# Hilda Ross > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hilda_Ross > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hilda_Ross.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilda_Ross > Source revision: 1347229148 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|New Zealand politician (1883–1959)}} {{for|the Canadian painter and poet|Hilda Katherine Ross}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2014}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = [The Honourable](/source/The_Honourable) | name = Dame Hilda Ross | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|DBE|CStJ|size=100%}} | image = Hilda Ross, ca 1951.jpg | alt = | caption = Hilda Ross, {{circa}}1951 | constituency_MP = [Hamilton](/source/Hamilton_(New_Zealand_electorate)) | parliament = New Zealand | majority = | term_start = [1945](/source/1945_Hamilton_by-election) | term_end = 1959 | predecessor = [Frank Findlay](/source/Frank_Findlay) | successor = [Lance Adams-Schneider](/source/Lance_Adams-Schneider) | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1883|07|06}} | birth_place = [Auckland](/source/Auckland), New Zealand | death_date = {{Death date and age|1959|03|06|1883|07|06|df=y}} | death_place = [Hamilton](/source/Hamilton%2C_New_Zealand), New Zealand | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | birth_name = Grace Hilda Cuthbertha Nixon | party = [National](/source/New_Zealand_National_Party) | other_party = | spouse = {{marriage|Harry Campbell Manchester Ross|1904|1940|end=d.}} | relations = | children = | alma_mater = | occupation = | profession = | cabinet = | committees = | portfolio = | signature = | signature_alt = }} '''Dame Grace Hilda Cuthbertha Ross''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|DBE|CStJ|size=85%}} (née '''Nixon'''; 6 July 1883 – 6 March 1959), known as '''Hilda Ross''', was a New Zealand politician for the [National Party](/source/New_Zealand_National_Party) and an activist. ==Early years== Nixon was born in [Auckland](/source/Auckland) to Adam (a fireman who later became a marine engineer) and Zillah (Johnson) Nixon. Her family lived in both [Sydney](/source/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.{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|p=340}} ==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, including twins who died in infancy. The twins were born in 1907 and survived only a few days but were baptised.{{DNZB|Dalley|Bronwyn |5r25|Ross, Grace Hilda Cuthberta|27 October 2013}} ==Political career== {{NZ parlbox header|nolist=true|align=left}} {{NZ parlbox |start = {{By-election link year|Hamilton|1945}} |end = 1946 |term = 27th |electorate = {{NZ electorate link|Hamilton}} |party = New Zealand National Party }} {{NZ parlbox |start = {{NZ election link year|1946}} |end = 1949 |term = 28th |electorate = Hamilton |party = New Zealand National Party }} {{NZ parlbox |start = {{NZ election link year|1949}} |end = 1951 |term = 29th |electorate = Hamilton |party = New Zealand National Party }} {{NZ parlbox |start = {{NZ election link year|1951}} |end = 1954 |term = 30th |electorate = Hamilton |party = New Zealand National Party }} {{NZ parlbox |start = {{NZ election link year|1954}} |end = 1957 |term = 31st |electorate = Hamilton |party = New Zealand National Party }} {{NZ parlbox |start = {{NZ election link year|1957}} |end = 1959 |term = 32nd |electorate = Hamilton |party = New Zealand National Party }} {{End}} Her first elected posts were the Waikato Hospital Board (1941) and the Hamilton Borough Council (1944).{{Cite web |title=Dame Hilda Ross – Visit Hamilton |url=https://www.visithamilton.co.nz/see-and-do/public-art-culture-heritage/dame-hilda-ross |access-date=4 April 2022 |website=www.visithamilton.co.nz}} She was Deputy [Mayor of Hamilton](/source/Mayor_of_Hamilton%2C_New_Zealand) in 1945.{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|p=340}} Following the death of the incumbent MP for [Hamilton](/source/Hamilton_(New_Zealand_electorate)), [Frank Findlay](/source/Frank_Findlay),{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=196}} she won the {{By-election link|Hamilton|1945}} to represent the electorate in the New Zealand Parliament, where she remained until her death 14 years later in 1959.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=231}}[http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/New_Zealand.htm Hilda Ross bio] As MP, she held various posts in the [First National Government](/source/First_National_Government_of_New_Zealand), including Member of the Executive Council (1949–1957),{{sfn|Wilson|1985|pp=86–88}} Minister of Social Security (1957),{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=88}} [Minister of Welfare of Women and Children](/source/Minister_for_Women_(New_Zealand)) (1949–1957),{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=133}} and Minister of Child Welfare (1954–1957).{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=118}} ==Later life== In 1952, Ross was appointed as a [Commander of the Order of St John](/source/Order_of_Saint_John_(chartered_1888)).