18 Facts About James McCombs

James McCombs was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for Lyttelton.

James McCombs came to New Zealand with his parents in 1876 as a three-year-old.

James McCombs was educated at Sydenham School and Christchurch East School.

James McCombs still remained involved in the Anglican Church and was an active member of the Church of England Men's Society and, inspired by his religious beliefs, he became a prohibitionist and became a leading member of the prohibitionist movement in Canterbury.

James McCombs believed that the aims of the Christian Socialism in which he believed were better expressed via community and political activities.

James McCombs was involved in the temperance movement, the Progressive Liberal Association and was a friend of George Laurenson.

James McCombs became a member of the Liberal Party and in the 1890s he organised election campaigns for both Taylor and Ell.

James McCombs served on the Christchurch City Council between 1913 and 1917 and again from 1931 until 1933.

James McCombs reduced rates and protected council employees from any further wage cuts in an attempt to both dampen unemployment and stimulate the economy of the city.

James McCombs contested the 1917 mayoral election against the incumbent, Henry Holland, along the lines of win-the-war and anti-conscription.

The result was a crushing defeat of James McCombs; Holland received 12,177 votes and James McCombs received 5,381.

James McCombs represented the Lyttelton electorate for 20 years from the 1913 by-election.

James McCombs was part of the committee which drafted the founding constitution and programme of the New Zealand Labour Party in 1916.

James McCombs then became inaugural president of the Labour Party.

James McCombs made claim to the title but was opposed by the more militant Harry Holland.

Lyons' election was declared void on 13 March 1926, and James McCombs was restored as the holder of the electorate.

James McCombs held the electorate until 1933, when he died in office.

James McCombs died at Christchurch on 2 August 1933 from heart failure, and was buried in Waimairi Cemetery.