View source for Garnet Mackley

{{Short description|New Zealand politician (1883–1986)}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = Garnet Mackley
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|CMG|size=100%}}
| image       = Garnet Hercules Mackley.jpg
| alt         =
| caption     =
| birth_name  = Garnet Hercules Mackley
| birth_date  = {{birth date|df=yes|1883|12|9}}
| birth_place = [[Port Chalmers]], New Zealand
| death_date  = {{death date and age|df=yes|1986|4|24|1883|12|9}}
| death_place =
| other_names =
| known_for   =
| occupation  = Businessman, railways manager, politician
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
'''Garnet Hercules Mackley''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|CMG|size=85%}} (9 December 1883 &ndash; 24 April 1986) was a New Zealand businessman, railways manager and politician.

==Career==
Mackley was born in [[Port Chalmers]].<ref name="DNZB Mackley">{{DNZB|last=Bellamy|first=Alan|id=5m21|title=Mackley, Garnet Hercules|accessdate=5 January 2012}}</ref> He became general manager of [[New Zealand Railways Department|New Zealand Railways]] in 1933. During his tenure, Mackley worked hard to improve the standard and range of services provided by the railways. He won approval<ref name="DNZB Mackley"/> for the construction of an inspection car known as the [[NZR RM class (Red Terror)|"Red Terror"]] in which he travelled the entire system inspecting stations and meeting staff.<ref name="NZRM_9(6)">{{cite journal|last1=General Manager's Message|title=Railway Progress in New Zealand|journal=The New Zealand Railways Magazine|date=1 September 1934|volume=9|issue=6|page=8}} Published: New Zealand Government Railways Department, Wellington</ref> The car's success encouraged him to order the construction of [[railcar]]s that were to serve the railways for many years, specifically the [[NZR RM class (Leyland diesel)|Midland]], [[NZR RM class (Wairarapa)|Wairarapa]], [[NZR RM class (Standard)|Standard]], and [[NZR RM class (Vulcan)|Vulcan]] classes.

He also wanted to improve the comfort of passengers and initiated a local building programme which provided the basis of passenger carriage stock for many years.

In the [[1938 New Year Honours (New Zealand)|1938 New Year Honours]], Mackley was appointed a [[Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19380103.2.32 |title=Honours list: new year awards |date=3 January 1938 |work=New Zealand Herald |page=8 |access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref> In 1940 he retired,<ref name="NZRM_14(11)">{{cite journal|last1=Headlight|title=After Forty Years – Retirement of Mr G. H. Mackley, C.M.G., – General Manager of Railways|journal=The New Zealand Railways Magazine|date=1 February 1940|volume=14|issue=11|page=9}} Published: New Zealand Government Railways Department, Wellington</ref> and was made managing director of the Whakatane Paper Mills.

== Member of Parliament ==
{{NZ parlbox header|nolist = true|align=left}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start={{NZ election link year|1943}}
 |end=1946
 |term=27th
 |electorate={{NZ electorate link|Masterton}}
 |party=New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start={{NZ election link year|1946}}
 |end=1949
 |term=28th
 |electorate={{NZ electorate link|Wairarapa}}
 |party=New Zealand National Party
}}
{{End}}
Mackley then entered politics, becoming a Member of Parliament for the [[New Zealand National Party]]. He was elected as the MP for [[Masterton (New Zealand electorate)|Masterton]] (1943–1946) and then for [[Wairarapa (New Zealand electorate)|Wairarapa]] (1946–1949), after which he retired.

In 1950 he was appointed to the [[New Zealand Legislative Council|Legislative Council]] by National, as a member of the so-called [[Suicide squad (New Zealand)|suicide squad]] charged with voting for the abolition of the Council (or Upper House).
{{clear}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book |last= Wilson |first= James Oakley |title= New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 |edition=  4th |orig-date=First published in 1913 |year= 1985 |publisher= V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |oclc=154283103 }}
*{{cite book |last = Gustafson |first = Barry |author-link= Barry Gustafson |title = The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party |year = 1986 |publisher = Reed Methuen |location = Auckland |isbn = 0-474-00177-6}}

==External links==
*[https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Gov11_01Rail-t1-body-d57.html Photos of Mackley and the ''Red Terror'' ]
*[http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Gov12_12Rail-t1-body-d2.html 1938 message as General Manager NZR]

{{s-start}}
{{s-par | nz}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Ben Roberts (politician)|Ben Roberts]]}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Wairarapa (New Zealand electorate)|Member of Parliament for Wairarapa]]| years=1946&ndash;1949}}
{{s-aft | after = [[Bert Cooksley]]}}
|-
{{s-bef | before = [[John Robertson (New Zealand politician, born 1875)|John Robertson]]}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Masterton (New Zealand electorate)|Member of Parliament for Masterton]]| years=1943&ndash;1946}}
{{s-non | reason = Seat abolished}}
{{end}}

{{Suicide squad (New Zealand)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mackley, Garnet}}
[[Category:1883 births]]
[[Category:1986 deaths]]
[[Category:New Zealand men centenarians]]
[[Category:New Zealand National Party MPs]]
[[Category:New Zealand public servants]]
[[Category:New Zealand people in rail transport]]
[[Category:Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council]]
[[Category:New Zealand National Party MLCs]]
[[Category:People from Port Chalmers]]
[[Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives]]
[[Category:New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates]]
[[Category:New Zealand Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George]]