Soljak, Miriam Bridelia (1879–1971)

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Soljak, Miriam Bridelia (1879–1971)

New Zealand teacher, political activist, feminist, and journalist. Name variations: Miriam Bridelia Cummings. Born June 15, 1879, at Thames, New Zealand; died Mar 28, 1971, at Auckland, New Zealand; dau. of Matthew Cummings (carpenter) and Annie (Cunningham) Cummings; m. Peter Soljak (restaurant keeper), 1908 (div., 1939); children: 7.

Taught at Taumarere Native School in Northland, and Pakuru School (c. 1900), and maintained interest in Maori culture and language; unknowingly forfeited British nationality by marriage to foreigner and advocated for independent nationality on agenda of New Zealand Labor Party (1920s); was executive member of Auckland women's branch of Labor Party (late 1920s); worked to sustain unemployment benefit for women workers; became freelance journalist and public speaker, working with urban Maori (1930s); was founding member of New Zealand Family Planning Association (1940).

See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 4).