May Edith Evelyn Furey (2 May 1891 – 29 December 1962) was a New Zealand machinist, political activist and feminist. She was born in London, England on 2 May 1891.

Biography

Furey was born in Islington, London in 1891, the daughter of Isabella Rose and her husband James William Edwards, a compositor. Furey was privately educated, and her family lived comfortably. She was widely read, and became interested in politics and debate. Furey was a strong advocate for women's rights and campaigned with

Women's Social and Political Union The Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) was a women-only political movement and leading militant organisation campaigning for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom founded in 1903. Known from 1906 as the suffragettes, its membership and p ...

activists Sylvia and

Christabel Pankhurst Dame Christabel Harriette Pankhurst (; 22 September 1880 – 13 February 1958) was a British suffragette born in Manchester, England. A co-founder of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), she directed Suffragette bombing and arson ca ...

in London.

First-wave feminism First-wave feminism was a period of feminist activity and thought that occurred during the 19th and early 20th century throughout the Western world. It focused on De jure, legal issues, primarily on securing women's right to vote. The term is oft ...

formed Furey's political activism. Furey married piano-maker Harry Ernest Finnimore on 1 August 1914, in London. A daughter Betty was born in 1917, but in November 1918 Harry died during the influenza epidemic. Furey travelled to Melbourne to look for work, and while employed at an outback hotel in

Echuca Echuca ( ) is a town on the banks of the Murray River and Campaspe River in Victoria (state), Victoria, Australia. The border town of Moama is adjacent on the northern side of the Murray River in New South Wales. Echuca is the administrative cen ...

, Victoria she met John Patrick Furey, a farmer. They married in 1924, in

Inglewood, Victoria Inglewood is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Calder Highway in the Shire of Loddon. History Inglewood, is known as the home of the ' Blue Mallee' Eucalyptus and is the home of Australia's largest Eucalyptus Oil Distillery, Bosis ...

, and lived in a tent until accommodation was available. In 1939, John was offered work in Christchurch. Upon arrival in New Zealand, Furey was employed as a machinist for Lichfield Shirts. Furey soon joined the New Zealand China Society, NZ-USSR Society, Christchurch Peace Council, and later the

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is an organisation that advocates unilateral nuclear disarmament by the United Kingdom, international nuclear disarmament and tighter international arms regulation through agreements such as the Nucl ...

. The Canterbury Housewives' Union (CHU) was founded by moderate Neta Neale in 1942, with support from Furey, in 1944 Furey took over as president. Under her direction the CHU became a Popular Front organisation, linked to other left-wing activists. Furey was the driving force behind the CHU until her death in 1962. Furey was a delegate to the Christchurch branches of the

National Council of Women of New Zealand The National Council of Women of New Zealand () was established in 1896, three years after women in New Zealand won the right to the vote, as an umbrella organisation uniting a number of different women's societies that existed in New Zealan ...

and the Pan-Pacific and South-East Asia Women's Association. Furey died on 29 December 1962 at Christchurch, and was survived by her daughter and son. Her husband John had died in 1958.

References

1891 births 1962 deaths New Zealand feminists New Zealand activists New Zealand women activists Activists from London 20th-century New Zealand politicians British emigrants to New Zealand English suffragettes 20th-century New Zealand women politicians {{NewZealand-politician-stub