Hawthorne, Margaret Jane Scott (1869–1958)

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Hawthorne, Margaret Jane Scott (1869–1958)

New Zealand tailor, trade unionist, and factory inspector. Name variations: Margaret Jane Scott, Margaret Jane Smith. Born Margaret Jane Scott, Jan 17, 1869, in Co. Cavan, Ireland; died May 1, 1958, in Auckland, New Zealand; dau. of Henry Scott (farmer) and Anne (Kenny) Scott; m. Mark Henry Hawthorne (boot and shoe importer), 1989 (div. 1915); m. James Smith (farmer), 1916; children: 1 daughter.

Immigrated with family to New Zealand (1880); trained as a tailor and became active in trade union movement; was 1st woman secretary of Christchurch Tailoresses' and Pressers' Union; elected council vice president of Canterbury Trades and Labour Council (1894); appointed to manage Women's Branch of Department of Labour in Wellington, and then appointed as inspector of factories (1895); became one of highest paid women public servants.

See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 2).

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