Joseph Auty Harley[1][2] OBE (1895–1973) Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1947 to 1956. Harley was the son of C R Harley and born on 29 September 1895. He was educated at Hampton Street Primary School and attended Nelson College from 1910 to 1912. After college has was apprenticed to Anchor Foundary in Nelson.
During World War I he enlisted in the New Zealand Army and served as a Lieutenant in New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He was wounded twice, once on 16 September 1916 in the Somme and again on 14 May 1918.[3][4] Returning to New Zealand he joined his families brewing business.
Harley married Hilda Condell in 1920 and they had three children, two sons and a daughter.
In 1945 his family merged their brewing business with Dobson's breweries and Harley became the Managing Director of the new companies; Nelson Breweries Limited, Nelson Hotels Limited, Accommodation Nelson Limited, and Hotel Investments Limited.
He was awarded the OBE in 1953 and died at Nelson on 26 September 1973.
In 1936 Harley was elected as a City Councillor and became Mayor in 1947 when Edgar Neale was elected to Parliament. He remained in office until 1956 when he was succeeded by Stanley Russell.
Harley was Vice President of the Municipal Association of New Zealand, South Island Local Bodies Association, and Nelson College Old Boys Association; Chairman of the Nelson-West Coast League of Local Bodies; President of the Brewers Association of New Zealand, Nelson Historical Committee, Rotary Nelson, and the Nelson Branch of the Institute of Horticulture; and Patron of the Nelson Civic Music Council, and Nelson Power Boat Club.
He was also a member of the Cawthron Trust, Nelson Progress Association, Pelorous Scenic Board, Able Tasman Park Board, and Nelson Housing Commission.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Edgar Neale |
Mayor of Nelson | Succeeded by Stanley Russell |