Edgar Neale
Encyclopedia
Edgar Rollo Neale OBE JP
FPANZ FCIS
(1889–1960) was born in Nelson, New Zealand
on 24 October 1889. He was the Mayor and member of Parliament for Nelson, a strong supporter of the Nelson railway
, and a representative cricketer.
, Gloucestershire
, England
in the 1840s, settling in Auckland
. In the 1850s Gar's grandfather, John William Neale, moved to Nelson. Gar's father, Henry Neale, was born in Nelson and worked as a carpenter. Henry married Kate Bethwaite. Henry and Kate had two children; Gar (1889) and Gladys (1893).
and Nelson College
(1903–1905) where he took a general academic course. He became a part-time Master at the College (1920–1932), teaching Commercial Practice. He was Secretary of the Nelson College Old Boys Association (1921–1935), and its President (1938–1947). He also served on the Colleges Board of Governors.
During his stay in Blenheim
(1915–1919), Neale completed his accountancy diplomas.
Returning to Nelson from Blenheim in 1920, he went into partnership with J E Milner as a public accountant
, audit
or, and secretary
. The firm later became E R Neale and Son, when his son joined him.
, the daughter of Henry Bruce Parsonage and Ellen Penn on 26 December 1911. They had four sons.
His sister, Gladys Neale, married Howard Knight.
After Florence died in 1954, Neale married Rata Forbes in 1957.
Central School 100 yard and 220 yard running races. Although not placed he appears to have had an interest in sports from an early age.
He was a sportsman of reasonable skill playing representative cricket (1904–1945) for Nelson
and Marlborough, hockey
(1915–1926) for Marlborough, Nelson, and the South Island (1923), soccer (1905) for Nelson, and golf
(1937) for Nelson. He loved horse racing
and was Secretary of the Nelson Trotting Club from 1923 and the Nelson Jockey Club (1923–1949).
from 1904 while still at college aged 16 years. He first captained Nelson in 1910 when he was only 21 years old. By 1926 he had played 52 matches for Nelson including playing for the Hawke Cup
. He continued to represent Nelson until 1945, with a short break (1915–1920) playing representative cricket for Marlborough when he lived in Blenheim. During this period he was noted as "giving powerful help to Marlborough".
He represented Canterbury
(1921), the South Island (1922), and the New Zealand Minor Associations
(1921) in first class cricket. By 1928 Neale had made over 1,000 runs for his club. His statistics for representative cricket were 73 innings, 3 not outs, 201 highest score, 2,223 total runs, and 31.7 run average. He also achieved his highest score of 201 runs against Wellington during this period. In his cricketing career Neale amassed over 10,000 runs and took over 600 wickets. By 1938, having played cricket for 33 seasons, he had scored 45 centuries and eight double centuries. Altogether he had registered 25,000 runs and taken over 1000 wickets. He continued playing until circa 1951. Neale encouraged up and coming new players. An example of this was in 1948 when he, along with Jack Newman and Herb McGirr
, after a Newman Shield match against Nelson, encouraged Arthur Cresswell
to play for a major centre causing him to become a foundation player for the Central Districts
team.
He was also noted for his memory of cricket history and statistics.
In 1930 Neale was appointed as a Justice of the Peace
(JP).
In 1932 he, along with Arthur Rutland Edwards of Motueka
and George E Manson of Stoke
, was appointed to the Nelson Mortgagors' Liabilities Adjustment Commission under the Morgagors' Relief Amendment Act 1931 by the Minister of Justice, Hon J G Cobbe
. With a change of Government and legislation all three were reappointed under the Mortgagees and Lessees Rehabilitation Act 1936 by the Attorney-General Hon H G R Mason
. The purpose of the commissions was to assist the Supreme Court
in the adjustment of mortgages, a relief measure because of the great depression
.
In 1942, in his capacity as Mayor of Nelson, he was appointed a District Controller of Civil Defence for Nelson Marlborough under the Emergency Reserve Corp Regulations by the 1st Labour Government's
Minister of National Service, Hon Robert Semple
.
