Charles H. Mills | |
---|---|
Minister of Customs | |
In office 29 October 1900 – 6 August 1906 | |
Prime Minister | Richard Seddon William Hall-Jones |
Preceded by | Richard Seddon |
Succeeded by | Alexander Hogg |
Personal details | |
Born | 1843 Nelson, New Zealand |
Died | 3 April 1923 New Zealand | (aged 79–80)
Nationality | Blenheim, New Zealand |
Political party | Liberal |
Spouse |
Margaret Morrison (m. 1871) |
Relations | Haddon Donald (great-grandson)[1] |
Charles Houghton Mills (1843 – 3 April 1923) was a member of parliament for Waimea and Wairau, in the South Island of New Zealand.
Mills was born in Nelson.[2] His father was Richard Mills, who arrived in Nelson in 1841 on the Lord Auckland.[3] The family moved to Wellington in the early 1850s, where his father was Governor of the gaol, and where Charles Mills was educated.[3][4] He was a pupil teacher at Te Aro school.[4] He went to sea for some years, and then worked in mining and farming.[3] Later, Mills was a commission agent.[2]
Mills settled in Havelock in 1871 and married Margaret, a daughter of John Morrison, in the same year.[3][5]
Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1890–1893 | 11th | Waimea-Picton | Liberal | ||
1893–1896 | 12th | Waimea-Sounds | Liberal | ||
1896–1899 | 13th | Wairau | Liberal | ||
1899–1902 | 14th | Wairau | Liberal | ||
1902–1905 | 15th | Wairau | Liberal | ||
1905–1908 | 16th | Wairau | Liberal |
The 1887 general election in the Waimea-Picton electorate was contested by Arthur Seymour, Joseph Harkness and Mills, who received 446, 444 and 415 votes, respectively. Seymour was thus elected.[6]
The 1890 general election in the Waimea-Picton electorate was contested by Mills, Richmond Hursthouse and William Henry Phillips, who received 936, 728 and 80 votes, respectively.[7] Mills was thus elected and represented the electorate until the end of the term in 1893. He then represented the successor electorates of Waimea-Sounds (1893–1896) and Wairau (1896–1908) in the New Zealand House of Representatives.[8] The 1896 general election was contested by the incumbent Lindsay Buick and Mills, who received 2014 and 2072 votes, respectively. Mills thus succeeded Buick in Wairau.[9]
Mills served as the Liberal Party's Senior Whip from 1894 until his elevation to cabinet in 1900.[10] He was Minister of Trade and Customs between 1900 and 1906 and Minister of Immigration in 1906.[8]
He was a member of the Provincial Council and Marlborough County Council, and of the Legislative Council between 1909 and 1916.[11]
Mills died on 3 April 1923 and was buried at Omaka Cemetery, Blenheim.[4][12] He was survived by his wife.[4]