ELIZABETH REID McCOMBS

Devoted Champion of Women's Interests

IF Mrs. Elizabeth Reid McCombs, of Christchurch, the busiest woman m public life m the Cathedral City, ever succeeds m entering Parliament, there is at least one sitting member who will not grudge her the honor.

He is none other than her husband, "Jimmy" McCombs, M.P. for Lyttelton, who was modest and humble enough to express the opinion that his wife would make a better fist of it t^an he. No wonder "Jimmy" is proud of his wife, for she is m every sense a remarkable woman. From her early girlhood, she has been # intensely interested m social questions — and it has not been a passive interest by any means. Active service m the field of reform has been her choice, and there is no estimating the value of her services to the community.

A member of the Christchurch City Council on the Labor side, a merfiber of the North Canterbury Hospital Board and actively associated with innumerable welfare organisations, particularly those aiming at the betterment of conditions for women, Mrs. McCombs is a busy woman indeed; but as though these activities — combined with the care of a husband and. horne — were not enough, she recently sought election v to the Ghristchurch Tramway Board and was returned as the member for the Sumner-Cashmere Hills district. Mrs. McCombs is a living contradiction of the belief held m some quarters that a woman who plunges into public life does so at the sacrifice of womanly charm and. grace. Tall and stately m appearance, she radiates courtesy and. femininity m its truest sense. The weaker sex of New Zealand have 'no more loyal and devoted champion. Staunch to the Labor cause, Mrs. McCombs, like her husband, is a prohibitionist. She believes that if the country goes "dry" many social problems will be immeasurably nearer solution than they are to-day.