Career
Born in Glasgow, she migrated with her family to New Zealand in 1921. At Labour"s 1938 conference Stewart stated "I am not speaking as a feminist but as a woman who wishes to stand shoulder to shoulder with our men" in her acceptance to stand as a party candidate. She was the second woman to be elected to Parliament after Elizabeth McCombs and first to enter parliament as a result of a general election.
Stewart saw herself as the "Member for Everywoman" and felt obliged to concentrate on issues in the interests of women, children and those in need.
In 1941, she was joined by Mary Dreaver, also of the Labour party, bringing the total of female MPs to two. Stewart was defeated in the next election held in 1943.
Later she was unsuccessfully nominated for a position on the New Zealand Legislative Council by Labour’s Karori branch in her old electorate.
