Frederick Norman Ambler was a pioneering New Zealand businessman in the clothing trade and a long serving local-body politician.
Biography
Early life
Ambler was born in Yorkshire, England in 1894 to Herbert Ambler. He emigrated with his family to Christchurch when he was 13 years old. He gained employment in the clothing industry at the Kaiapoi Woollen Mills. In 1917 he left for World War I as part of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He was seriously wounded in action and was returned to New Zealand. He married Helen Skelton in Christchurch in 1919.
Business career
Ambler began Ambler & Company Ltd in Browns Bay in 1919 after applying for assistance from the Patriotic Fund. A clothing manufacturer, it used mass production methodsfor the first time in New Zealand following a trip by Ambler to Canada where he brought back more modern machinery. The company was to make its name initially by producing men's pyjamas and distinguished itself with its slogan "No one ever regretted buying quality". He was involved in an early "buy New Zealand-made" advertising campaign and was a member of the Manufacturers Association, serving as its President in 1940–42. His son, Norman, replaced him as managing director of Ambler & Co in 1964.
Political career
In 1941 he stood on the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket for the Auckland City Council and was elected a member. He held a seat on the council for thirty years before he was finally defeated in 1971. In August 1954 he was disqualified from the council on a technicality, but was re-elected in October that year in the subsequent by-election. He served for many years as chairman of the Parks and Library committee and in 1957 he was appointed deputy-mayor following the election of Keith Buttle to the mayoralty. He remained deputy for five years until he was dropped from the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket ahead of the 1962 elections. Ambler was re-elected nonetheless as an independent candidate for a further three terms. He was also a member of the Auckland Harbour Bridge Authority, Auckland Drainage Board and was chairman of the St John Ambulance Association.
