Trade unions

Howard joined the Christchurch Socialist Party when still at the Christchurch Technical Institute. She entered the Trades Hall in 1911 as an office assistant for the Canterbury General Labourers' Union.^[4] In 1933, at the age of 39, she became the first woman to become secretary of a predominantly male union in New Zealand.^[2] In 1942, she was appointed national secretary of the New Zealand Federated Labourers' Union and was again the first woman to hold such a position.^[4]

Local body politics

Between 1933 and 1968, Howard was a councillor for Christchurch City Council for a total of 19 years: 1933–1935, 1938–1941, 1950–1958 and 1963–1968.^[5] Howard also served on the Christchurch Drainage Board and North Canterbury Hospital Board.^[6]

Member of Parliament

Her father, Ted Howard, was Member of Parliament for Christchurch South from 1919 until his death in 1939. Mabel Howard hoped to be chosen to stand for the 1939 by-election after her father's death,^[7] and although she had local support, the Labour Party chose Christchurch mayor Robert Macfarlane.

In 1943, Mabel Howard was elected Member of Parliament for Christchurch East at a by-election, becoming the fifth female MP.^[8] She retained the seat at the 1943 general election, becoming the first woman MP to be re-elected.

In 1946 Mabel Howard became the Member of Parliament for the new Sydenham electorate, winning 75.2 percent of the vote. This was an outstanding result; a reflection of the high regard in which she was held. Howard's concern was for "women, the aged, the sick and the unfortunate" (5 September 1944).^[9] In Parliament, she was a "forthright" representative for her people, stating "I stand here and say what I honestly believe" (September 1961).^[10]

In Parliament in 1954, she waved two pairs of bloomers that were both labelled OS in front of an astonished House. She demonstrated that, although clothing was supposed to be in standard sizes and correctly labelled, much variation existed. The two pieces were quite clearly of differing sizes. Although opposed by clothing manufacturers, she received much support from the House, including from National Party members and standardisation was legislated.^[2][11] On another occasion, she threw a stone onto the floor of Parliament to illustrate what buyers of bagged coal may find.^[11] Before an election campaign in the early 1960s, she said she intended to campaign in a pair of slippers to demonstrate the difficulty in obtaining practical shoes for women: "Those offered all have extremely pointed toes and stiletto heels, which ruined footpaths and carpets".^[4]

Cabinet Minister

Howard became a Cabinet Minister only four years after entering Parliament. In 1947, she became Minister of Health and Child Welfare; the first woman Cabinet Minister in the Commonwealth outside of Britain. When the Labour Party was returned to office in 1957, Howard again achieved Cabinet rank as Minister of Social Security and Child Welfare and Minister for the Welfare of Women and Children. Harry Atmore, the Independent MP for Nelson, recognised Mabel Howard's contribution to New Zealand: "She is a real advocate for the women of this country and with the experience she has had – much wider than ladies of her age usually have – she can speak with authority".^[12]

Howard advocated for equal rights for women, especially equal pay, and campaigned on many issues including social security, the cost of living and housing.^[4] She stated that she "worked like a slave". She is quoted as saying:^[11]

I was in politics for a purpose – my very life was politics. I suppose this was because I was more manly than most women; that’s why I never married.