Harry Ell

The Honourable Henry George (Harry) Ell MP
Harry Ell in October 1914
Christchurch City councillor
In office 1903–1903
In office 1917–1919
Member of Parliament for City of Christchurch electorate
In office 1899–1905
Preceded by	George John Smith
Succeeded by	electorate discontinued
Member of Parliament for Christchurch South
In office 1905–1919
Preceded by	new electorate
Succeeded by	Ted Howard
Personal details
Born	24 September 1862 Christchurch
Died	27 June 1934 (aged 71) Christchurch
Nationality	New Zealand
Political party	Independent Liberal
Other political affiliations	New Liberal Party
Spouse(s)	Adelaide Eleanor Gee

Henry George Ell (probably 24 September 1862 – 27 June 1934), commonly known as Harry Ell, was a Christchurch City councillor and a New Zealand Member of Parliament. He is famous for his conservation work around Christchurch's Port Hills, his advocacy for the Summit Road, and his construction of the Sign of the Takahe and other road houses along the Summit Road.

Early years

Ell was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and grew up on his father's farm in Halswell. As a teenager he worked at the Canterbury Museum, then as a farm hand. Between 1881 and 1884 he was a member of the Armed Constabulary in Taranaki, where he participated in the destruction of Parihaka. This experience turned him into a stern critic of the race-relations policies of the time.

Ell was a Christchurch City councillor in 1903 and then again between 1917 and 1919. He was a member of the Knights of Labour and the Canterbury Liberal Association.

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1899–1902	14th	City of Christchurch		Independent Liberal
1902–1905	15th	City of Christchurch		Liberal
1905–1908	16th	Christchurch South		New Liberal
1908–1911	17th	Christchurch South		Independent Liberal
1911–1914	18th	Christchurch South		Liberal
1914–1919	19th	Christchurch South		Liberal

Ell stood as a prohibitionist for a seat in the City of Christchurch electorate in 1896. He was unsuccessful, coming fifth in the three-member electorate,^[1] but was elected as an Independent Liberal in the 1899 general election. He held the seat, and the subsequent seat of Christchurch South as an Independent, until the 1919 general election.^[2] Ell stood for the Lyttelton electorate, which contained the Port Hills. He was defeated and did not win a seat in Parliament again.^[3]

Ell was associated with the New Liberal Party in 1905.

As a Member of the House of Representatives, Ell spoke against the relaxation of liquor laws, the jailing of alcoholics and against gambling. He also successfully pushed for reform of New Zealand's mental health laws. He served briefly as Postmaster General in the Cabinet of Thomas Mackenzie.

The Summit Road rest houses

Ell is most remembered for his strong interest in recreation and conservation. From 1900 onwards, Ell pushed for the creation of a network of scenic reserves along Christchurch's Port Hills, linked by the Summit Road and with a network of rest-houses to allow travellers and walkers to refresh themselves. Three of these rest-houses, designed by architect Samuel Hurst Seager, were completed during Ell's lifetime: the Sign of the Bellbird, Sign of the Kiwi, and Sign of the Packhorse. The last, and grandest, the Sign of the Takahe, was not completed until long after Ell’s death, in 1949. All four houses were built of local stone, and designed to blend in with the landscape. The Sign of the Kiwi and Sign of the Takahe still function as commercial rest stops serving refreshments while the Sign of the Bellbird survives only as a shelter, but is still a useful stopping place for a picnic and the starting point for some short walks. The Sign of the Packhorse is managed by the Department of Conservation and used as a hut by trampers.

