Anderson, Mary Patricia (1887–1966)

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Anderson, Mary Patricia (1887–1966)

New Zealand labor activist. Name variations: Aunt Flora. Born on Mar 17, 1887, at Moonlight in Grey River valley of Westland, New Zealand; died Feb 18, 1966, in Greymouth, New Zealand; dau. of Anton Anderson (miner) and Catherine (Flaherty) Anderson.

Taught in local schools and served as local postmaster (early 1900s); was a founding member of Greymouth branch of New Zealand Labor Party (1917) and served as secretary (1918–56); served on board of local Labor newspaper Grey River Argus and edited children's page as Aunt Flora for brief period; active in welfare organizations such as Plunket Society; appointed justice of peace (1943); sat on Magistrate's Court bench (1945); was one of the 1st women members of Labor government to be appointed to sit in Legislative Council (1946–50); became 1st woman to chair New Zealand parliamentary committee (1948); served on Grey Hospital Board (1950–62).

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Anderson, Mary Patricia (1887–1966)

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Anderson, Mary Patricia (1887–1966)