Bay Harbour: March 20, 2024

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Bay Harbour News Wednesday March 20 2024 18 TREASURES FROM THE PAST First female MP broke through barriers • By Liz Grant ELIZABETH McCOMBS won the seat of Lyttelton in 1933, becoming the first woman in New Zealand to be elected a Member of Parliament. It was a convincing win, with a majority of 2669 votes over the two men who had been her rivals. This was a by-election brought about by the death of her husband, James McCombs, the Labour MP for Lyttelton. Elizabeth had stood unsuccessfully in other Christchurch seats in the elections of 1928 and 1931. This time, her candidacy was well supported locally. Labour Party leader Harry Holland was a strong supporter, and Elizabeth was introduced as the candidate at the Excelsior Hall in Ōhinehou Lyttelton on August 21. She formally opened her campaign at the Oddfellows Hall on August 25 and went on to that resounding victory. On the evening of her success, a crowd of about 2000 gathered, in dreadful weather, below the balcony of Warner’s Hotel in Cathedral Square to hear her speak. New Zealand proudly claims to be the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote (in 1893), but the right of women to stand for Parliament did not come with the right to vote. It would take another 26 years and the passing of the Women’s Parliamentary Rights Act 1919 before women could put themselves forward as candidates. It was 14 years later when Elizabeth McCombs took her seat in the house. There was still resistance to the very idea with a letter to the editor published in the Christchurch Press capturing the prevailing attitude: “I hope TRAILBLAZER: Elizabeth Reid McCombs, née Henderson circa 1919-1925. Right, Elizabeth McCombs at Lyttelton harbour christening Madame Hoover, a motorboat built by J. Miller Ltd for J. Scott Ramsey of Wellington, 23 November 1928. PHOTOS: CHRISTCHURCH CITY LIBRARIES/CHRISTCHURCH STAR ARCHIVE Mrs McCombs will have the distinction of being the last and only woman in Parliament.” The writer’s disdain for McCombs and her “sentimental absent minded” supporters was palpable, labelling them “masculine women and feminine men”. Elizabeth McCombs was no newbie and would have taken little notice of those opinions. Her husband had been an MP for nine years and she had spent a lot of time in Parliament’s public gallery. She was familiar with the way Parliament worked and was in no way intimidated by it. The welfare of women and girls, workers and the unemployed, was her key focus. Born Elizabeth Reid Henderson, she was the eighth of nine children. Like her three older sisters, she was involved with the socialist Progressive Liberal Association in Ōtautahi Christchurch. One of the association’s goals was to increase the political rights of women. It was through the association Elizabeth met James McCombs, a committed socialist. They married in 1903. Elizabeth was also a prominent figure in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the National Council of Women. James had become an MP in 1913, having stood for the Social Democratic Party. In 1916, he was elected the first president of the second New Zealand Labour Party, and Elizabeth was elected onto the party executive. In 1921, she was the second woman to be FOREHAND: Elizabeth McCombs at opening season, Woolston, circa 1933. elected to the Christchurch City Council. It was thanks to her efforts a crèche and women’s restroom was built in Cathedral Square. She became chair of the council electricity committee and was on the hospital and tramway boards. In 1926, she was one of the first women in New Zealand to be made a Justice of the Peace. It was a strong track record that underpinned her parliamentary success. When she was elected to Parliament, Labour was in opposition and there was limited opportunity for Elizabeth to push through the causes to which she was dedicated, but she worked extremely hard in the house and in her electorate. Increasingly, this took a toll on her health, which had never been robust due to asthma. Only two years after she had taken her seat, she died in hospital in Wellington on June 7, 1935, aged just 61. Elizabeth had earned a great deal of respect during her time in Parliament and flags were flown at half-mast across the country. Later in Christchurch, thousands lined the route for the funeral procession to Waimairi Cemetery. Michael Joseph Savage, then leader of the Labour Party, eulogised that “her passing has created a gap in the ranks of the Labour Party that will be hard to fill”, noting as the first female elected to New Zealand’s Parliament she effectively disproved the belief women are inferior to men in governance through her “outstanding abilities”. Elizabeth McCombs’ portrait is on the wall in the Women’s Suffrage Room in the New Zealand Parliament. She and her husband are commemorated by the McCombs Memorial Garden in Woolston Park. West Coasters Are you living off the Coast and would like to keep up with the local news and events? We have new digital editions available for subscription. Scan here Read local digital.greystar.co.nz
Wednesday March 20 2024 Bay Harbour News 19 keep it local and support businesses in your community AIR, LAND & SEA - LYTTELTON PICTURE FRAMERS THE HOME OF INTERESTING 32 London St. Lyttelton Ph.328 7350 A Lyttelton shop like no other... ART - Stunning artworks by our featured artist Simon Schollum: Limited Edition of 10 only of each - Communication Series left: ‘Prone To Wonder’ right: ’Serenity & Unity’ GINGKO UK DESIGN STUDIO - High tech Floating Globes and Bluetooth Speakers HIPFLASKS English Pewter Hiplasks PICTURE FRAMING SERVICE - 24 years experience by Guild Commended Framer DENIX die cast replica antique arms and cannons - made in Spain POCKET WATCHES Royal London, Classique Swiss battery and mechanical BOOKS - interior design, history, Antarctic, automotive, art and gardening MODEL CARS Book in now to freshen your cut, colour or both! Jena WELCOMES NEW CLIENTS FISCHER Biggest range in the South Island of precision German made Barometers, Tide Clocks and Weather Stations HIKING BOOTS & SHOES For men, women and children From $79.95 to $250 Large range of 1/18 scale Die cast model cars NAUTICAL BRASSWARE - diving helmets sextants, keyrings, compasses and telescopes. We’re not a bookshop but we have got a lot of... WONDERFUL BOOKS We specialise in History, Art & Lifestyle books Ph 03 384 1743 4/2 Soleares Ave Mt Pleasant OPEN MON-SAT Late nights Mon, Tue, Wed, Thurs 47c Garlands Road, Woolston Phone 389 3431 www.thefootwearfactory.co.nz A brand new Revolution in Microneedling Bio Microneedling Results speak for themselves. Start your journey to healthy, beautiful skin today. Introductory special $250 per session Valid until 31.Mar.2024 RAll types of sliding doors repaired SLIDING DOORS REPAIRED Why Sliding Door Specialists? RLocks & Handles repaired/replaced LYTTELTON GALLERY 32 London Street, Lyttelton Phone 328 7350 RWheels & Rollers replaced RSliding door tracks repaired/replaced NOW SUPPLIERS OF AUTOMATIC CLOSERS AFTER 3 TREATMENTS First of its kind treatment using siliceous sponge spicules to create channels in the skin - just like traditional needling but there is no device, no blood and no breakage of the skin. One SQT treatment is equal to 3 traditional needling treatments SLIDING DOOR SPECIALISTS Call Stewart today Phone: 0800 677 262 | Mobile: 021 185 4055 Email: info@slidingdoorspecialists.co.nz Advertising enquiries Jo Fuller | Ph: 027 458 8590 | jo.fuller@starmedia.kiwi
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