Quotes

• Ell's political philosophy was simple: "Our aim in life is to effect such social and economic reforms as will improve the lot of our fellow men and women".^[4]
• As a parliamentarian, Ell was proud of his independent status. During his 1899 election campaign he maintained the view that: "a member might pledge himself to his constituents but never to a party".^[5]

Harry Ell picture gallery
The Sign of the Takahe, one of Ell's achievements  Plaque commemorating Harry Ell at the Sign of the Takahe  View of part of the Summit Road  Plinth of the Sign of the Kiwi, Dyers Pass, Port Hills, Christchurch  The partially restored ruins of the Sign of the Bellbird gallery

Notes

1. "Other Electorates". XXXI (284). Marlborough Express. 5 December 1896. p. 3. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
2. Scholefield 1950, p. 104.
3. Ogilvie 2009, pp. 312–313.
4. From a letter to George Fowlds dated 20 February 1900.
5. Christchurch Press, 2 November 1899 Missing or empty |title= (help): p.3.

References

• Ogilvie, Gordon (2009) [First ed. published 1978]. The Port Hills of Christchurch (2nd ed.). Christchurch: Phillips&King Publishers. ISBN 978-0-9583315-6-2.
• Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
• Harry Ell and His Summit Road : a Biography of Henry George Ell by Lenore Oakley, published by Caxton Press 1960

Further reading

Works by Harry Ell

• Ell, Henry George (1902), Mr. H. G. Ell’s views on some of the political questions of the day, Christchurch, [N.Z.]: H. G. Ell ; Willis & Aiken
• Ell, Henry George (1902), The will of the people through the initiative and referendum: the great need for legislative reform and how it can be met, Christchurch, [N.Z.]: Willis & Aiken
• Ell, Henry George (1905), A state bank for New Zealand with sole right of note issue, Christchurch, [N.Z.]: Willis & Aiken
• Ell, Henry George (1906), A state bank for New Zealand with sole right of note issue (2nd ed.), Christchurch, [N.Z.]: Willis & Aiken
• Ell, Henry George (1903), "Direct legislation in New Zealand", The Arena, Boston, [MA.]: 268–272
• Ell, Henry George (27 April 1912), "Old Porirua taniwhas and whales", Evening Post (Wellington, [N.Z.]) n.p.
• Ell, Henry George (1923), The Summit Road (the Port Hills-Akaroa Summit Road): progress report, Christchurch, [N.Z.]: H. G. Ell
• Ell, Henry George (1924), Port Hills-Akaroa Summit Road Trust, Christchurch, [N.Z.]: H. G. Ell
• Ell, Henry George (1925), [Letters and newspaper items critical of the New Zealand Labour Party and Russia], Christchurch, [N.Z.]: Lyttelton Times
• Ell, Henry George (1929), The Port Hills - Akaroa Summit Road: and history of the Summit Road Trust, how and why it was formed, Christchurch, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Newspapers, Printers
• Ell, Henry George; et al. (1934), Port Hills-Akaroa Summit Road: some early history and guide, Christchurch, [N.Z.]: Port Hills-Akaroa Summit Road Public Trust

Works about Harry Ell

• Brown, Rob (2002), "A heart for the hills", New Zealand Geographic (60): 76–95
• Dingwall, P. R. (1981), "Harry Ell's vision in nature conservation", Landscape, 10: 23–27
• Johns, Geraldine (2006), "'Ell of a job", Heritage New Zealand (100): 8–12
• Pawson, Eric, Ell, Henry George 1862-1934, Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 22 June 2007, retrieved 2008-05-10
• Roche, M. M. (1981), "Securing representative areas of New Zealand's environment: some historical and design perspectives", New Zealand Geographer, 37 (2): 73–77, doi:10.1111/j.1745-7939.1981.tb00955.x
• Whitcher, G. F. (1966), The New Liberal Party 1905 [M.A.(Hons.) - University of Canterbury]
• Wood, G. Antony (ed.) (1996), Ministers and Members in the New Zealand Parliament, Dunedin, [N.Z.]: Otago University Press, ISBN 1-877133-00-0

• Harry Ell and His Summit Road : a Biography of Henry George Ell by Lenore Oakley, published by Caxton Press 1960

External links

• Ell's DNZB Biography
• The Port Hills, Christchurch City Council
• Sign of the Packhorse, Department of Conservation
• Summitroadsociety.org, Summit Road Society
• Sign of the Kiwi and Sign of the Takahe, Christchurch City Libraries