Arthur Myers

Sir Arthur Mielziner Myers (19 May 1868 – 9 October 1926) was a New Zealand politician. He was Mayor of Auckland from 1905 to 1909, Member of the House of Representatives from 1910 to 1921, and a Cabinet Minister. Today he is remembered mainly for the public works constructed in Auckland during his term as Mayor, and partly from his donations, including Grafton Bridge and Myers Park.

Early life

Myers was born in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, the child of Louis Myers and Catherine Ehrenfried, a Jewish couple. Following the death of Arthur's father in 1870, Catherine moved to Wellington, New Zealand. Arthur went to Wellington College from 1880 to 1883. His main sporting interests were rowing and swimming. The family moved to Auckland in 1886, where his uncle, Louis Ehrenfried had moved the family brewing business from Thames. Later, in 1897, the successful brewery was combined with that of John Logan Campbell to form "Campbell and Ehrenfried". An able administrator and already something of a financial wizard at the age of 30, Myers became Managing Director of the merged company following the death of his uncle Louis Ehrenfried in 1897. [http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=3M66 Myers, Arthur Mielziner] (from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography website. Accessed 2008-03-02.)]

In 1903 Arthur journeyed to London to marry Vera Anita Levy who he had met two years before. She was the daughter of Benjamin Levy, one of the owners of a large British business empire with interests in Australia. Married in London, they returned to New Zealand, where Vera became a well-known hostess and patron of the local cultural scene. It was her who encouraged Arthur to eventually run for public office.

Public life

Arthur ran for and succeeded in becoming Mayor of Auckland for the term 1905 to 1909. He improved the finances of the city administration, improved services such as the water supply and drainage. The construction of the new Auckland Town Hall was largely due to his efforts, as was the new Grafton Bridge across Grafton Gully. Myers Park, located between Karangahape Road and Mayoral Drive, is named after him, as in 1913 he donated £10,000 to develop the previously overgrown gully into a child-friendly park and to build the adjacent 'Myers Free Kindergarten' (still operating in the same heritage building). One of his few major failures was an unsuccessful attempt to reduce the plethora of local Councils then governing the Auckland Isthmus. Nevertheless, he had become known as a popular and effective politician.

Active in the volunteer defence movement, he served as major in the 1st Battalion Auckland Infantry Volunteers and as commanding officer, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, of the New Zealand Forces Motor Service Corps.

After a break from politics for a world tour, he entered Parliament in the 1910 Auckland East by-election, replacing his cousin Frederick Baume and won comfortably. He held his seat until 3 October 1921 when he resigned between general elections. Initially he was an Independent and then from 1911 he stood for the New Zealand Liberal Party.

In the short-lived Mackenzie Ministry of 28 March to 10 July 1912 he held three important portfolios; Finance, Defence, Railways, also the Tax Department. From 12 August 1915 to 25 August 1919 he served as Minister of Customs and Minister in charge of Munitions and Supplies, Pensions, Advertising and National Provident Fund during the wartime National (coalition) Ministry, where the gained much acclaim for his efficiency and impartiality. In 1924 he was knighted for services to his country.

Deciding to leave politics - as he had no wish for a long period of opposition for his party - he left politics in 1921, and also left New Zealand, as he had promised his wife at the time of their wedding that they would eventually return to London where she had grown up. The departure was seen a great loss by many locals. Active for the National Bank of New Zealand, he otherwise led a semi-retired life and took up golf. He died in London in 1926 to the effects of a series of heart attacks. He was survived by his children and his wife Vera.

Mayoral terms

References

*"The Myers" by Paul Goldsmith & Michael Bassett (2007, David Ling Pub. Auckland) ISBN 9781877378133