Ted Howard

Ted Howard (18 June 1868 – 26 April 1939), born as Edwin John Harney, was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party, and the father of cabinet minister Mabel Howard. He had been a prominent member of the New Zealand Socialist Party, a precursor to the Labour Party.

Biography Early life and career Ted Howard was born as Edwin John Harney in Bristol, England, in 1868 to Edwin John Harney (a house painter) and his wife Sarah Ann Osgood who later ran a theatrical company. He was educated at Plymouth before leaving school at 16. He joined the Royal Navy as an ordinary seaman. He was married on 12 February 1889 in Christchurch, New Zealand, to Harriett Garard Goring. In March 1891 he jumped ship in Auckland and took the name Edwin John Howard before joining up again with Harriett in Australia. Soon after arriving he became involved in the trade union movement at a time when interest in socialism was beginning to grow. He was elected as organiser the Canterbury General Labourers' Union in 1908 and within three months he had signed up almost 400 new members, after two years almost all of Christchurch's labourers had joined the union. In collaboration with others, Howard had transformed unionism among the areas unskilled workers. His union organising with unions led him to political organising and in 1911 he helped secure the election of several labour candidates to the Christchurch City Council which lead to significant salary increases for civic employees in 1913. Howard organised relief for the families of men imprisoned for disobeying conscription. He was elected a member of the Christchurch City Council himself from 1917 to 1919 and again from 1923 to 1925.

By the time Labour finally won government after the election, Howard was left out of the cabinet, particularly due to his failing health from high blood pressure. He was bitterly disappointed at his omission and left the caucus with tears streaming down his face. In consolation he was offered the post of Administrator of Western Samoa, but Howard declined feeling that resigning his seat to accept would betray the trust of his electorate.

His daughter Mabel Howard hoped to be nominated as Labour's candidate for the . Despite having much local support, Labour chose Mayor of Christchurch Robert Macfarlane as their candidate. Eventually, Mabel was elected as a Member of Parliament for Christchurch East after a 1943 by-election, becoming the country's fifth female MP.