{{London Gazette |issue= 39433 |date=4 January 1952|page=137}} In 1953, she was awarded the [Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal](/source/Queen_Elizabeth_II_Coronation_Medal).{{cite book |last1=Taylor |first1=Alister |last2=Coddington |first2=Deborah |author-link1=Alister Taylor |author-link2=Deborah Coddington |title=Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand |year=1994 |publisher=New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa |location=Auckland |isbn=0-908578-34-2 |page=420}} Ross was appointed a [Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire) in the [1956 New Year Honours](/source/1956_New_Year_Honours_(New_Zealand)).{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=231}}{{cite web |url=http://ketehamilton.peoplesnetworknz.info/hamilton_heritage/topics/show/106-dame-hilda-ross- |title=Dame Hilda Ross, 1883–1959 – Hamilton Heritage – Kete Hamilton |publisher=Ketehamilton.peoplesnetworknz.info |access-date=13 March 2014 |archive-date=13 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313165624/http://ketehamilton.peoplesnetworknz.info/hamilton_heritage/topics/show/106-dame-hilda-ross- |url-status=dead }} She died on 6 March 1959 in [Hamilton](/source/Hamilton%2C_New_Zealand).{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|p=340}} ==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"''.{{cite book |title=Changing Times: New Zealand since 1945 |first1=Jenny |last1=Carlyon |first2=Diana |last2=Morrow |year=2013 |publisher=Auckland University Press |isbn= 9781869407827}} ==Legacy== * Dame Hilda Ross Memorial Arts Centre & Dame Hilda Ross Memorial Arts Centre Appeal * A statue of Ross was erected in Hamilton in 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/122433239/beloved-political-pioneer-hilda-ross-pulled-into-captain-hamilton-debate |title=Beloved political pioneer Hilda Ross pulled into Captain Hamilton debate |author=Mike Mather |publisher=Waikato Times |date=13 August 2020 |access-date=14 August 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/429548/hands-on-activist-statue-of-hilda-ross-being-unveiled-in-hamilton|title='Hands-on activist': Statue of Hilda Ross being unveiled in Hamilton|first=Andrew|last=McRae |publisher=Radio New Zealand|date=31 October 2020}} ==Gallery== File:Dame Hilda Ross passport photo (1927).jpg|Dame Hilda Ross passport photo (1927) File:Dame Hilda Ross passport photo (1952).jpg|Dame Hilda Ross passport photo (1952) File:Dame Hilda Ross diplomatic passport (1952).jpg|Dame Hilda Ross diplomatic passport (1952) File:Dame Hilda Ross diplomatic passport (interior) (1952).jpg|Dame Hilda Ross diplomatic passport (interior) (1952) File:Dame Hilda Ross - Visas in passport (1952).jpg|Dame Hilda Ross - Visas in passport (1952) File:Dame Hilda Ross - visas in passport (2) (1952).jpg|Dame Hilda Ross - visas in passport (1952) File:Dame Hilda Ross - Visas in Passport (3) (1952).jpg|Dame Hilda Ross - Visas in Passport (1952) File:Dame Hilda Ross passport photo (1958).jpg|Dame Hilda Ross passport photo (1958) ==See also== {{Portal|Biography}} *[List of New Zealand politicians](/source/List_of_New_Zealand_politicians) *[List of members of the New Zealand Parliament who died in office](/source/List_of_members_of_the_New_Zealand_Parliament_who_died_in_office) ==Notes== {{Reflist}} ==References== {{Commons category|Hilda Ross}} *{{cite book |last = Gustafson |first = Barry |title = The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party |year = 1986 |publisher = Reed Methuen |location = Auckland |isbn = 0-474-00177-6 }} *{{Cite book |last= Wilson |first= Jim | author-link=Jim Wilson (librarian) |title= New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 |edition= 4th |orig-year= First ed. published 1913 |year= 1985 |publisher= V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |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}} {{s-start}} {{s-par|nz}} {{s-bef | before = [Frank Findlay](/source/Frank_Findlay)}} {{s-ttl | title = [Member of Parliament for Hamilton](/source/Hamilton_(New_Zealand_electorate))| years=1945–1959}} {{s-aft | after = [Lance Adams-Schneider](/source/Lance_Adams-Schneider)}} {{end}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ross, Hilda}} Category:1883 births Category:1959 deaths Category:New Zealand Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire Category:New Zealand National Party MPs Category:Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand Category:Politicians from Auckland Category:People from Hamilton, New Zealand Category:Women government ministers of New Zealand Category:Local politicians in New Zealand Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Category:New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates Category:20th-century New Zealand women politicians Category:20th-century New Zealand politicians Category:Women members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Category:Deputy mayors of places in New Zealand Category:Hamilton City Councillors --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hilda Ross](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilda_Ross) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilda_Ross?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.