Neale, his son, and his grandson were all Secretaries of the Nelson Provincial Chamber of Commerce from 1920 to 1981. By 2008 the family had at least four generations of association with the Chamber of Commerce with his great granddaughter, Angela Hunter of Hunter Tourism Consultancy being a member. In recognition of this long association the Chamber made a special presentation to the family.
. He became Deputy Mayor in 1933 and Mayor from 1941 to 1946. He was awarded an OBE
in 1946 and the Coronation Medal
in 1953 for service to the community.
In 1946 he stood as the National Party
candidate for Nelson
and was elected, replacing legendary Harry Atmore
, an independent MP who had held the seat for 30 years.
In his maiden speech
on 9 July 1947 Neale stated that he had entered Parliament with "a deep sense of responsibility and with some humility". He went on to say "I will try to remember that the other fellow has a right to his own opinion" and quoted from Rudyard Kipling
s poem If
.
He was a Parliamentary Under Secretary from 1950–1954, but stepped down from this position due a prolonged periods of illness. Neale was apparently so ill that he was unable to campaign during the 1951 election and yet increased his majority. This prompted a telegram from the Sir Thomas Clifton Webb
, Attorney-General
that stated "apparently it was better to lie in bed than lie on the platform".
For a number of years he was the Chairman of Parliaments Public Accounts Committee.
In 1956 he together with Hon Sir Thomas Lachlan MacDonald, Minister of External Affairs
, and the member of Parliament for Ponsonby
, Ritchie Macdonald
, represented the New Zealand government at General Committee meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
in Jamaica
.
He represented the Nelson
electorate from 1946 to 1957, when he retired.
, and extending it to link with the South Island system. However this was against National policy, and in 1954 Minister of Railways
William Goosman
announced the suspension of the Nelson-Glenhope line, and a five-year programme of accelerated road development.
As a result of submissions from Neale, who was supported by the Nelson Progress League, the closure was deferred to allow time for the League to attempt to increase rail use. The League made some progress but insufficient to reach the levels required. The Government announced that the line would therefore be closed.
On 17 September 1955 the Nelson Progress League held a protest rally. Neale, as MP for Nelson, was one of the speakers. Also speaking at the protest were Clarence Skinner
, MP for Buller
, and Walter Nash
, then Leader of the Labour Party. As a protest on 20 September 1955 Neale crossed the floor at Parliament on one occasion and voted with the oppostion.
It may have been through this turbulent time that he forged a friendship with Mabel Howard
, a famous Labour MP. Her bibliographer noted that he was one off a few gentlemanly National MPs who were close friends with her.
Neale gave his valedictory speech on 25 October 1957. His obituary later stated that Neale was "noted for his sincerity of address" (in parliament).
He died after a period of illness in Nelson, New Zealand
on 25 July 1960. On that same day the Nelson Progressive League was pressing the then Labour government
to reinstate the Nelson Railway.
That same day Neale died, the National Party
was holding its conference. Members of the party passed a resolution of sympathy and condolence by standing in silence.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
FPANZ FCIS
Chartered Secretaries New Zealand
Chartered Secretaries New Zealand is the New Zealand division of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators . ICSA International is an international professional body with 44,000 members worldwide. It was founded in England in 1891 and granted its Royal Charter in 1902...
(1889–1960) was born in Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
on 24 October 1889. He was the Mayor and member of Parliament for Nelson, a strong supporter of the Nelson railway
Nelson Section
The Nelson Section was an isolated, gauge, government-owned railway line between Nelson and Glenhope in the Tasman district of New Zealand's South Island. It operated for years between 1876 and 1955...
, and a representative cricketer.
Background
Gar Neale's great grandfather and family migrated to New Zealand from StroudStroud, Gloucestershire
Stroud is a market town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England. It is the main town in Stroud District.Situated below the western escarpment of the Cotswold Hills at the meeting point of the Five Valleys, the town is noted for its steep streets and cafe culture...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the 1840s, settling in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. In the 1850s Gar's grandfather, John William Neale, moved to Nelson. Gar's father, Henry Neale, was born in Nelson and worked as a carpenter. Henry married Kate Bethwaite. Henry and Kate had two children; Gar (1889) and Gladys (1893).
