Hocken Digital Collections

Webber, Cyril Ernie Richard : Papers

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Reference NumberMS-3333CreatorWebber, Cyril Ernie Richard, 1905-1983DescriptionThe collection includes over one hundred scrapbooks or 'Maero Journals', compiled by Webber. These relate to a wide range of subjects, including travel and personal and business interests. The collection includes papers relating to the companies Webber directed, correspondence (mostly business but some personal), a few early diaries, a large collection of newspaper clippings books, publications, photographs and film.
Only a small part of this collection is digitised and available through Digital Collections. Information about other items can be found on the Hākena catalogue, through the Library Catalogues link above.History / BiographyCyril Ernie Richard Webber, known as Ernie, was born in Dunedin on 7 December 1905. His parents were Margaret, 'Peg', Webber (nee Jones), and Frederick Webber, a Railways Maintenance Department employee.
Webber was educated at Rangataua School and Otago Boys' High School, and at the University of Otago, where he studied Economics and Arts subjects. He worked for the Trustees Executors and Agency Company in Dunedin, where he became Manager of Mortgage Securities.
Webber left Dunedin about 1934, and was involved with the McArthur Investment Trust and other business ventures in Auckland. He later moved to Sydney, where in 1938 he co-founded the Industrial Banking Corporation. In 1939 Webber became the business partner of the arms dealer Francis Arthur Sutton in Hong Kong and mainland China. Webber escaped Hong Kong before it fell to the Japanese in 1941. Sutton died in a prisoner of war camp in 1944.
In the 1940s Webber pursued business interests in India, Ceylon, and other Asian countries, and unsuccessfully attempted to establish a bank. He returned to New Zealand in 1947, when his father died. He then settled in Auckland, where he set up the Intercity group of companies. These included Stamp Investments Limited, and companies involved in large-scale logging and milling operations. Webber also had business interests in Fiji.
A gay man, Webber was in a long-term relationship from the late 1940s through to 1956. In 1957 he was convicted of 'homosexual offences', and sentenced to three years imprisonment. The trial was reported extensively in 'New Zealand Truth'. Webber was further investigated for fraud and conspiracy, and this led to the liquidation of the Intercity companies and further criminal convictions in 1960. Webber was released from Mount Eden Prison in 1962.
Webber wrote short stories, novels, and accounts of his own experiences (some fictionalised). These included 'Aslan - A Strange Indian Love Story' and 'De Profundis for Today'. None of these works were published. Webber also assisted Bert Pimley, in his unsuccessful efforts to publish 'The Rock Orchid', a fictionalised account of life inside Mount Eden Prison.
Following his release from prison, Webber returned to business interests, including the Industrial Banking Corporation and Guardian Concrete Products Limited.
Webber had many hobbies and interests. He was an enthusiastic tramper in his youth, and organised many trips with his friends, describing the group as the 'Maero' (a name he also applied to himself).He was a lifelong railway enthusiast and book collector. His other interests included Maori history and tikanga, travel, yachting, and entertaining. Cars owned by him included a Rolls Royce, and a Jaguar he named 'The Wicked Lady'.
Webber moved to Dunedin in the early 1970s, and died there on 15 August 1983. He left his estate, including his large collection of railway books, to the University of Otago Library. Webber was an Associate Member of the Hocken Library from 1964.

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Ernie Webber

Depicts Or Relates To

SubjectsBusinessBusinesspeopleForests and ForestryNew Zealand - Description and travelBooks - Collectors and collectingPostage stamps - Collectors and collectingRailwaysAuthorsGay menHomosexuality - New ZealandPrisons

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Webber, Cyril Ernie Richard : Papers

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