Elizabeth McCombs
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth McCombs (19 November 1873 – 7 June 1935) was a New Zealand
politician of the Labour Party
, and the first woman elected to the New Zealand Parliament. New Zealand women gained the right to vote
in 1893, though were not allowed to stand for the House of Representatives
until the election of 1919. McCombs had previously contested elections in 1928 and 1931.
, spent her youth in Ashburton
and Christchurch
. In 1886, her father died, leaving her family in financial difficulties for a time.
Kate Sheppard
. McCombs held a number of positions within the Temperance Union throughout her life, including that of national treasurer.
In 1903, McCombs married James McCombs
, a strong socialist who had also been involved with the Progressive Liberal Association. They were to have two children, and adopted two more. James McCombs was active in left-wing political circles, and was later to become an MP for the Social Democratic Party
. When the Labour Party
was founded in 1916, he became its first president. At the same time, Elizabeth McCombs was elected to the party's executive.
In 1921, McCombs gained election to the Christchurch City Council, being the second woman to do so. She remained a member of the council until 1935, when she chose to step down. During this time, she was also active in a large number of other organisations, including hospital boards and charities. Her work was recognised in 1926, when she was made a Justice of the peace
.
In the 1928 elections
, McCombs stood (unsuccessfully) for the Kaiapoi
electorate, as the Labour Party's first female nominee. In the 1931 elections
, she contested the seat of Christchurch North
, also unsuccessfully.
On the death of McCombs' husband James in August 1933, who had held his parliamentary seat of Lyttelton
since 1913, it was suggested soon afterwards that McCombs herself should be the Labour Party's new candidate for the Lyttelton seat. Some members of the party were initially hesitant, but she was eventually selected as the Labour candidate. When the 1933 by-election
was held, McCombs won resoundingly: James had been returned by only 32 votes in the 1931 elections, but Elizabeth received a majority of 2600 votes, electing her the first woman Member of Parliament.
Well-educated and well-to-do, McCombs could be impatient with working people, tending to represent their best interests and not necessarily their opinions. She called a deputation representing the unemployed "an illogical crowd" when they said they wanted work but criticised having to work for charitable aid.
Despite her short career in parliament, she demonstrated that women could successfully seek election, and it was not long before a second woman (Catherine Stewart
in 1938, elected for Wellington West
) entered parliament. In her Lyttelton
electorate, she was succeeded by her son Terence McCombs
, who was the Minister of Education
in the First Labour Government
from 1947 to 1949. Terence McCombs held the Lyttelton seat until 1951, concluding a 38-year family hold on the seat.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
politician of the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
, and the first woman elected to the New Zealand Parliament. New Zealand women gained the right to vote
Women's suffrage in New Zealand
Women's suffrage in New Zealand was an important political issue in the late 19th century. Of countries presently independent, New Zealand was the first to give women the vote in modern times....
in 1893, though were not allowed to stand for the House of Representatives
New Zealand House of Representatives
The New Zealand House of Representatives is the sole chamber of the legislature of New Zealand. The House and the Queen of New Zealand form the New Zealand Parliament....
until the election of 1919. McCombs had previously contested elections in 1928 and 1931.
Early years
McCombs, born Elizabeth Reid Henderson in KaiapoiKaiapoi
Kaiapoi is a town in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand, located close to the mouth of the Waimakariri River, and approximately 17 kilometres north of Christchurch....
, spent her youth in Ashburton
Ashburton, New Zealand
Ashburton is a town and district in the Canterbury Region on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the third-largest centre in Canterbury, after Christchurch and Timaru. The area around Ashburton is frequently referred to as Mid Canterbury, which is also the name of the...
and Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. In 1886, her father died, leaving her family in financial difficulties for a time.
Politics
McCombs became interested in socialism through the influence of her elder sisters, who were involved in the Progressive Liberal Association, a small socialist-orientated group. One of the Progressive Liberal Association's goals was to increase the political rights of women. McCombs herself became involved in the Association, and as an extension of this, with the New Zealand Women's Christian Temperance Union, run by prominent New Zealand suffragetteSuffragette
"Suffragette" is a term coined by the Daily Mail newspaper as a derogatory label for members of the late 19th and early 20th century movement for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom, in particular members of the Women's Social and Political Union...
Kate Sheppard
Kate Sheppard
Katherine Wilson Sheppard Some sources, eg give a birth year of 1847; others eg give a birth year of 1848. was the most prominent member of New Zealand's women's suffrage movement, and is the country's most famous suffragette...
. McCombs held a number of positions within the Temperance Union throughout her life, including that of national treasurer.
In 1903, McCombs married James McCombs
James McCombs
James McCombs was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for Lyttelton.-Early years:McCombs was born in County Leitrim, Ireland and came to New Zealand with his parents in 1876 as a three year old. He was educated at Sydenham School and Christchurch East School...
, a strong socialist who had also been involved with the Progressive Liberal Association. They were to have two children, and adopted two more. James McCombs was active in left-wing political circles, and was later to become an MP for the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (New Zealand)
The Social Democratic Party of New Zealand was an early left-wing political party. It existed only a short time before being amalgamated into the new Labour Party...
