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James Hay (philanthropist)

April 27, 2024

Sir James Lawrence Hay OBE (17 May 1888 – 26 March 1971) was a New Zealand businessman, local politician and philanthropist.

Early life and family edit

James Hay was born in Lawrence, South Otago, New Zealand, on 17 May 1888 to Scottish parents, Isabella McLean and her blacksmith husband, William Hay. William Hay was killed in an accident when James was aged 7. He received his education at Lawrence District High School, until age 13 when he left school to support his family. He worked for drapers in rural Otago and South Canterbury and eventually joined J. Ballantyne and Co, Christchurch's leading department store then moved to management in Beath's.[1] His brother was judge and Lower Hutt mayor Ernst Peterson Hay.[2]

Hay married Davidina Mertel Gunn, a New Zealand Nurse, in England in 1917 while running YMCA support services for 20,000 New Zealand Division troops in the Middle East and Europe. He stayed with YMCA after the war as their general secretary then took his organising ability to Ballantyne's in 1925.[1]

Hay's department store edit

Hay joined an Auckland manufacturer and wholesaler to create an entirely new Christchurch retail outlet. They built a new store at the remote end of Gloucester Street and opened it in 1929. Hay's organising skills and flair for publicity, elephants were hired to advertise a sale, helped the new store become profitable but in 1933 in the Great Depression the Auckland parent company collapsed. He managed to find enough financial support to buy out the former parent and raise the capital to pay for it by public subscription. Branches were opened in Otago and the West Coast. Hay's built Christchurch's first shopping centre in Upper Riccarton in 1960 and Northlands in 1970. Haywrights, the nation's second largest department store chain, was the result of a merger with stock and station agents Wright Stephenson & Co. Haywrights is now Farmers.[1]

Local politics and community activities edit

Hay was first elected onto Christchurch City Council in the 1944 local election.[3] He served until 1953, when he unsuccessfully challenged the incumbent mayor, Robert Macfarlane, for the mayoralty.[1][4] When an incorporated society, Town Hall Promotion Inc., was formed for the promotion of a Christchurch Town Hall, he became its first president.[5]

Death and legacy edit

Hay died on 26 March 1971 at his home in Christchurch,[1] and was buried in Waimairi Cemetery.[6] The town hall was opened some 18 months after his death, and the second largest performance space was named the James Hay Theatre in his honour.[7] His son, Hamish Hay, was later the Christchurch mayor for 15 years.[1]

Honours edit

Hay was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire as of 1 January 1918 for services as Young Men's Christian Association secretary to the New Zealand Division in Egypt and France,[8] and was promoted to Officer of the same order in the 1918 King's Birthday Honours only a few months later in connection with the same work.[9] In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal,[10] and in the 1961 Queen's Birthday Honours he was appointed a Knight Bachelor for civic and charitable services.[11]

In 2000, Hay was posthumously inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.[12]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Rice, Geoffrey W. "James Lawrence Hay". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  2. ^ "Appointment of New Judge". The Press. Vol. LXXXIV, no. 25686. 24 December 1948. p. 8.
  3. ^ . Christchurch: Christchurch City Council. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  4. ^ Hay 1989, p. 49.
  5. ^ Hay 1989, p. 48.
  6. ^ "Cemeteries database results detail". Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  7. ^ Hay 1989, pp. 56f.
  8. ^ "No. 30576". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 March 1918. p. 3289.
  9. ^ "No. 30730". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 June 1918. p. 6703.
  10. ^ "Official jubilee medals". Evening Post. Vol. CXIX, no. 105. 6 May 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  11. ^ "No. 42372". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 10 June 1961. p. 4183.
  12. ^ "Past laureates". Business Hall of Fame. Retrieved 19 February 2023.

