Ellen Melville
Encyclopedia
Eliza Ellen Melville was a New Zealand feminist
and politician
.
Melville was born in Tokatoka, on the Wairoa River south of Dargaville
. Her father was a farmer and boatbuilder, while her mother was a former teacher. After receiving a basic education from her mother and in Tokatoka, she won a scholarship to study at what is now Auckland Girls' Grammar School
(then part of Auckland Grammar School
). She began to study to become a lawyer
, then an unusual choice for women — when she was admitted to the bar
in 1906, she was only the second woman in New Zealand to reach this stage (the first being Ethel Benjamin
). Melville established her own legal practice.
Melville was highly active in promoting women's causes, and in encouraging full participation by women in public life. Much of her activity centred around women's associations and committees, and she held a number of senior positions in such organisations. She was a strong advocate of women seeking political office, and in 1913, she became the first woman to be elected to a municipal authority in New Zealand, gaining a seat on the Auckland City Council. Politically, Melville tended to be conservative in issues not relating to women's rights.
Melville was active in the campaign which led to the Women's Parliamentary Rights Act, allowing women to stand for Parliament (women had already been able to vote for some time). In the 1919 general election, Melville was a candidate for the Reform Party
in the electorate of Grey Lynn
, where she placed second. In the 1922 general election
, however, she was not selected as a candidate, allegedly being blocked by political organiser Albert Davy
. Melville believed that she had been blocked due to the Reform Party not wanting a woman as a candidate, and she stood as an independent candidate in Roskill
. In a 1926 by-election, she stood as an independent in Eden, splitting the Reform Party's vote and helping Rex Mason
, the Labour Party
candidate, to win the seat. She subsequently stood in the 1928 general election
, the 1931 general election
, a 1941 by-election, and the 1943 election
, generally performing well but never winning.
Melville died on 27 July 1946 in Remuera
. She never married, and had no children. Melville Park is named after her.
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
and politician
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
.
Melville was born in Tokatoka, on the Wairoa River south of Dargaville
Dargaville
Dargaville is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the bank of the Northern Wairoa River in the Northland region. The town is located 55 kilometres southwest of Whangarei....
. Her father was a farmer and boatbuilder, while her mother was a former teacher. After receiving a basic education from her mother and in Tokatoka, she won a scholarship to study at what is now Auckland Girls' Grammar School
Auckland Girls' Grammar School
Auckland Girls' Grammar School is a New Zealand secondary school for girls located in Newton, in the Auckland central business district. Established in 1888, it is one of the oldest secondary institutions in the country...
(then part of Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School is a state secondary school for years 9 to 13 boys in Auckland, New Zealand. It had a roll of 2,483 in 2008, including a number of boarders who live in nearby Tibbs' House, making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand...
). She began to study to become a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, then an unusual choice for women — when she was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar
An admission to practice law, also called admission to the bar, is acquired when a lawyer receives a license to practice law. Becoming a lawyer is a widely varied process around the world. Common to all jurisdictions are requirements of age and competence; some jurisdictions also require citizenship...
in 1906, she was only the second woman in New Zealand to reach this stage (the first being Ethel Benjamin
Ethel Benjamin
Ethel Rebecca Benjamin was New Zealand’s first female lawyer. On 17 September 1897, she became the first woman in the British Empire to appear as counsel in court, representing a client for the recovery of a debt...
). Melville established her own legal practice.
Melville was highly active in promoting women's causes, and in encouraging full participation by women in public life. Much of her activity centred around women's associations and committees, and she held a number of senior positions in such organisations. She was a strong advocate of women seeking political office, and in 1913, she became the first woman to be elected to a municipal authority in New Zealand, gaining a seat on the Auckland City Council. Politically, Melville tended to be conservative in issues not relating to women's rights.
Melville was active in the campaign which led to the Women's Parliamentary Rights Act, allowing women to stand for Parliament (women had already been able to vote for some time). In the 1919 general election, Melville was a candidate for the Reform Party
New Zealand Reform Party
The Reform Party, formally the New Zealand Political Reform League, was New Zealand's second major political party, having been founded as a conservative response to the original Liberal Party...
in the electorate of Grey Lynn
Grey Lynn (New Zealand electorate)
Grey Lynn is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, in the city of Auckland.-Population centres:The electorate is urban, and comprises a suburb in the central part of Auckland.-Election results:...
, where she placed second. In the 1922 general election
New Zealand general election, 1922
The New Zealand general election of 1922 was held on Monday, 6 December in the Māori electorates, and on Tuesday, 7 December in the general electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 21st session of the New Zealand Parliament...
, however, she was not selected as a candidate, allegedly being blocked by political organiser Albert Davy
Albert Davy
Albert Ernest Davy was a New Zealand political organiser and campaign manager; and at the height of his career, was regarded by some as the best in the country...
. Melville believed that she had been blocked due to the Reform Party not wanting a woman as a candidate, and she stood as an independent candidate in Roskill
Roskill (New Zealand electorate)
Roskill was a New Zealand parliamentary electorate, from 1919 to 1996.-Population centres:The electorate is in the western suburbs of Auckland, New Zealand.-History:...
. In a 1926 by-election, she stood as an independent in Eden, splitting the Reform Party's vote and helping Rex Mason
Rex Mason
Henry Greathead Rex Mason was a New Zealand politician. He served as Attorney General, Minister of Justice, Minister of Education, and Minister of Native Affairs, and had a significant influence on the direction of the Labour Party...
, 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....
candidate, to win the seat. She subsequently stood in the 1928 general election
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...
, the 1931 general election
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...
, a 1941 by-election, and the 1943 election
New Zealand general election, 1943
The 1943 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 27th term. With the onset of World War II, elections were initially postponed, but it was eventually decided to hold a general election in September 1943, around two years after it...
, generally performing well but never winning.
Melville died on 27 July 1946 in Remuera
Remuera
Remuera is a residential suburban area within Auckland city, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located four kilometres to the southeast of the city centre...
. She never married, and had no children. Melville Park is named after her.