Education
Neale was educated at Nelson Central SchoolNelson Central School
Nelson Central School is a state primary contributing school located in the inner city of Nelson at the top of the South Island of New Zealand teaching children of both genders aged 5 to 11 years....
and Nelson College
Nelson College
Nelson College is a boys-only state secondary school in Nelson, New Zealand. It teaches from years 9 to 13. In addition, it runs a private Preparatory School for year 7 and 8 boys...
(1903–1905) where he took a general academic course. He became a part-time Master at the College (1920–1932), teaching Commercial Practice. He was Secretary of the Nelson College Old Boys Association (1921–1935), and its President (1938–1947). He also served on the Colleges Board of Governors.
During his stay in Blenheim
Blenheim, New Zealand
Blenheim is the most populous town in the region of Marlborough, in the north east of the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the regional council. It has a population of The area which surrounds the town is well known as a centre of New Zealand's wine industry...
(1915–1919), Neale completed his accountancy diplomas.
Career
Neale was first employed as a law clerk with Maginnity and Son (later Maginnity, Samuel and Hunter). About 1911 he transferred to Adams and Harley as an accounts clerk. From 1915 to 1919 he was employed by Griffiths Brothers Limited in Blenheim.Returning to Nelson from Blenheim in 1920, he went into partnership with J E Milner as a public accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
, audit
Audit
The general definition of an audit is an evaluation of a person, organization, system, process, enterprise, project or product. The term most commonly refers to audits in accounting, but similar concepts also exist in project management, quality management, and energy conservation.- Accounting...
or, and secretary
Chartered Secretaries New Zealand
Chartered Secretaries New Zealand is the New Zealand division of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators . ICSA International is an international professional body with 44,000 members worldwide. It was founded in England in 1891 and granted its Royal Charter in 1902...
. The firm later became E R Neale and Son, when his son joined him.
Family
Neale married Florence Myrtle Parsonage CBECBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
, the daughter of Henry Bruce Parsonage and Ellen Penn on 26 December 1911. They had four sons.
His sister, Gladys Neale, married Howard Knight.
After Florence died in 1954, Neale married Rata Forbes in 1957.
Residences
Neale purchased 241 Bridge Street, Nelson in the late 1920s from the Tilyard family. The two storey wooden home had been built in the early 1900s. The Neale's named the home Green Gables and lived there until about the time his first wife, Florence, died in 1954. In 1957 the house was onsold to Presbytarian Support Services and became a rest home. Neale moved to a new home in Moana Avenue on the Port Hills overlooking Tahuna Beach where he resided until his death.Sport
In 1902 he was reported as participating in the Nelson Athletic and Cycling Club Labour WeekendLabour Day
Labour Day or Labor Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for...
Central School 100 yard and 220 yard running races. Although not placed he appears to have had an interest in sports from an early age.
He was a sportsman of reasonable skill playing representative cricket (1904–1945) for Nelson
Nelson Cricket Club
Nelson Cricket Club, based at Seedhill in Nelson, Lancashire, are a cricket club in the Lancashire League. They play at the Seedhill ground in Nelson. Their captain for the 2011 season is Thomas Lord and their professional is New Zealand international player Luke Woodcock.Nelson Cricket Club was...
and Marlborough, hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
(1915–1926) for Marlborough, Nelson, and the South Island (1923), soccer (1905) for Nelson, and golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
(1937) for Nelson. He loved horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and was Secretary of the Nelson Trotting Club from 1923 and the Nelson Jockey Club (1923–1949).
Cricket
Neale represented Nelson in cricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
from 1904 while still at college aged 16 years. He first captained Nelson in 1910 when he was only 21 years old. By 1926 he had played 52 matches for Nelson including playing for the Hawke Cup
Hawke Cup
The Hawke Cup is a cricket competition for New Zealand's District Associations. Apart from 1910/11, 1912/13 and 2000/01 the competition has always been on a challenge basis. In order to win the Hawke Cup the challenger must beat the holder on their home ground...
