Birchfield, Constance Alice (1898–1994)

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Birchfield, Constance Alice (1898–1994)

New Zealand trade unionist, political activist, and bookseller. Name variations: Constance Alice Rawcliffe. Born July 27, 1898, at Haydock, Lancaster, England; died May 9, 1994, in Wellington, New Zealand; dau. of John Rawcliffe (police constable) and Catherine (Williamson) Rawcliffe; m. Albert James Birchfield (linesman), 1936 (died 1984); children: 2 daughters.

Immigrated to New Zealand (1923); joined New Zealand Labour Party and served as executive member of Wellington Hotel, Club and Restaurant Workers' Union (1920s); belonged to New Zealand section of Friends of the Soviet Union and stood 4 times for Wellington City Council, twice for Wellington Hospital Board, and 5 times for House of Representatives; expelled from Communist Party for factionalism.