Hilda Ross
Encyclopedia
Dame Hilda Ross, DBE
(born 6 July 1883, Whangarei, New Zealand - died 6 March 1959, Hamilton, New Zealand
) was a New Zealand
politician and activist.
and Auckland
.
. Her husband founded a furnishing company, Barton and Ross. They had four sons but two died in their infancy.
. Her first elected posts were the Waikato Hospital Board (1941) and the Hamilton Borough Council (1944).
Following the death of the incumbent MP for Hamilton (Frank Findlay
), she won the by-election to represent Hamilton
in the New Zealand Parliament, where she remained until her death 14 years later in 1959. As MP she held various posts including Minister in Charge of the Welfare of Women and Children, Minister in Charge of Child Welfare and Minister of Social Security.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 6 July 1883, Whangarei, New Zealand - died 6 March 1959, Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
) was a New Zealand
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 and activist.
Early years
She was born as Grace Hilda Cuthbertha Nixon to Adam Nixon and Zillah Johnson. Her family lived in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
.
Marriage
In 1904 she married Harry Campbell Manchester Ross (died 1940) in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. Her husband founded a furnishing company, Barton and Ross. They had four sons but two died in their infancy.
Political career
She was a cabinet minister from 1949 to 1957 in the First National GovernmentFirst National Government of New Zealand
The First National Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1949 to 1957. It was a conservative government best remembered for its role in the 1951 waterfront dispute. It also began the repositioning of New Zealand in the cold war environment...
. Her first elected posts were the Waikato Hospital Board (1941) and the Hamilton Borough Council (1944).
Following the death of the incumbent MP for Hamilton (Frank Findlay
Frank Findlay
Frank Findlay was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.He represented the Waikato electorate of Hamilton from 1943 to 1945, when he died.-References:*New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840-1984 by J. O...
), she won the by-election to represent Hamilton
Hamilton (New Zealand electorate)
Hamilton is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, which was replaced by Hamilton East and Hamilton West electorates.-Population centres:The electorate was mainly urban, covering the city of Hamilton.-History:...
in the New Zealand Parliament, where she remained until her death 14 years later in 1959. As MP she held various posts including Minister in Charge of the Welfare of Women and Children, Minister in Charge of Child Welfare and Minister of Social Security.
Quote
- "Married women with children should wake up to their responsibilities in the home and stay at home".
Legacy
- Dame Hilda Ross Memorial Arts Centre & Dame Hilda Ross Memorial Arts Centre Appeal
Sources
- Wilson, J.O., New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840-1984 (1985, 4th edition, Government Printer, Wellington)
- Gustafson, Barry. The First 50 Years: A History of the New Zealand National Party (1986, Reed Methuen, Auckland; has biographical appendix of National MPs) ISBN 0474001776
- Women in Parliamentary Life 1970-1990: Hocken Lecture 1993 by Marilyn Waring, page 34-35 (Hocken Library, University of Otago, 1994) ISBN 0 902041 614