. He continued to represent Nelson until 1945, with a short break (1915–1920) playing representative cricket for Marlborough when he lived in Blenheim. During this period he was noted as "giving powerful help to Marlborough".
He represented Canterbury
Canterbury Wizards
The Canterbury Wizards are a New Zealand first class cricket team based in Canterbury, New Zealand. It is one of six teams that make up New Zealand Cricket and has been the most successful domestic team in New Zealand history...
(1921), the South Island (1922), and the New Zealand Minor Associations
Minor Associations cricket team
The Minor Associations cricket team, representing the Minor Associations in New Zealand, has appeared once at first-class level, playing against the touring Australians at the Basin Reserve in March 1921, losing by an innings and 6 runs...
(1921) in first class cricket. By 1928 Neale had made over 1,000 runs for his club. His statistics for representative cricket were 73 innings, 3 not outs, 201 highest score, 2,223 total runs, and 31.7 run average. He also achieved his highest score of 201 runs against Wellington during this period. In his cricketing career Neale amassed over 10,000 runs and took over 600 wickets. By 1938, having played cricket for 33 seasons, he had scored 45 centuries and eight double centuries. Altogether he had registered 25,000 runs and taken over 1000 wickets. He continued playing until circa 1951. Neale encouraged up and coming new players. An example of this was in 1948 when he, along with Jack Newman and Herb McGirr
Herb McGirr
Herbert Mendelson McGirr was a New Zealand cricketer who played in two Tests in 1930.An all-rounder who had almost 20 years of first-class cricket with Wellington, McGirr was a middle or lower order batsman who hit the ball hard and a steady medium-paced bowler...
, after a Newman Shield match against Nelson, encouraged Arthur Cresswell
Arthur Cresswell
Arthur Edward Cresswell was a New Zealand cricketer who played for Wellington and was one of the first players who played for Central Districts in the early 1950s. He was the younger brother of Fen Cresswell....
to play for a major centre causing him to become a foundation player for the Central Districts
Central Districts Stags
The Central Districts Stags are a New Zealand first class cricket team based in central New Zealand. It competes in the State Championship first class competition and the State Shield domestic one day competition...
team.
He was also noted for his memory of cricket history and statistics.
Public service
Neale assisted on a number of organisations: Nelson Provincial Chamber of Commerce Secretary (1920–1955), Nelson Automobile Association (Secretary 1923–?), Nelson Progress League (1923–?), Municipal Association of New Zealand (President 1947–1948), Cawthorn Institute (Board member representing the Nelson City Council 1943–?, Secretary 1946), National Patriotic Fund (1941–?), and the New Zealand Road Safety Council (1947–?).In 1930 Neale was appointed as a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(JP).
In 1932 he, along with Arthur Rutland Edwards of Motueka
Motueka
The town of Motueka in the South Island of New Zealand lies close to the mouth of the Motueka River, on the western shore of Tasman Bay. It is, after Nelson and Richmond, the third largest centre in the Tasman Region, with a population of 7125...
and George E Manson of Stoke
Stoke, New Zealand
Stoke is one of the suburbs of Nelson, New Zealand. It lies between Richmond and Tahunanui. Stoke has a population of around 7000. Stoke was voted 'Keep New Zealand Beautiful Peoples Choice Best Place in New Zealand' in 2010.-Main attractions:...
, was appointed to the Nelson Mortgagors' Liabilities Adjustment Commission under the Morgagors' Relief Amendment Act 1931 by the Minister of Justice, Hon J G Cobbe
John Cobbe
John George Cobbe was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party, United Party and the National Party. He was born in Ireland, and arrived in New Zealand in 1886....
. With a change of Government and legislation all three were reappointed under the Mortgagees and Lessees Rehabilitation Act 1936 by the Attorney-General Hon H G R Mason
Rex Mason
Henry Greathead Rex Mason was a New Zealand politician. He served as Attorney General, Minister of Justice, Minister of Education, and Minister of Native Affairs, and had a significant influence on the direction of the Labour Party...
