Interview with Colin and Ella McLeod

Ella Mcleod describes family background; childhood, particularly discipline, religion, education, alcohol, smoking, health; education at Karori Primary School and Wellington Girls College; employment, reference New Zealand Insurance Co; nursing training; nursing at Wellington Hospital; describes doing public speaking course - shyness; development of relationship with Colin.

Colin McLeod recalls family background; father's work with the Public Works Department; childhood: discipline, religion, alcohol, smoking, music, reading, sport; education; enjoyment of school; memorable teachers at Canterbury University, Professor J E L Culls (?); practical work for degree; background to employment in design office of Public Works Department; service during World War II, work on coastal defences, army service in 6th Field Company ending war in Trieste, Italy, benefits of war experience, reaction to return to civilian life.

Recalls work as engineer at Mangakino (1948 - 1960); salary at start; first house; J T Gilkison as project engineer; training; sense of community; describes Mangakino; workers' union; Householders' Association; reference to YMCA; Waikato Hydro Welfare Association; staff housing; social hierarchy; reference to Arnold Clark (?), Jim Macky, Bill Bell; first impressions; early feelings of Ella McLeod; importance of tunnellers; artificial nature of settlement; power shortages post World War II; shortage of labour; immigrant workers.

Ella McLeod describes making own entertainment; harsh climate; cinema; babysitting system; clubs; community involvement; the infective hepatitis epidemic (1957); childbirth; lack of major health problems in community; few deaths; giving lectures to St John Ambulance, Red Cross.

Colin Mcleod discusses worker turnover; single men's camps; strikes; the volunteer fire brigade; Maori integration and comparison of standards of living between Maori and Pakeha; details first strike before arrival; co-operative contracts for engineers; tactics of workers' union; details second strike in 1951; impact on women; fatal accident on Waipapa Dam and union reaction; union loyalties.

Both discuss political feelings; Ella McLeod's membership of Wellington Hospital Board since 1974 and her public awards; her enjoyment of leadership roles; the effect of going to United States on both their lives; circumstances of Ella's appointment as JP in Mangakino.

Colin Mcleod recalls trauma involved when Maraetai II was closed down in 1960; procedures for rendering site safe.

Colin describes work as District Commissioner of Works, Hamilton (1964 - 1966); learning how the Department worked at district level; reference to P L Laing (Commissioner of Works, 1965 - 1969); involvement with local authorities; details of the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship, 1966; work as Director, National Water and Soil Conservation Authority (1966 - 1971); reference to Water Polution Act, 1954; finding ways of issuing water rights; Water Allocation Council, reference to Chairman, Percy Allen; colleagues, Gordon Walker and Don McGill; work as Commissioner of Works (1973 - 1981); planning of Albany Development, Auckland; role; duties; ministers worked under; strain of job as Commissioner.

Access Contact - see oral history librarian

Venue - Wellington

Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe

Venue - Mr and Mrs McLeod's home at 8 Astor Street, Karori, Wellington

Accompanying material - Copies of two brief typed CVs; Copy of brief biography of Colin McLeod in Notable New Zealanders, p 311; Copy of brief biography of Colin McLeod in Who's who, 1979, p 187.

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-001859 - OHC-001862

Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3.30 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 287.

Black and white photographs of:-. Colin McLeod, 1988. Ella McLeod, 1988. Ella and Colin McLeod, Christmas 1964

Search dates: 1921 - 1988

Alternative form available: An online copy of the abstract is also available to read in the Library's Reading Room