OBITUARY

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 April 1941, Page 4

OBITUARY

• MRS. T. E. TAYLOR. CHRISTCHURCH, April 28. Mrs. Elizabeth Best Taylor, J.P., 0.8. E., wicjow of Mr. T. E. Taylor, formerly a member of the House of Representatives and Mayor of Christchurch, died in Dunedin early yesterday morning. She had been in failing health for the past few years and latterly had been living with her son-in-law and daughter, the Rev. L. C. Horwood and Mrs. Horwood, Dunedin. Few women in New Zealand had a more distinguished career of public service than had Mrs. Taylor, to whose foresight, energy and goodwill many of the most useful organisations in the city owe much. Born in Lyttelton 73 years ago, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ellison, Mrs. Taylor attended the Christchurch Training College and Canterbury University College and trained as a teacher. In 1892 she was married’to Mr. Taylor who, four years later, was elected junior member of Parliament for Christchurch. She associated herself with the political and civic duties of her husband, and being particularly interested in the lot of mothers and small children, she was one of the principal founders of the Christchurch Free Kindergartens and continued her interest in kindergarten work until her death. She was a prominent worker for the abolition of the liquor traffic, and was one of the early members of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. For many years, she was president of the local branch, and later was elected Dominion president, an office which she held for a considerable time. Mrs. Taylor also served on school committees, on the Christchurch City Council and on the Unemployment Relief Committee, and was vice-pre-sident of the Christchurch League ol Nations Union. She was appointed a Justice of the Peace and was one of the first women to sit, as magistrate’s associate, in the Children’s Court. In recognition of her fine record of public service, Mrs. Taylor received the Jubilee Medal and in 1937 was awarded the 0.8. E.

She is survived by four daughters— Mrs. C. R. Murray, Taumarunui, Mrs. Norman Page (Greymouth), Mrs. L. C. Horwood (Dunedin) and Mrs. R. G. T. Lewis (Wellington)—and one son, Mr. E. B. E. Taylor, Greymouth. Another daughter, Mrs. Luke, died some years ago. The funeral will take place in Christchurch to-morrow.