Background
Michel was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, and came to New Zealand as a boy.
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Henry Michel
Edit ProfileCareer
He had stood for the New Zealand Parliament on four occasions, in later years for the Reform Party, but was unsuccessful. He settled in Hokitika and received his education at Scott"s Academy. He joined the merchant firm of Paterson & Company, in which he became a partner (the firm then known as Paterson, Michel & Company) and later managing director
Michel was first elected to the Hokitika Borough Council in 1885.
He served on various other local boards. Michel received a requisition to stand for Parliament in the 1887 election, but he declined.
Upon Richard Seddon"s death, he contested the resulting 1906 by-election in the Westland electorate, but was defeated by Seddon"s son Tom Seddon. He unsuccessfully stood against Seddon two more times, in 1908, and in 1911 for the Reform Party, when he was defeated in the first ballot.
After the death of Sir Arthur Guinness, he contested the Grey electorate in the resulting 1913 by-election.
Of three candidates, he came first in the first ballot. In the second ballot, the unsuccessful Liberal Party supported Paddy Webb of the Social Democratic Party, and Webb was elected. He was appointed by the Reform Government.
He was buried in Hokitika Cemetery.
Membership
He was a member of the borough council for 25 years, and was Mayor of Hokitika for a total of 16 years spread over various periods starting in 1886. Michel was a member of the Legislative Council from 7 May 1918 to 6 May 1925, and then from 7 May 1925 to 4 March 1930, when he died.
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Born
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Died
March 4, 1930 (aged 75) -
Nationality
New Zealand -
Political Party
Reform Party