References edit

April 27, 2024
james, philanthropist, james, lawrence, 1888, march, 1971, zealand, businessman, local, politician, philanthropist, contents, early, life, family, department, store, local, politics, community, activities, death, legacy, honours, notes, referencesearly, life, . Sir James Lawrence Hay OBE 17 May 1888 26 March 1971 was a New Zealand businessman local politician and philanthropist Contents 1 Early life and family 2 Hay s department store 3 Local politics and community activities 4 Death and legacy 5 Honours 6 Notes 7 ReferencesEarly life and family editJames Hay was born in Lawrence South Otago New Zealand on 17 May 1888 to Scottish parents Isabella McLean and her blacksmith husband William Hay William Hay was killed in an accident when James was aged 7 He received his education at Lawrence District High School until age 13 when he left school to support his family He worked for drapers in rural Otago and South Canterbury and eventually joined J Ballantyne and Co Christchurch s leading department store then moved to management in Beath s 1 His brother was judge and Lower Hutt mayor Ernst Peterson Hay 2 Hay married Davidina Mertel Gunn a New Zealand Nurse in England in 1917 while running YMCA support services for 20 000 New Zealand Division troops in the Middle East and Europe He stayed with YMCA after the war as their general secretary then took his organising ability to Ballantyne s in 1925 1 Hay s department store editHay joined an Auckland manufacturer and wholesaler to create an entirely new Christchurch retail outlet They built a new store at the remote end of Gloucester Street and opened it in 1929 Hay s organising skills and flair for publicity elephants were hired to advertise a sale helped the new store become profitable but in 1933 in the Great Depression the Auckland parent company collapsed He managed to find enough financial support to buy out the former parent and raise the capital to pay for it by public subscription Branches were opened in Otago and the West Coast Hay s built Christchurch s first shopping centre in Upper Riccarton in 1960 and Northlands in 1970 Haywrights the nation s second largest department store chain was the result of a merger with stock and station agents Wright Stephenson amp Co Haywrights is now Farmers 1 Local politics and community activities editHay was first elected onto Christchurch City Council in the 1944 local election 3 He served until 1953 when he unsuccessfully challenged the incumbent mayor Robert Macfarlane for the mayoralty 1 4 When an incorporated society Town Hall Promotion Inc was formed for the promotion of a Christchurch Town Hall he became its first president 5 Death and legacy editHay died on 26 March 1971 at his home in Christchurch 1 and was buried in Waimairi Cemetery 6 The town hall was opened some 18 months after his death and the second largest performance space was named the James Hay Theatre in his honour 7 His son Hamish Hay was later the Christchurch mayor for 15 years 1 Honours editHay was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire as of 1 January 1918 for services as Young Men s Christian Association secretary to the New Zealand Division in Egypt and France 8 and was promoted to Officer of the same order in the 1918 King s Birthday Honours only a few months later in connection with the same work 9 In 1935 he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal 10 and in the 1961 Queen s Birthday Honours he was appointed a Knight Bachelor for civic and charitable services 11 In 2000 Hay was posthumously inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame 12 Notes edit a b c d e f Rice Geoffrey W James Lawrence Hay Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Ministry for Culture and Heritage Retrieved 5 February 2012 Appointment of New Judge The Press Vol LXXXIV no 25686 24 December 1948 p 8 Councillors of the City of Christchurch Christchurch Christchurch City Council Archived from the original on 20 July 2011 Retrieved 25 April 2013 Hay 1989 p 49 Hay 1989 p 48 Cemeteries database results detail Christchurch City Council Retrieved 22 February 2015 Hay 1989 pp 56f No 30576 The London Gazette Supplement 15 March 1918 p 3289 No 30730 The London Gazette Supplement 7 June 1918 p 6703 Official jubilee medals Evening Post Vol CXIX no 105 6 May 1935 p 4 Retrieved 22 February 2015 No 42372 The London Gazette 3rd supplement 10 June 1961 p 4183 Past laureates Business Hall of Fame Retrieved 19 February 2023 References editHay Hamish 1989 Hay Days Christchurch Caxton Press ISBN 0908563310 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Hay philanthropist amp oldid 1205287322, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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