. The purpose of the commissions was to assist the Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
in the adjustment of mortgages, a relief measure because of the great depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
In 1942, in his capacity as Mayor of Nelson, he was appointed a District Controller of Civil Defence for Nelson Marlborough under the Emergency Reserve Corp Regulations by the 1st Labour Government's
First Labour Government of New Zealand
The First Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1935 to 1949. It set the tone of New Zealand's economic and welfare policies until the 1980s, establishing a welfare state, a system of Keynesian economic management, and high levels of state intervention...
Minister of National Service, Hon Robert Semple
Bob Semple
Robert "Bob" Semple was a union leader and later Minister of Public Works for the first Labour Government of New Zealand....
.
Neale, his son, and his grandson were all Secretaries of the Nelson Provincial Chamber of Commerce from 1920 to 1981. By 2008 the family had at least four generations of association with the Chamber of Commerce with his great granddaughter, Angela Hunter of Hunter Tourism Consultancy being a member. In recognition of this long association the Chamber made a special presentation to the family.
Political career
In 1925 he was elected to the Nelson City CouncilNelson City Council
Nelson City Council is a Unitary Authority that administers the Nelson Tasman or "Top of the South" region alongside Tasman District Council. Nelson City Council is one of only five Unitary Authorities in the country...
. He became Deputy Mayor in 1933 and Mayor from 1941 to 1946. He was awarded an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1946 and the Coronation Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to...
in 1953 for service to the community.
In 1946 he stood as the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
candidate for Nelson
Nelson (New Zealand electorate)
Nelson is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. From 1853 to 1860, the electorate was called Town of Nelson. From 1860 to 1881, it was City of Nelson...
and was elected, replacing legendary Harry Atmore
Harry Atmore
Harry Atmore was a New Zealand Independent Member of Parliament for Nelson in the South Island.Harry Atmore held the Nelson seat as an Independent for a total of thirty years from 1911 to 1914 and then from 1919 to his death in 1946...
, an independent MP who had held the seat for 30 years.
In his maiden speech
Maiden speech
A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament.Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country...
on 9 July 1947 Neale stated that he had entered Parliament with "a deep sense of responsibility and with some humility". He went on to say "I will try to remember that the other fellow has a right to his own opinion" and quoted from Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
s poem If
If—
"If—" is a poem written in 1895 by British Nobel laureate Rudyard Kipling. It was first published in the "Brother Square Toes" chapter of Rewards and Fairies, Kipling's 1910 collection of short stories and poems...
.
He was a Parliamentary Under Secretary from 1950–1954, but stepped down from this position due a prolonged periods of illness. Neale was apparently so ill that he was unable to campaign during the 1951 election and yet increased his majority. This prompted a telegram from the Sir Thomas Clifton Webb
Thomas Clifton Webb
Sir Thomas Clifton Webb KCMG was a New Zealand politician and diplomat. He was born in Te Kopuru in the Kaipara District, studied at Auckland University College, and practised law in Dargaville. He was in the army from 1917-1919, then returned to his practice in Dargaville and was a borough...
, Attorney-General
Attorney-General (New Zealand)
The Attorney-General is a political office in New Zealand. It is simultaneously a ministerial position and an administrative office, and has responsibility for supervising New Zealand law and advising the government on legal matters...
that stated "apparently it was better to lie in bed than lie on the platform".
For a number of years he was the Chairman of Parliaments Public Accounts Committee.
In 1956 he together with Hon Sir Thomas Lachlan MacDonald, Minister of External Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs is a major ministerial portfolio in the government of New Zealand.The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Murray McCully, who was National Party Spokeperson of Foreign Affairs and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs. There are also Associate Minister roles...
, and the member of Parliament for Ponsonby
Ponsonby (New Zealand electorate)
Ponsonby was a parliamentary electorate in Auckland, New Zealand from 1887 to 1890 and from 1946 to 1963.The electorate was represented by two Members of Parliament: Thomas Peacock from 1887 to 1890 and Ritchie Macdonald from 1946 to 1963.The electorate was based on the suburb of...
