George Manning (politician)

Sir George Manning CMG
George Manning in 1950
39th Mayor of Christchurch
In office 1958–1968
Preceded by	Robert Macfarlane
Succeeded by	Ron Guthrey
Personal details
Born	(1887-02-11)11 February 1887 Gowerton, Wales
Died	29 December 1976(1976-12-29) (aged 89) Christchurch, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Spouse(s)	Sarah Edith Willmore (m. 1923)
Children	one son

Sir George Manning CMG (11 February 1887 – 29 December 1976) was Mayor of Christchurch from 1958 to October 1968, when he retired.^[1] He served a total of 34 years on the Christchurch City Council.^[2]

Early life

Manning was born in Gowerton, 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.^[3]

Political life

Councillor

Manning stood unsuccessfully for Christchurch City Council 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.^[3]

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.^[3]

Mayor of Christchurch

Manning served as Deputy Mayor from 1950 to 1958, and was elected as Mayor in 1958.^[1] In the 1968 election, he did not stand as a candidate again.^[3]

National politics

Manning stood for the Labour Party 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.^[3]

Later life

In the 1960 Queen's Birthday Honours Manning was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for services to education and local government.^[4] He was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the 1967 Queen's Birthday Honours.^[5] For his contributions to adult education, the University of Canterbury 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.^[3]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to George Manning (politician).

Mayors of Christchurch
Chairman	John Hall John Ollivier Isaac Luck Edward Bishop William Wilson
Mayors	elected by councillors William Wilson John Anderson Andrew Duncan James Jameson Henry Sawtell Edward Bishop Michael Hart Fred Hobbs elected at large Fred Hobbs James Gapes Henry Thomson Charles Thomas Ick James Gapes (2nd) George Ruddenklau Charles Hulbert Aaron Ayers Charles Louisson Samuel Manning Charles Gray William Prudhoe Eden George Thomas Gapes Walter Cooper Harry Joseph Beswick Walter Cooper (2nd) Charles Louisson (2nd) William Reece Arthur Rhodes Henry Wigram Charles Mathew Gray (2nd) John Hall George Payling Charles Allison Thomas Taylor John Joseph Dougall1 Henry Holland Henry Thacker James Arthur Flesher Rev John Archer Dan Sullivan John Beanland Robert Macfarlane Ernest Andrews Robert Macfarlane (2nd) George Manning Ron Guthrey Neville Pickering Hamish Hay Vicki Buck Garry Moore Bob Parker Lianne Dalziel
Mayoral elections	annual term 1875† 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882† 1883 1884† 1885† 1886 1887† 1888† 1889† 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897† 1898† 1899† 1901† 1902† 1903† 1904† 1905 1906† 1907† 1908 1909 1910† 1911 1912 1913 1914 biennial term 1915 1917 1919 1921 1923 1925 1927 1929 1931 1933 triennial term 1935 1936‡ 1938 1941 1944 1947 1950 1953 1956 1958‡ 1959 1962 1965 1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
† Elected unopposed · ‡ By-election · 1 appointed following death of incumbent