1957 Papua New Guinean general election

none General elections were held in Papua and New Guinea on 31 August 1957. Electoral system The 29-member Legislative Council consisted of the Administrator, 16 civil servants, nine members appointed by the Administrator (three representatives of the indigenous population, three representing European settlers and three representing missionaries) and three elected Europeans.Local voice in Papua-N. Guinea administration: Legislative Council Taking Shape After Long Delay Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1951, p9 The Chinese community were also given the right to vote alongside Europeans.Future of Chinese Communities In The Pacific Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1953, p40 The three elected members were elected from three single-member constituencies, New Guinea Islands, New Guinea Mainland and Papua by preferential voting.P-NG Legislative Council: Election of Three Members Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1951, p11 Voting was not compulsory.P-NGs Second Council Elections, October 2 Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1954, p31 Automatic postal voting was introduced for all registered voters who lived over ten miles from the nearest polling station. Campaign In New Guinea Islands, incumbent MLC Don Barrett was opposed by Dudley Jones, a Rabaul lawyer.New Postal Voting Formula: Elections for New Council in Papua-N. Guinea Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1957, p29 George Whittaker did not stand for re-election in New Guinea Mainland after retiring. The seat was contested by Ian Downs, a former District Commissioner, and Sydney Barker, a dentist and miner from Wau.Forthright Candidates Stir Interest In P-N. Guinea Poll Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1957, pp19–20 The Papua seat was contested by the incumbent Ernest James and Craig Kirke, a solicitor based in Port Moresby. Results Dudley Jones unexpectedly defeated Don Barrett in New Guinea Islands, whilst Ian Downs was elected in New Guinea Mainland and Ernest James was re-elected in Papua.New Faces in P-NG Legco Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1957, p19 Over 3,000 people voted, a significant increase on the 734 votes cast in the 1954 elections (although one seat had been uncontested). Appointed members Doris Booth declined to be re-nominated as a European member, with John Hohnen nominated in her place, whilst Merari Dickson was replaced by Mahuru Rarua-Rarua as a native representative. PositionMemberRepresentatives of EuropeansRobert BuntingBasil Fairfax-RossJohn HohnenRepresentatives of NativesMahuru Rarua-RaruaPita SimogunJohn VuiaRepresentatives of MissionariesJames DwyerPhilip StrongDavid Eric Ure References Category:Elections in Papua New Guinea Papua Category:1957 in Papua New Guinea Category:Politics of Papua and New Guinea Category:Election and referendum articles with incomplete results Category:August 1957 in Oceania