1899 City of Wellington by-election

New Zealand by-election April 2024 July 2019 1899 Wellington by-election New Zealand 1899 presidential no 1896 New Zealand general election 1896 general 1899 New Zealand general election 1899 general 25 July 1899 11,916 (77.26%) 150x150px John Hutcheson Liberal–Labour (New Zealand) 6,945 58.28 150x150px Edwin Jellicoe Independent politician 4,971 41.72 Member John Hutcheson Liberal–Labour (New Zealand) John Hutcheson Liberal–Labour (New Zealand) The 25 July 1899 City of Wellington by-election was caused by the resignation of incumbent MP John Hutcheson over the Marine Scandal.An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand First published in 1966 Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/trials-notable/page-8 A. H. McLintock Alexander Hare McLintock 24 December 2015 "Marine Scandal", 1899 22 April 2009 Hutcheson, along with MP Frederick Pirani had accused Premier Richard Seddon and Minister of Marine William Hall-Jones amongst others, of using influence to obtain Mariners certificates for unqualified candidates in contravention of the recent Shipping and Seamen's Act.http://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/hist_act/sasaaa189458v1894n62374/sasaaa189458v1894n62374.html Shipping and Seamen's Act Amendment Act 1894 (58 VICT 1894 No 62) 24 December 2015 Parliamentary Counsel Office 1894 When the Marine Commission report https://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&cl=search&d=AJHR1899-I.2.4.2.1 Marine Commission: Commission to Inquire into Certain Matters Relating to the Marine Department 1899 24 December 2015 National Library of New Zealand declared that the charges were unfounded Hutcheson resigned in order to exonerate himself by means of a by-election win. Background John Hutcheson, the member for the City of Wellington and a former ship rigger attacked the Premier Richard Seddon and his Minister of Marine William Hall-Jones from the floor of the House of Representatives alleging wrongful use of their ministerial powers when issuing master mariners' certificates. Seddon spent several hours in a witness box refuting the serious charges laid against him and his minister in a trial that played out more like an impeachment of him and his government. Fifteen days of court proceedings, and at the end of the hearing District Judge Ward and Dr Joseph Giles found that the charges against Seddon and Hall-Jones of wrongful use of their ministerial powers were completely unfounded. A 380-page report of the Marine Commission of 1899 upheld their integrity of any wrongdoing. Candidates Hutcheson declared on his resignation on 6 July, that he no longer supported Seddon's Liberal government and would stand separate of it as an independent liberal–labour candidate. He asked electors to endorse his shift of allegiance as it contradicted his pledge to voters when he was elected in 1896.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBH18990707.2.9 Wellington Gossip Hawke's Bay Herald XXXIV 11270 7 July 1899 3 Days later Hutcheson clarified he would remain a supporter of the Liberal Party, though an independent supporter of it.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT18990711.2.36 The Wellington By-Election Otago Daily Times 11472 11 July 1899 5 Hutcheson was still supported by the labour movement with the Trades Council placed on record, by a large majority, its confidence in him.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM18990707.2.13.2 Confidence In Mr. Hutcheson Nelson Evening Mail XXXIII 157 7 July 1899 3 The conservative opposition decided against standing a candidate in the election, deciding not to run against Hutcheson.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GRA18990707.2.17 New Zealand Telegrams Grey River Argus LVII 10327 7 July 1899 4 Edwin George Jellicoe, a lawyer, stood as an independent candidate though was actually the government candidate.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WCT18990719.2.6 The Independent Member West Coast Times 11346 19 July 1899 2 He had stood as a Liberal Party candidate at the 1890 general election. The names of two other candidates were mentioned in both Justinian Powell and furniture dealer Henry Fielder, however both their candidatures were regarded 'lightly if not jocularly.'https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/PGAMA18990721.2.10 Wellington Notes Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate 10 56 21 July 1899 2 1899 by-election result The following table gives the election results: See also 1898 City of Wellington by-election Notes References Electoral Atlas of New Zealand McRobie Alan 1989 GP Books Wellington 0-477-01384-8 Wellington 1899 Category:Politics of the Wellington Region Category:1899 elections in New Zealand Category:1890s in Wellington Category:July 1899 in Oceania