Ernest Toop
| Ernest Toop CBE | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Wellington City Councillor | |
|
In office 1944–1956 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1895 Clifton, England |
| Died |
1976 Wellington, New Zealand |
| Political party | National |
| Spouse(s) |
Vera Wright (m.1925) Merle Gamble (m.1970) |
Ernest Richard Toop CBE (1895–1976) was a New Zealand politician and businessman.
Biography
Early life
Ernest Richard Toop was born in 1895. He became a merchant in Wellington starting his own company, becoming the managing director of the firm of Toop and Neilson, Ltd. He was the president of the Island Bay branch of the Returned Services' Association.[1]
Political career
Toop stood as the National Party's candidate for the seat of Wellington South in the 1943 general election. He came runner-up to Labour's Robert McKeen.[2] Toop was first elected to the Wellington City Council in 1944 on a Civic League ticket.[3] He would remain a councillor until 1956. He served as the Deputy Mayor from 1950 to 1956 under Robert Macalister. In 1956 Toop was elected to the Wellington Harbour Board. He served on the board for the next 18 years including 5 years as the chair from 1961 to 1966.[4]
In 1956 Toop became embroiled in a selection controversy. Under the impression that incumbent mayor Robert Macalister was not intending to seek a third term as Mayor, Toop applied to gain nomination as the right-leaning Citizens' Association's mayoral candidate. As the only applicant he was successful. However, Macalister intended to run again and thought that he, as the incumbent, held automatic nomination. Undeterred, Macalister ran for Mayor again in 1956 as an Independent which split the Citizens' vote enabling Labour's Frank Kitts to win the mayoralty.[5] Toop ran for Mayor again in 1959 in a two-horse race against Kitts, but was again unsuccessful.[6]
Death
Toop died in 1976. He was survived by his second wife.
Notes
- ↑ "General Election". Evening Post. CXXXVI (23). 27 July 1943. p. 3. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- ↑ "The General Election, 1943". National Library. 1944. pp. 1–12. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- ↑ "The City Council". Evening Post. CXXXII (125). 29 May 1944. p. 7. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- ↑ Johnson, David (1996). "Members and Officers of the Wellington Harbour Board, Appendix 1". Wellington Harbour. Wellington Maritime Museum Trust. p. 475. ISBN 0958349800.
- ↑ Betts 1970, pp. 157.
- ↑ Betts 1970, pp. 161.
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ernest Toop. |
- Betts, G.M. (1970). Betts on Wellington: A City and its Politics. Wellington: A. H. & A. W. Reed Ltd. ISBN 0 589 00469 7.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robert Macalister |
Deputy Mayor of Wellington 1950–1956 |
Succeeded by William Nankervis |