, Ritchie Macdonald
Ritchie Macdonald
Ritchie Macdonald was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.-Personal life:He was born in Scotland, and died in Auckland aged 90...
, represented the New Zealand government at General Committee meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, previously known as the Empire Parliamentary Association, is an organisation, of British origin, which works to support good governance, democracy and human rights...
in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
.
Results for the Nelson Electorate by Election
| Election | National | Labour | Majority |
| 1946 | 52.10% | 47.90% | 585 |
| 1949 | 54.40% | 45.60% | 1,373 |
| 1951 | 58.80% | 41.20% | 2,831 |
| 1954 | 45.70% | 41.00% | 717 |
He represented the Nelson
Nelson (New Zealand electorate)
Nelson is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. From 1853 to 1860, the electorate was called Town of Nelson. From 1860 to 1881, it was City of Nelson...
electorate from 1946 to 1957, when he retired.
Battle to save the Nelson Railway
Neale was a strong supporter of the Nelson railway lineNelson Section
The Nelson Section was an isolated, gauge, government-owned railway line between Nelson and Glenhope in the Tasman district of New Zealand's South Island. It operated for years between 1876 and 1955...
, and extending it to link with the South Island system. However this was against National policy, and in 1954 Minister of Railways
Minister of Railways (New Zealand)
The Minister of Railways was the minister in the government responsible for the New Zealand Railways Department 1895–1981, the New Zealand Railways Corporation 1981–1993, and New Zealand Rail Limited 1990–1993...
William Goosman
William Goosman
Sir William Stanley Goosman, KCMG was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.He was the Member of Parliament for Waikato 1938-46, Piako 1946-54, Waipa 1954-57, then Piako again 1957-63, when he retired....
announced the suspension of the Nelson-Glenhope line, and a five-year programme of accelerated road development.
As a result of submissions from Neale, who was supported by the Nelson Progress League, the closure was deferred to allow time for the League to attempt to increase rail use. The League made some progress but insufficient to reach the levels required. The Government announced that the line would therefore be closed.
On 17 September 1955 the Nelson Progress League held a protest rally. Neale, as MP for Nelson, was one of the speakers. Also speaking at the protest were Clarence Skinner
Clarence Skinner (politician)
Clarence Farrington Skinner, MC, was a Labour politician from New Zealand, former Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and a Minister 1943 – 1949 and 1957 – 1960 in the First and Second Labour governments.-Personal information:Skinner was in the New Zealand Army in the Middle East in World War...
, MP for Buller
Buller (New Zealand electorate)
Buller is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, from 1871 to 1972.-History:Early members for Buller were:*Eugene O'Conor from 1871 to 1875 and again from 1884 to 1893 *Joseph Henry from 1876 to 1879...
, and Walter Nash
Walter Nash
Sir Walter Nash, GCMG, CH served as the 27th Prime Minister of New Zealand in the Second Labour Government from 1957 to 1960, and was also highly influential in his role as Minister of Finance...
, then Leader of the Labour Party. As a protest on 20 September 1955 Neale crossed the floor at Parliament on one occasion and voted with the oppostion.
It may have been through this turbulent time that he forged a friendship with Mabel Howard
Mabel Howard
|-...
, a famous Labour MP. Her bibliographer noted that he was one off a few gentlemanly National MPs who were close friends with her.
Neale gave his valedictory speech on 25 October 1957. His obituary later stated that Neale was "noted for his sincerity of address" (in parliament).
He died after a period of illness in Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
on 25 July 1960. On that same day the Nelson Progressive League was pressing the then Labour government
Second Labour Government of New Zealand
The Second Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1957 to 1960. It was most notable for raising taxes on alcohol, cigarettes and petrol, a move which was probably responsible for the government lasting for only one term....
to reinstate the Nelson Railway.
That same day Neale died, the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
was holding its conference. Members of the party passed a resolution of sympathy and condolence by standing in silence.