Violet Alberta Jessie "Berta" Burns (12 March 1893 – 26 December 1972) was a New Zealand journalist and political activist. She was born on 12 March 1893. Burns met the writer Blanche Baughan in 1919 and the two were to remain life-long friends, with shared interests in social work, women's rights and writing. They worked together to set up the first branch of the Howard League for Penal Reform outside Britain in 1924. She was a member of the National Party and became the chair of the party's Brooklyn branch in 1947. At the

1949 Events January * January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2022. * January 2 – Luis ...

election she was National's candidate in Brooklyn against Labour Prime Minister Peter Fraser, where she raised National's vote but still lost by nearly 3,000 votes. After Fraser died she put herself forward to contest the by-election for the seat, but lost to Len Jacobsen. At the

1951 Events January * January 4 – Korean War: Third Battle of Seoul – Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul for the second time (having lost the Second Battle of Seoul in September 1950). * January 9 – The Government of the United ...

snap election she stood in the neighboring Wellington Central seat, where she again finished runner-up. Burns is said to have "waged spirited campaigns in safe Labour seats".

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1893 births 1972 deaths New Zealand activists New Zealand women activists New Zealand National Party politicians 20th-century New Zealand politicians Unsuccessful candidates in the 1949 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1951 New Zealand general election 20th-century New Zealand journalists 20th-century New Zealand women politicians {{NewZealand-writer-stub