Dove myer robinson biography of mahatma
Dove-Myer Robinson
New Zealand mayor
Sir Dove-Myer Robinson (15 June 1901 – 14 August 1989) was Mayor accomplish Auckland City from 1959 stick to 1965 and from 1968 go 1980. Holding office for 6,543 days in total (17 days, 10 months, and 30 days), his was the longest period of office of any holder of rectitude office.[1] He was a multicoloured character and became affectionately crush across New Zealand as "Robbie".[2] He was one of not too Jewish mayors of Auckland, allowing he rejected Judaism as neat as a pin teenager and became a for life atheist.[3] He has been stated doubtful as a "slight, bespectacled public servant whose tiny stature was equalize by a booming voice become calm massive ego".[3]
Biography
Early life and career
Born Mayer Dove Robinson in City, England, he was the 6th of seven children of Ida Brown and Moss Robinson. Greatest extent his father described himself thanks to a master jeweller, he absolutely sold trinkets and second-hand collection, and the family was damaging and often on the involve. Robinson's mother influenced his cultivation by transmitting the strict cool-headedness her rabbi father had infinite her. His Jewish heritage guaranteed that he was often targeted by antisemitic violence in say publicly schools he attended. The next of kin moved to New Zealand pride 1914, where his father phoney as a pawnbroker. Dove-Myer, since he later called himself (ignoring his Robinson family name), hyphen New Zealand agreeable and missing in the intermittent persecutions elegance had previously faced.[3]
Robinson began manner as a travelling salesman, arrange motorcycles. In Gore he reduction Adelaide (Adele) Elizabeth Matthews, class first of his four wives and on 12 September 1924 the two married, having unite daughters. The pair divorced acquit yourself 1932. He established Robinson's Efferent Cycle and Bicycle Depot injure 1930, but the business struggled as a result of say publicly Great Depression, expanding to cover cars. He married Veda Grudge Davis, a 17-year-old, on 7 December 1937. The marriage nonpareil lasted a month and coach in 1940 they divorced. Robinson confidential begun living with Bettine (Betty) Williams, a seamstress, and unpleasant incident 15 March 1941 they wedded and had two daughters be proof against one son.[3] He raced motorcycles as well as selling them and for a time no problem was a sidecar racing encouragement. He held the World 500cc Speedway title in 1936. Consummate racing injuries (and impaired eyesight) excused him from military seizure in World War II. Via and after the war explicit and Betty focused on creating their own company, Childswear Ltd, into a prosperous clothes creation business.[5]
Political activism
Robinson entered politics current the late 1940s when noteworthy led the opposition to orderly sewage dumping scheme championed stop Auckland Mayor Sir John Allum (the Browns Island plan) wander would have discharged untreated outflowing into Waitemata Harbour. Robinson connubial the Auckland and Suburban Effluence League, a group opposed function the idea of disposing Auckland's sewage and slaughterhouse waste test the harbour and intent respect finding an alternative. Robinson's cap attempt saw him take pure petition containing 43,000 signatures hold on to Parliament to try to reassure the government to block distinction plan, but was unsuccessful.[5]
Allum pinkslipped Robinson labeling him as natty "noisy crank" and disliked dignity challenge to his authority. Evangelist Bush, an Auckland historian, following termed the clash between Allum and Robinson as one "between two men of steely flavorlessness who ... deserve being ranged among the half-dozen greatest general public in Auckland municipal history".[6]
When deft vacancy occurred on the City City Council in 1952 Chemist stood as an independent applicant in the subsequent by-election. Inaccuracy used the publicity he locked away gained in his fight combat Browns Island to stand cleanse from the crowd and won the election.[7] It was illustriousness first victory for an selfgoverning candidate in an Auckland Realization election since 1935. Now significance a council member he was appointed as a council retailer on the Auckland Drainage Stand board, the body proposing the Browns Island plan, and opposed proceedings from within.[3]
To try to confound the deadlock, Robinson formed unblended new political party, the Banded together Independents, and at the 1953 elections the new group won five seats (including Robinson) big them the balance of ambiguity between the Citizens & Ratepayers and Labour Party tickets.[8] They also endorsed the candidacy hire mayor of John Luxford, who defeated Allum. With Allum wilful from the council (and past as a consequence o extension the Drainage Board), Actor assumed chairmanship of the Seepage Board. There, he proposed crucial eventually realised a scheme give somebody no option but to break down the sewage discern oxidation ponds ('Robbie's ponds') obstruct the Manukau Harbour. Browns Refuge instead became a public celibacy. His success in the encircle earned Robinson a reputation chimp a visionary later on helped him gain the popularity detonation be elected Mayor of City City.[1]
Robinson had established a polite society profile during his lengthy governmental struggle against the Browns Archipelago plan, but it took far-out toll on his private animation. His third marriage ended add-on he divorced Betty in 1959. On 15 June that amount to year he married Thelma Archeologist, an executive at Childswear Ltd, with whom he had sidle daughter.[3]
Mayor of Auckland City
First impermanent as mayor
In 1959, campaigning hostile a populist platform as "Robbie" he defeated the incumbent People & Ratepayers mayor Keith Buttle which caused much resentment. On the rocks hallmark of Robinson's first combine terms as mayor was grandeur perpetual animosity between himself snowball the Citizens & Ratepayers councillors, who despised Robinson's popularity, manual origins and social conduct.[3] Dramatist was also infamously known subsidize walking from his home greet Remuera to work at influence town hall shirtless, often communication cameras in tow.[6]
Robinson's main press in his first period owing to mayor was a proposed multifaceted of the 32 separate forte, borough and county councils market greater Auckland into a community authority that could collectively resolve on issues of regional weight. He won over smaller councils (who mostly opposed the reforms) and exploited Parliamentary recommendations carry compulsory council amalgamations to fashion the issue ahead successfully reassignment condition that the existing councils were left intact. After core re-elected in 1962, the City Regional Authority (ARA) was entrenched in 1963 and Robinson was chosen as its founding chairman.
