Introduction
Sir George Manning CMG (11 February 1887 – 29 December 1976) was Mayor of Christchurch from 1958 to October 1968, when he retired. He served a total of 34 years on the Christchurch City Council.
Early life
Manning was born in Gowerton, Wales, on 11 February 1887. He was the son of Richard Manning (steelworker) and Sarah Davies. Together with a friend, he emigrated to Christchurch in 1910. He married Scottish-born Sarah Edith Willmore at the Trinity Congregational Church, Christchurch Central City, on 11 October 1923.
Political life
Councillor
Manning stood unsuccessfully for Christchurch City Council in 1917 and 1919 as a Labour Party candidate. In 1920, he got offered a position as organising secretary of the Canterbury WEA on the condition that he abstained from political office. This restriction was lifted in 1925. He served WEA from February 1921 to 1948.
He was elected onto Christchurch City Council in 1927 and served one term until 1929. He was again successful in a 1936 by-election and served a continuous 32 years, first as councillor (until 1958) and then mayor. In 1945, there was an undertaking to widen Burnside Road that connected the city with the aerodrome in Harewood and dedicate it as a memorial to fallen airmen. As Burwood Road was located outside of the city boundary, being the responsibility of Waimairi and Paparua county councils, Manning opposed the city council financing much of the proposal, but the scheme went ahead and the road is today known as Memorial Avenue.
Mayor of Christchurch
Manning served as Deputy Mayor from 1950 to 1958, and was elected as Mayor in 1958. In the 1968 election, he did not stand as a candidate again.
National politics
Manning stood for the Labour Party in the 1943 election in the Christchurch North electorate, but lost against Sidney Holland. He then contested the St Albans electorate in the 1949 election, but was unsuccessful against Jack Watts.
Later life
In the 1960 Queen's Birthday Honours Manning was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for services to education and local government. He was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the 1967 Queen's Birthday Honours. For his contributions to adult education, the University of Canterbury awarded him an honorary doctorate (LLD) in 1972. He died in Christchurch on 29 December 1976, survived by his wife and their son. His wife died in 1998.