. When the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
was founded in 1916, he became its first president. At the same time, Elizabeth McCombs was elected to the party's executive.
In 1921, McCombs gained election to the Christchurch City Council, being the second woman to do so. She remained a member of the council until 1935, when she chose to step down. During this time, she was also active in a large number of other organisations, including hospital boards and charities. Her work was recognised in 1926, when she was made a Justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
.
In the 1928 elections
New Zealand general election, 1928
The New Zealand general election of 1928 was held on Tuesday, 13 November in the Māori electorates, and on Wednesday, 14 November in the general electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 23rd session of the New Zealand Parliament...
, McCombs stood (unsuccessfully) for the Kaiapoi
Kaiapoi (New Zealand electorate)
Kaiapoi was a rural New Zealand electorate, north of Christchurch in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand from 1861 to 1946. It was represented by twelve members of Parliament.-History:The electorate dates from 1861....
electorate, as the Labour Party's first female nominee. In the 1931 elections
New Zealand general election, 1931
The 1931 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 24th term. It resulted in the newly formed coalition between the United Party and the Reform Party remaining in office as the Liberal-Reform Government, although the opposition Labour...
, she contested the seat of Christchurch North
Christchurch North (New Zealand electorate)
Christchurch North is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.The electorate was in the northern suburbs of Christchurch, New Zealand.-History:The electorate existed three times:*1881 to 1890;*1905 to 1946;...
, also unsuccessfully.
On the death of McCombs' husband James in August 1933, who had held his parliamentary seat of Lyttelton
Lyttelton (New Zealand electorate)
Lyttelton is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It existed from 1853–90, and again from 1893–1996, when it was replaced by the Banks Peninsula electorate.-Population Centres:...
since 1913, it was suggested soon afterwards that McCombs herself should be the Labour Party's new candidate for the Lyttelton seat. Some members of the party were initially hesitant, but she was eventually selected as the Labour candidate. When the 1933 by-election
Lyttelton by-election, 1933
The Lyttelton by-election of 1933 was a by-election held during the 24th New Zealand Parliament in the Christchurch electorate of Lyttelton. It is notable for being won by Elizabeth McCombs of the New Zealand Labour Party, who became the first woman to be elected to the New Zealand Parliament...
was held, McCombs won resoundingly: James had been returned by only 32 votes in the 1931 elections, but Elizabeth received a majority of 2600 votes, electing her the first woman Member of Parliament.
Well-educated and well-to-do, McCombs could be impatient with working people, tending to represent their best interests and not necessarily their opinions. She called a deputation representing the unemployed "an illogical crowd" when they said they wanted work but criticised having to work for charitable aid.
Issues
In parliament, McCombs spoke out on a number of issues, many of which involved women's rights and welfare. Among the causes she promoted were:- Equal pay for women.
- Changes to unemployment policy, which was more generous towards unemployed men than unemployed women.
- Recruitment of women into the police force.
Illness and death
Increasingly poor health made it difficult for McCombs to participate fully in politics. She died in Christchurch on 7 June 1935 aged 61, less than two years after entering parliament.Despite her short career in parliament, she demonstrated that women could successfully seek election, and it was not long before a second woman (Catherine Stewart
Catherine Stewart
Mrs Catherine Campbell Sword Stewart was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.She won the seat of Wellington West in 1938, and was the second woman to be elected to Parliament after Elizabeth McCombs. She was defeated in the next election.Born in Glasgow, she migrated with her family to...
in 1938, elected for Wellington West
Wellington West (New Zealand electorate)
Wellington West was a parliamentary electorate in the western suburbs of Wellington from 1938 to 1946. It was succeeded by the Karori electorate.-Members of Parliament for Wellington West:-References:...
) entered parliament. In her Lyttelton
Lyttelton (New Zealand electorate)
Lyttelton is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It existed from 1853–90, and again from 1893–1996, when it was replaced by the Banks Peninsula electorate.-Population Centres:...
electorate, she was succeeded by her son Terence McCombs
Terence McCombs
Sir Terence Henderson McCombs, OBE ED was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.-Early life:He was educated at Waitaki Boys' High School and Canterbury University College.-Member of Parliament:...
, who was the Minister of Education
Minister of Education (New Zealand)
The Minister of Education is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the country's schools, and is in charge of the Ministry of Education.The present Minister is Anne Tolley, a member of the National Party.-History:...
in the First Labour Government
First Labour Government of New Zealand
The First Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1935 to 1949. It set the tone of New Zealand's economic and welfare policies until the 1980s, establishing a welfare state, a system of Keynesian economic management, and high levels of state intervention...
from 1947 to 1949. Terence McCombs held the Lyttelton seat until 1951, concluding a 38-year family hold on the seat.
External links
- Garner, Jean. 'McCombs, Elizabeth Reid 1873 - 1935'. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Updated 22 June 2007, accessed 14 Sept 2009.
- Photograph of Elizabeth McCombs Ministry for Culture and Heritage, updated 5-Sep-2008, accessed 14 Sept 2009.
- Cartoon of Elizabeth McCombs entering Parliament, with male MPs in drag