Hilda Ross
Dame Hilda Ross DBE | |
---|---|
![]() Hilda Ross, c.1951 | |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Hamilton | |
In office 1945–1959 | |
Preceded by | Frank Findlay |
Succeeded by | Lance Adams-Schneider |
Personal details | |
Born | Grace Hilda Cuthbertha Nixon 6 July 1883 Auckland, New Zealand |
Died | 6 March 1959 Hamilton, New Zealand | (aged 75)
Political party | National |
Spouse(s) | Harry Campbell Manchester Ross
(m. 1904; died 1940) |
Dame Grace Hilda Cuthbertha Ross DBE (née Nixon; 6 July 1883 – 6 March 1959), known as Hilda Ross, was a New Zealand politician for the National Party and an activist.
Early years[]
She was born at Auckland to Adam Nixon and Zillah Johnson. Her family lived in both Sydney and Auckland, and she received her education in these cities. She trained as a music teacher and later conducted the Hamilton City Choral Operatic Society.[1]
Family[]
In 1904 she married Harry Campbell Manchester Ross (died 1940) in Auckland. Her husband founded a furnishing company, "Barton and Ross". They had four sons, two of whom died in infancy The twins were born in 1907, survived only a few days, but were baptized Allan and Richard. Her two surviving sons were, Norman and Colin.[2]
Political career[]
New Zealand Parliament | ||||
Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
1945–1946 | 27th | Hamilton | National | |
1946–1949 | 28th | Hamilton | National | |
1949–1951 | 29th | Hamilton | National | |
1951–1954 | 30th | Hamilton | National | |
1954–1957 | 31st | Hamilton | National | |
1957–1959 | 32nd | Hamilton | National |
Her first elected posts were the Waikato Hospital Board (1941) and the Hamilton Borough Council (1944).[citation needed] She was Deputy Mayor of Hamilton in 1945.[1] Following the death of the incumbent MP for Hamilton, Frank Findlay,[3] she won the 1945 by-election to represent the electorate in the New Zealand Parliament, where she remained until her death 14 years later in 1959.[4][5] As MP she held various posts in the First National Government, including Member of the Executive Council (1949–1957),[6] Minister of Social Security (1957),[7] Minister of Welfare of Women and Children (1949–1957),[8] and Minister of Child Welfare (1954–1957).[9][5]
Later life[]
Ross was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1956 New Year Honours.[4][10] She died on 6 March 1959 in Hamilton.[1]
Quote[]
- "The Country is today enjoying so much prosperity that married women with children should wake up to their responsibilities in the home and stay at home".[11]
Legacy[]
- Dame Hilda Ross Memorial Arts Centre & Dame Hilda Ross Memorial Arts Centre Appeal
- A statue of Ross was erected in Hamilton in 2020.[12][13]
Gallery[]
Dame Hilda Ross passport photo (1927)
Dame Hilda Ross passport photo (1952)
Dame Hilda Ross diplomatic passport (1952)
Dame Hilda Ross diplomatic passport (interior) (1952)
Dame Hilda Ross - Visas in passport (1952)
Dame Hilda Ross - visas in passport (1952)
Dame Hilda Ross - Visas in Passport (1952)
Dame Hilda Ross passport photo (1958)
See also[]
Notes[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Gustafson 1986, p. 340.
- ^ Dalley, Bronwyn. "Ross, Grace Hilda Cuthberta". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 196.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Wilson 1985, p. 231.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Hilda Ross bio
- ^ Wilson 1985, pp. 86–88.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 88.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 133.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 118.
- ^ "Dame Hilda Ross, 1883–1959 – Hamilton Heritage – Kete Hamilton". Ketehamilton.peoplesnetworknz.info. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
- ^ Carlyon, Jenny; Morrow, Diana (2013). Changing Times: New Zealand since 1945. Auckland University Press. ISBN 9781869407827.
- ^ Mike Mather (13 August 2020). "Beloved political pioneer Hilda Ross pulled into Captain Hamilton debate". Waikato Times. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ McRae, Andrew (31 October 2020). "'Hands-on activist': Statue of Hilda Ross being unveiled in Hamilton". Radio New Zealand.
References[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hilda Ross. |
- Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
- Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
- Women in Parliamentary Life 1970–1990: Hocken Lecture 1993 by Marilyn Waring, page 34–35 (Hocken Library, University of Otago, 1994) ISBN 0-902041-61-4
- Background
- 1883 births
- 1959 deaths
- New Zealand Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- New Zealand National Party MPs
- Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand
- People from Auckland
- People from Hamilton, New Zealand
- Women government ministers of New Zealand
- Local political office-holders in New Zealand
- Disease-related deaths in New Zealand
- Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
- New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates
- 20th-century women politicians
- Women members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
- Deputy mayors of places in New Zealand
- Hamilton City Councillors