against gambling. He also successfully pushed for reform of New Zealand's mental health laws. He served briefly as Postmaster General in the Cabinet of Thomas Mackenzie.
The Summit Road rest houses
Ell is most remembered for his strong interest in recreation and conservation. From 1900 onwards, Ell pushed for the creation of a network of scenic reserves along Christchurch's Port Hills, linked by the Summit Road and with a network of rest-houses to allow travellers and walkers to refresh themselves. Three of these rest-houses, designed by architect Samuel Hurst Seager, were completed during Ell's lifetime: the Sign of the Bellbird, Sign of the Kiwi, and Sign of the Packhorse. The last, and grandest, the Sign of the Takahe, was not completed until long after Ell’s death, in 1949. All four houses were built of local stone, and designed to blend in with the landscape. The Sign of the Kiwi and Sign of the Takahe still function as commercial rest stops serving refreshments while the Sign of the Bellbird survives only as a shelter, but is still a useful stopping place for a picnic and the starting point for some short walks. The Sign of the Packhorse is managed by the Department of Conservation and used as a hut by trampers.
Quotes
- Ell's political philosophy was simple: "Our aim in life is to effect such social and economic reforms as will improve the lot of our fellow men and women".[4]
- As a parliamentarian, Ell was proud of his independent status. During his 1899 election campaign he maintained the view that: "a member might pledge himself to his constituents but never to a party".[5]
Harry Ell picture gallery | ||||||||||
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Notes
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 104.
- ↑ Ogilvie 2009, pp. 312–313.
- ↑ From a letter to George Fowlds dated 20 February 1900.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.: p.3.
References
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- Harry Ell and His Summit Road : a Biography of Henry George Ell by Lenore Oakley, published by Caxton Press 1960
Further reading
Works by Harry Ell
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Works about Harry Ell
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- Harry Ell and His Summit Road : a Biography of Henry George Ell by Lenore Oakley, published by Caxton Press 1960
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to [[commons:Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 506: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).|Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 506: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).]]. |
- Ell's DNZB Biography
- The Port Hills, Christchurch City Council
- Sign of the Packhorse, Department of Conservation
- Summitroadsociety.org, Summit Road Society
- Sign of the Kiwi and Sign of the Takahe, Christchurch City Libraries
New Zealand Parliament | ||
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Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Christchurch 1899–1905 Served alongside: Charles Lewis (1899–1901), William Whitehouse Collins (1899–1902), George John Smith (1901–1902), Thomas Davey and Tommy Taylor (1902–1905) |
Constituency abolished |
In abeyance
Title last held by
Westby Perceval |
Member of Parliament for Christchurch South 1905–1919 |
Succeeded by Ted Howard |
- Use dmy dates from August 2014
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- Independent MPs of New Zealand
- Christchurch City Councillors
- Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand
- New Zealand farmers
- New Zealand Liberal Party MPs
- New Zealand temperance activists
- 1862 births
- 1934 deaths
- New Zealand MPs for Christchurch electorates
- New Zealand conservationists
- Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
- Unsuccessful candidates in the New Zealand general election, 1896
- Unsuccessful candidates in the New Zealand general election, 1919
- Unsuccessful candidates in the New Zealand general election, 1925