Sir Ernest Hyam Davies (1872 – 1962) was a New Zealand businessman, and was Mayor of Auckland City, New Zealand from 1935 to 1941. He was also on other Auckland local bodies (Fire Board, Hospital Board, Drainage Board) and on various philanthropic and sporting organisations. He was Mayor of Newmarket (a small inner-Auckland borough) 1909-10.
He was born in Nelson, and attended Bishops School Nelson and Auckland Grammar School. He was in the brewing industry; W Macarthur & Co, and later became managing director of Hancock & Co. In 1923 New Zealand Breweries was formed. He was a brewery baron for half a century and a master tactician against the Prohibition movement.
A millionaire who from 1912 until his death was a very generous financial supporter of the Labour Party. ... A ruthless businessman, benefactor of worthy causes, and with an eye for the opposite sex. Savage’s employer for most of the period 1908-19 (Gustafson page 279). He also employed John A. Lee to manage the Palace Hotel in Rotorua from 1929 to 1931 after he lost his seat in Parliament.
Sir Ernest Davis was the owner of the Grand Hotel Auckland from the death of his father in 1910 until 1962 when he died himself. Davis had collected a large amount of Victorian paintings which hung in the hotel until its closure in 1966 when leased by Hancock & Co. Ltd from the Ara Masonic Lodge.
He was also a racehorse owner and yachtsman. He was knighted in 1937.