BELL, ALLEN (1870-1936) was born in Canterbury and educated there, and as a young man he worked as a bushman until he saved enough money to buy a bush section. In 1895 he enlisted in the Bechuanaland Mounted Police and he served throughout the Matabele war in the Chartered Company's forces. He afterwards worked as a surveyor in South Africa, served in the Boer war (including the relief of Mafeking) and returned to New Zealand in 1902. He became a dairy farmer at Hamilton, and was prominent in farmers' organisations and a member of the Waipa county council and the Hamilton borough council. In 1914 he moved to the far north, and thereafter strongly advocated the needs of that district. Bell was elected M.P. for Bay of Islands (1922) as an independent, but in the next Parliament supported the Massey Government. Defeated by Rushworth in 1928, he contested the seat again in 1931. He was a founder of the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral association and a first director of the Waikato Dairy Co. (1912), president of the North Auckland development board, and of the Kaitaia chamber of commerce and Dairy Co. He edited the Northland Age and founded the Northlander. His death occurred on 14 Oct 1936.

Who's Who N.Z., 1932; N.Z. Herald, 16 Oct 1936. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 44

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