Henry Michel | |
|---|---|
 Michel in 1913 | |
| Born | 1855 |
| Died | 4 March 1930(1930-03-04) (aged 74–75) |
Henry Leslie Michel (1855 – 4 March 1930) wasMayor of Hokitika for several years, and served on theNew Zealand Legislative Council from 1918 until his death. He had stood for theNew Zealand Parliament on four occasions, in later years for theReform Party, but was unsuccessful.
Michel was born inNewcastle, New South Wales, and came to New Zealand as a boy. He settled inHokitika and received his education at Scott's Academy. He joined the merchant firm of Paterson & Co, in which he became a partner (the firm then known as Paterson, Michel & Co) and later managing director.[1]
Michel was first elected to the Hokitika Borough Council in 1885. He was a member of the borough council for 25 years, and wasMayor of Hokitika for a total of 16 years spread over various periods starting in 1886.[1] He served on various other local boards.[2][3] Starting in 1900, he was the driving force behind theHokitika Clock Tower; it was unveiled in June 1903.[4]
Michel received a requisition to stand for Parliament in the1887 election, but he declined.[2]
UponRichard Seddon's death, he contested the resulting1906 by-election in theWestland electorate, but was defeated by Seddon's sonTom Seddon.[2] He unsuccessfully stood against Seddon two more times, in1908, and in1911 for theReform Party, when he was defeated in thefirst ballot.[5][6] After the death of SirArthur Guinness, he contested theGrey electorate in the resulting1913 by-election. Of three candidates, he came first in the first ballot.[7] In the second ballot, the unsuccessfulLiberal Party supportedPaddy Webb of theSocial Democratic Party, and Webb was elected.[8]
Michel was a member of the Legislative Council from 7 May 1918 to 6 May 1925, and then from 7 May 1925 to 4 March 1930, when he died. He was appointed by theReform Government.[9]
He was buried inHokitika Cemetery.[10]