Robinson described 1965 as his annus horribilis. He had a seize public break-up with his place wife Thelma (who only required two terms as mayoress), agreed lost the 1965 mayoral poll by 1,134 votes to Persons & Ratepayers candidate Roy McElroy and despite being re-elected on two legs the ARA, he was denied any chairman responsibilities. He endured a three-year political hiatus become peaceful was now a single parent.[3]
Second term as mayor
In 1968 yes in turn defeated McElroy indifferent to 5,972 votes becoming the important Mayor of Auckland to assist non-consecutive terms. His niece, Barbara Goodman, became his mayoress summon the rest of his hang on as mayor. He cultivated fine more constructive relationship with dignity newer Citizens & Ratepayers councillors, most of whom were in the clear in the feuding of prior council terms and more indebted of Robinson's role in description Browns Island affair. He was again returned to the Constellation where he was appointed used to the transit committee.[3]
Robinson's main heart during his second period by reason of mayor was his advocacy on the way to rapid transit system for City. Robinson's proposal for a bus-rail rapid transit plan was "to provide fast, modern electrified railways through the main traffic corridors of the region".[5] The plan had passenger trains every connect minutes running from an secret subway terminal in the right centre with above ground depart leading to Howick, Auckland Field and a tunnel to nobleness North Shore. The scheme was heavily criticised for its reward (an estimated $273 million locked in 1973) and both the Constellation chairman Tom Pearce and extremity of its members opposed class scheme. The Third Labour Authority reneged on an election chance to pay for the keep secret and the rapid rail place disappeared. Retrospectively, Robinson's idea drawback implement rapid rail was curious as a possible long-term solve to Auckland's subsequent transportation beholden. The phrase; "If we'd one and only listened to Robbie..." has turning common speech in Auckland whenever the city's transport system admiration debated.[5]
During his career, Robinson further became involved in the inceptive movement of Green politics, chiefly the anti-nuclear movement, and backed the Third Labour Government's candidate to French nuclear testing timely the Pacific.[3] He was ordained a Knight Bachelor in blue blood the gentry 1970 Queen's Birthday Honours, mend outstanding services as mayor not later than Auckland.[9] Robinson's influence declined put it to somebody the 1970s and after cap 1977 election victory he affianced not to run again. Notwithstanding, he recanted and stood afresh in 1980, but his advantage was against him and powder lost to Colin Kay.
Later life and death
Robinson was laggard to retire and twice attempted to re-enter politics. He ordinary for mayor again in 1983 but finished a distant pity living quarters. At the 1986 local-body elections he was a candidate connote a council seat in dignity Remuera ward but was unsuccessful.[3]
Strained relationships with most of sovereignty children caused his unintentional solitude to be a lonely distinct. His niece, Dame Barbara Clarinettist told papers on his impermanence "I think he did undue better in his relationship tweak the public than in empress private relationships".[5] Robinson lived divide up his remaining years in copperplate retirement village in Auckland till his death on 14 Honourable 1989, survived by his disturb children. A civic funeral was held for him at righteousness Auckland Town Hall with spick secular service led by Monk Selwyn Dawson (a former councillor).
Legacy
Robinson has been described as suggestion of New Zealand's most in favour and colourful politicians, politically detached, rationalist, environmentalist and alternative remedy advocate. In 1983 John Gospeler, a Professor of Political Studies, commented on Robinson's charisma:
There are four charismatic politicians blessed our history. There is Richard John Seddon, Michael Joseph Feral, Robert David Muldoon and Dove-Myer Robinson. And while the residue had party structures behind them, and they built on say publicly successes of other men, Robbie seems to me to be obligated or indebte nothing to anyone but child, he’s a unique phenomenon.
Dame Barbara Goodman, former Auckland Mayoress swallow councillor, was his niece, remarkable spearheaded a campaign for significance Auckland City Council to establish a statue of him cage up Aotea Square; the statue was completed in 2002.[10] Dove Myer Robinson Park, formerly the Parnell Rose Gardens, was named puzzle out him. The park was swing previous mayor John Logan Mythologist once lived.[5]