Norman Harold Moss
Encyclopedia
Norman Harold Moss OBE (1896-1974) was mayor of Stratford, New Zealand
from 1947-1957.
in 1896 and educated at Wellington College
. After leaving college he was the first New Zealander to be employed in the Commercial Bank of Australia
when it opened in Wellington
in 1912.
At 20 he resigned to join the Medical Corps and served in England and France during World War I
.
Having started to study for the law before the war, he decided to resume this profession on his return and he qualified in law in 1923, practising in Hawera
and Eltham
before moving to Stratford.
He married Rita Kathleen (née
Grubb) in 1926.
He was also a member of the Stratford Hospital Board, President of the Stratford Racing Club for six years and a foundation member of the Rotary Club of Stratford. During World War II, he became Chief Controller of the Emergency Precautions Scheme in Central Taranaki. He was president of the Municipal Association of New Zealand from 1951-1957.
He served as President of the Taranaki District Law Society and also as a member of the New Zealand Law Society
.
He was the honorary solicitor to the Plunket Society
Advisory Board in Stratford for over thirty years.
County Council and Stratford County Council in 1955.
A highlight during his term as mayor was accompanying Elizabeth II and her consort the Duke of Edinburgh
along their walkabout in Stratford during the Royal Visit in January 1954. Enthusiasm for the young monarch was high and her walkabout along the main street (Broadway) flanked by people was said to be the first of its kind in New Zealand.
He was appointed to the local Government Commission in April 1957,due to having special knowledge of urban local government. He resigned from mayoral duties at that time.
When a local reporter questioned how he was able to fit in the vast array of community and professional commitments Norman Harold replied,
"I suppose a man develops the capacity to get to the point fairly quickly and I'm lucky to be blessed with a good memory. If I read anything, I've got it."
for his services in 1954 and retired to Oakura
, New Plymouth
where he died in 1974.
His wife Rita and one son Winston predeceased him and he was survived by his son John Barrie (d.2007).
Stratford, New Zealand
Stratford is the only town in the central Taranaki district of Stratford District, New Zealand. It lies beneath the eastern slopes of Mount Taranaki/Egmont, approximately half-way between New Plymouth and Hawera, near the geographic centre of the Taranaki region. The town has a population of...
from 1947-1957.
Early years
He was born in DunedinDunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
in 1896 and educated at Wellington College
Wellington College (New Zealand)
Wellington College is a state secondary school for boys in Mount Victoria in Wellington, New Zealand.-History:Wellington College opened in 1867 as Wellington Grammar School in Woodward Street, though Sir George Grey gave the school a deed of endowment in 1853. In 1874 it opened at its present...
. After leaving college he was the first New Zealander to be employed in the Commercial Bank of Australia
Commercial Bank of Australia
The Commercial Bank of Australia was an Australian retail bank which merged into the Bank of New South Wales bank in 1982, to form Westpac...
when it opened in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
in 1912.
At 20 he resigned to join the Medical Corps and served in England and France during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Having started to study for the law before the war, he decided to resume this profession on his return and he qualified in law in 1923, practising in Hawera
Hawera
Hawera is the second-largest town in the Taranaki region of New Zealand's North Island, with a population of . It is near the coast of the South Taranaki Bight, 75 kilometres south of New Plymouth on State Highway 3 and 20 minutes' drive from Mount Taranaki/Egmont.It is also on State Highway 45,...
and Eltham
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
before moving to Stratford.
He married Rita Kathleen (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Grubb) in 1926.
Community involvement
He made his first venture into local body life when he was elected to the Taranaki Electric Power Board in 1929, serving on the board for twelve years, the last three as chairman.He was also a member of the Stratford Hospital Board, President of the Stratford Racing Club for six years and a foundation member of the Rotary Club of Stratford. During World War II, he became Chief Controller of the Emergency Precautions Scheme in Central Taranaki. He was president of the Municipal Association of New Zealand from 1951-1957.
Professional life
In his profession he enjoyed the common law side in which he specialised. Living in a farming district it was natural that much of his practice was associated with the primary industry and some of his legal battles in this line were fought against New Zealand's leading counsel. The best known is what came to be called 'the dip and drip case' concerning the accurate testing of milk for butterfat content.He served as President of the Taranaki District Law Society and also as a member of the New Zealand Law Society
New Zealand Law Society
The New Zealand Law Society is the parent body for barristers and solicitors in New Zealand. It was established in 1869, and regulates all lawyers practising in New Zealand...
.
He was the honorary solicitor to the Plunket Society
Plunket Society
The Royal New Zealand Plunket Society is an incorporated society in New Zealand which provides a range of health services to healthy babies and young children...
Advisory Board in Stratford for over thirty years.
Mayoralty
During his time as mayor he was heavily involved in planning for the overdue upgrade of the town's facilities and infrastructure. N H Moss was a member of the first National Roads Board and took a prominent role in the merger of the WhangamomonaWhangamomona
Whangamomona is a small township in the Stratford District and Manawatu-Wanganui Region in New Zealand. It lies on State Highway 43, the Lost World Highway north-east of Stratford and south-west of Ohura. By rail it is from Stratford on the Stratford-Okahukura railway line.- History :The first...
County Council and Stratford County Council in 1955.
Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh is a British royal title, named after the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, which has been conferred upon members of the British royal family only four times times since its creation in 1726...
along their walkabout in Stratford during the Royal Visit in January 1954. Enthusiasm for the young monarch was high and her walkabout along the main street (Broadway) flanked by people was said to be the first of its kind in New Zealand.
He was appointed to the local Government Commission in April 1957,due to having special knowledge of urban local government. He resigned from mayoral duties at that time.
Quotes
Upon his announcement of retirement from mayoral duties, all members of the council spoke and paid tribute to Mr and Mrs Moss. One came from Councillor Peterson, referring in particular to the dignified manner in which the Mayor and Mayoress had carried out their duties on the occasion of the visit to Stratford of Her Majesty , Queen Elizabeth 11 and His Royal Highness, The Duke Of Edinburgh.When a local reporter questioned how he was able to fit in the vast array of community and professional commitments Norman Harold replied,
"I suppose a man develops the capacity to get to the point fairly quickly and I'm lucky to be blessed with a good memory. If I read anything, I've got it."
Later life
He was awarded the OBEOrder 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...
for his services in 1954 and retired to Oakura
Oakura
Oakura is a small township in Taranaki, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 45, 15 kilometres south-west of New Plymouth. Okato is 12 km further south-west. The Oakura River flows past the town and into the North Taranaki Bight...
, New Plymouth
New Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
where he died in 1974.
His wife Rita and one son Winston predeceased him and he was survived by his son John Barrie (d.2007).