James McCombs
Encyclopedia
James McCombs (9 December 1873 – 2 August 1933) was a New Zealand Member of Parliament
for Lyttelton
.
, 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
. He was involved in the temperance movement (with Tommy Taylor), the Progressive Liberal Association (with Harry Ell) and was a friend of George Laurenson
. A successful businessman, McCombs owned a drapery in Christchurch
. He served on the Christchurch City Council
between 1913–17 and 1931-1933. In the 1908 general election, McCombs stood in Christchurch East
as an Independent Liberal candidate; at the 1911 contest for Avon
he was a Liberal-Labour candidate polling 2,817 votes to the official Labour candidate's 798 on the first ballot.
electorate for 20 years from the 1913 by-election (following the death of George Laurenson
). The 1925 general election
was contested by Melville Lyons
and the incumbent, McCombs. The original count resulted in a tie of 4,900 votes each. The returning officer gave his casting vote to Lyons and declared him elected. A recount was demanded, and on 3 December 1925, an amended result of 4890 votes for Lyons and 4884 votes for McCombs was determined, with the differences in the counts explained by counting informal votes in a different way. Lyons' election was declared void on 13 March 1926, and McCombs was restored as the holder of the electorate. McCombs held the electorate until 1933, when he died in office. The electorate was then held by his wife Elizabeth McCombs
from 1933 to 1935, and his son Terence McCombs
from 1935 to 1951.
over the state control of liquor issue. He rejoined the party in 1918. During the 1920s McCombs with Dan Sullivan
led the opposition to Harry Holland
within the Parliamentary Labour Party caucus.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Lyttelton
Lyttelton, New Zealand
Lyttelton is a port town on the north shore of Lyttelton Harbour close to Banks Peninsula, a suburb of Christchurch on the eastern coast of the South Island of New Zealand....
.
Early years
McCombs was born in County LeitrimCounty Leitrim
County Leitrim is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority for the county...
, 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
Christchurch East School
Christchurch East School is located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand.-History:The school was founded in 1873 and had its centennial celebrations from 5 to 7 October 1973...
. He was involved in the temperance movement (with Tommy Taylor), the Progressive Liberal Association (with Harry Ell) and was a friend of George Laurenson
George Laurenson
George Laurenson was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for in the South Island.-Member of Parliament:George Laurenson represented the Lyttelton electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives for fourteen years from 1899 to his death in 1913...
. A successful businessman, McCombs owned a drapery in 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...
. He served on the Christchurch City Council
Christchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
between 1913–17 and 1931-1933. In the 1908 general election, McCombs stood in Christchurch East
Christchurch East
Christchurch East is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It is currently held by Lianne Dalziel of the Labour Party.-History:The electorate was first created, as Christchurch City East, for the...
as an Independent Liberal candidate; at the 1911 contest for Avon
Avon (New Zealand electorate)
Avon is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.-Population centres:The electorate is in the eastern suburbs of Christchurch, New Zealand, based on the suburb of Avonside.-History:...
he was a Liberal-Labour candidate polling 2,817 votes to the official Labour candidate's 798 on the first ballot.
Member of Parliament
James McCombs represented the LytteltonLyttelton (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 for 20 years from the 1913 by-election (following the death of George Laurenson
George Laurenson
George Laurenson was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for in the South Island.-Member of Parliament:George Laurenson represented the Lyttelton electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives for fourteen years from 1899 to his death in 1913...
). The 1925 general election
New Zealand general election, 1925
The New Zealand general election of 1925 was held 4 November to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 22nd session of the New Zealand Parliament...
was contested by Melville Lyons
Melville Lyons
Melville Edwin Lyons , sometimes called Tiny, was briefly a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand until his election was declared void. A journalist by trade, he became involved in local politics in Christchurch after having served in WWI...
and the incumbent, McCombs. The original count resulted in a tie of 4,900 votes each. The returning officer gave his casting vote to Lyons and declared him elected. A recount was demanded, and on 3 December 1925, an amended result of 4890 votes for Lyons and 4884 votes for McCombs was determined, with the differences in the counts explained by counting informal votes in a different way. Lyons' election was declared void on 13 March 1926, and McCombs was restored as the holder of the electorate. McCombs held the electorate until 1933, when he died in office. The electorate was then held by his wife Elizabeth McCombs
Elizabeth McCombs
Elizabeth McCombs 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...
from 1933 to 1935, and his 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:...
from 1935 to 1951.
Independent Labourite
In 1917, McCombs resigned the Presidency and his membership of the New Zealand Labour PartyNew 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....
over the state control of liquor issue. He rejoined the party in 1918. During the 1920s McCombs with Dan Sullivan
Daniel Giles Sullivan
Daniel Giles "Dan" Sullivan was a New Zealand Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister and Mayor of Christchurch.-Early years:...
led the opposition to Harry Holland
Harry Holland
Henry Edmund Holland was a New Zealand politician and unionist. He was the first leader of the New Zealand Labour Party.-Early life:...
within the Parliamentary Labour Party caucus.
Further reading
- Ministers and Members in the New Zealand Parliament by G.A. Wood (1996, Otago University Press, Dunedin)