John Miles Verrall (1849 – 17 September 1921), also known as John Miles Verrell, was a 19th-century Member of Parliament in Canterbury, New Zealand. In his later years, he was known throughout the country as an advocate for a state bank.^[1]

Verrall was born in Lewes, Sussex, England, in 1849. He was a tenant farmer in his home country.^[2] He married Louisa Waters Aylwin, the daughter of John Aylwin, of Plumpton, Sussex.^[2][3] They emigrated to Queensland, Australia, in 1880, where he ran a cattle station with a partner. After a few years, he left his partner in charge of the cattle station and emigrated to New Zealand.^[2]

Verrall first settled in Ohoka, where he bought some land. In 1893, he sold up and moved to the nearby Swannanoa.^[2] During his time in Swannanoa, he advertised as a photographer using the surname Verrell.^[4]

Verrall first stood for election to the House of Representatives in the 1887 election in the Ashley electorate. Of the three candidates, he came last.^[5] The successful candidate, William Fisher Pearson, died the following year, and this caused an 1888 by-election. Verrall was one of three candidates, and the result was very tight: he defeated Alfred Saunders by just two votes, and Marmaduke Dixon^[6] was only nine votes behind him.^[7] He represented the Ashley electorate to the end of the parliamentary term in 1890, when he retired.^[8]

He contested the 1899 election in the Kaiapoi electorate, but his candidacy was not taken seriously.^[9] As he did not even poll 10% of the vote, he lost his £10 deposit.^[10]

He died at his homestead in Swannanoa on 17 September 1921.^[1]