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New Zealand politician (1883–1959) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dame Grace Hilda Cuthbertha Ross DBE CStJ (née Nixon; 6 July 1883 – 6 March 1959), known as Hilda Ross, was a New Zealand politician for the National Party and an activist.
Dame Hilda Ross | |
---|---|
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 75) Hamilton, New Zealand | (aged
Political party | National |
Spouse |
Harry Campbell Manchester Ross
(m. 1904; died 1940) |
Nixon was born in Auckland to Adam (a fireman who later became a marine engineer) and Zillah (Johnson) Nixon. 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]
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, including twins who died in infancy. The twins were born in 1907 and survived only a few days but were baptised.[2]
Her first elected posts were the Waikato Hospital Board (1941) and the Hamilton Borough Council (1944).[3] She was Deputy Mayor of Hamilton in 1945.[1] Following the death of the incumbent MP for Hamilton, Frank Findlay,[4] 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.[5][6] As MP, she held various posts in the First National Government, including Member of the Executive Council (1949–1957),[7] Minister of Social Security (1957),[8] Minister of Welfare of Women and Children (1949–1957),[9] and Minister of Child Welfare (1954–1957).[10][6]
In 1952, she was appointed as a Commander of the Order of St John.[11] Ross was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1956 New Year Honours.[5][12] She died on 6 March 1959 in Hamilton.[1]
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