Mabel Howard

The Honourable Mabel Howard
9th Minister of Social Security
In office 12 December 1957 – 12 December 1960
Prime Minister	Walter Nash
Preceded by	Hilda Ross
Succeeded by	Norman Shelton
14th Minister of Health
In office 29 May 1947 – 13 December 1949
Prime Minister	Peter Fraser
Preceded by	Arnold Nordmeyer
Succeeded by	Jack Watts
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Sydenham Christchurch East (1943–1946)
In office 6 February 1943 – 29 November 1969
Preceded by	Tim Armstrong
Succeeded by	Norman Kirk
Personal details
Born	(1894-04-18)18 April 1894 Bowden, Adelaide, Australia
Died	23 June 1972(1972-06-23) (aged 78) Sunnyside Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Relations	Ted Howard (father)
Profession	Politician, trade unionist, and community worker

Mabel Bowden Howard (18 April 1894 – 23 June 1972) was a well-known New Zealand trade unionist and politician. She was the first woman secretary of a predominantly male union (the Canterbury General Labourers' Union).

She was a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party from 1943 until 1969. In 1947 she became New Zealand's first woman cabinet minister when she was made Minister of Health and Minister in charge of Child Welfare.^[1] She is remembered for waving two large pairs of bloomers in Parliament in support of her successful campaign to have clothing sizes standardised.