LYTTELTON SEAT

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26524, 12 September 1951, Page 6

LYTTELTON SEAT

Representation By McCombs Family

FATHER, MOTHER, AND SON SINCE 1913

The defeat of Mr T. H. McCombs by Mr H. R. Lake for the Lyttelton seat means that for the first time since 1913 Lyttelton will not be represented in the House of Representatives by a member of the McCombs family. Mr McCombs’s father, Mr James McCombs won the seat in 1913 at a by-election and held it at six successive elections, although in 1925 his election was in doubt for some time. On that occasion as a result of a tie in the voting the returning officer gave his casting vote in favour of Mr M. E. Lyons, who opposed Mr McCombs. A Magisterial recount gave Mr Lyons a majority of six votes, but on petition to the electoral court, Mr McCombs won the seat. When Mr McCombs senior died in 1933 his widow, Mrs E. R. McCombs, stood for the electorate and was elected. She remained in Parliament until the middle of 1935, when she died. Her son won the seat at a byelection a few months later, father, mother and son all sitting in the san\e Parliament. He was returned again at the General Election in the same year and at succeeding elections until the present.

Mr McCombs, who is 46 years old Was a teacher before entering politics. From 1945 until 1947 he was undersecretary to the Minister of Finance, and from 1947 until the defeat of the Labour Government in 1949 was Minister of Education and Minister in charge of Scientific and Industrial Research He is a member of the Christchurch City Council and has served on the Lyttelton Harbour Board, the Christchurch Domains th £ Ca,lte rbury College Council c.nd the Board of Governors of Canterbury Agricultural College. service in Parliament entitles Mr McCombs to the maximum superannuation of £4OO a year, but the provisions of the act bar him from drawing anything until he is 50 years

Supporters Thanked I w-ish to congratulate Mr Lake on his success and to thank all those who have worked and voted for me in the h » ave been the member of Parhaff’eht for Lyttelton,” said Mr McCombs last evening. v .‘‘ Of , ° ne thing 1 have gained some Knowledge since the announcement of r r SU^ ow ma ny people J rle £ d £ feelings toward me,” said Mr McCombs. He had received many expressions of friendliness and ’ t F d ° f hC P " Wh Ph he greallv ®IW-

Asked whether he rnmh 3 a ? lste u ria J recount - Mr McCombs said he had no comment to

Mr McCombs has not yet had time to make uo his imtid what he will do X'X k hat n h 1- time wPI nnt be "coupled by Parliamentary duties, but he V lB *- be re t ur hed to his former profession he would be ™™V rea , te £ s ?- ,Bry than an ordinary member of Parliament.

NEW MEMBERS OF HOUSE

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

The following are biogranhieal notes Pariv e Jbn O a' nern K ers of , tbe National Party who have been elected to Parliament on the final count:— ivr H ’ R ' Lake (Lyttelton) Mr Lake is a 39-year-old accountant I in practice in Christchurch. He was nJ 1 ? 6 * £ ity , and educated at the hristcbdr , cb High School and A^ te , rbury University Colleg" In 1 fo? th e N°?- teSt^ o tb ? BiMarton’ seat for the National Party, of which he has been a member for many years, rnf • 1 ‘? u e b ? s £? en a member of the Christchurch Drainage Board for a number of years end was formerly on the council of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association. y m !? r P ’ I * it (Napier) Ta *' w . b M 1S 36 years old, is a N° n n^ ar w r ’? ta,le s ih business in Napier. .He is a deacon of the Baptist Church in Napier. He is well known in the district as an amateur enterfnt ner t an ?i ass!sted in raising funds for patriotic purposes during the war £ a . member of the executive of keen bowler nB AsBociati "n and a