1891 Te Aroha by-election

New Zealand by-election July 2019 July 2019 1891 Te Aroha by-election New Zealand 1891 presidential no 1890 New Zealand general election 1890 general electorate abolished Te Aroha 1891 7 9 y 1,437 120x120px William Fraser New Zealand Liberal Party 875 60.89 120x120px Walter Buller New Zealand Liberal Party 523 36.40 Member William Shepherd Allen William Fraser Independent politician New Zealand Liberal Party The 1891 Te Aroha by-election was a by-election held on 9 July 1891 during the 11th New Zealand Parliament in the Waikato electorate of Te Aroha. The 1890 general election in the Te Aroha electorate had been contested by William Shepherd Allen and William Fraser. Allen was elected, but Fraser mounted a successful election petition, and Allen was disqualified from standing again. The by-election was contested by Fraser and Sir Walter Buller, the well known ornithologist, who both represented the Liberal Party, plus a third candidate who was not taken seriously. Shortly before the election, the Liberal Government made Fraser its official candidate. A candidate representing the opposition pulled out of the contest in late June, as it was clear that only a Liberal Party supporter could win. Fraser won the by-election, obtaining more than 60% of the votes. Background The Te Aroha electorate was first formed for the 11th New Zealand Parliament in 1890.Wilson 1985 273 William Shepherd Allen and William Fraser contested the 1890. Allen had a majority of 235 votes and was declared elected. Te Aroha Seat http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=BOPT18901208.2.11 8 January 2011 Bay of Plenty Times XVIII 2564 8 December 1890 2 Fraser petitioned against the election on three grounds: that Allen (who at the time of the election was overseas) had not given his consent to being nominated, that scrutineers had not been appointed by Allen in writing, and charges of bribery, corruption and treating of Allen's agents. The case was heard over two and a half days by Chief Justice James Prendergast and by Justice Edward Conolly. They issued their judgement on 3 April 1891, and declared that Allen's nomination was legal, charges of bribery or corruption were not proven, but that T. O. Hammond having been a paid agent of Allen was in violation of the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act, 1881, and the election was thus declared void. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=THA18910404.2.14 The Te Aroha Election 2 February 2013 Thames Advertiser XXIV 6882 4 April 1891 2 http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=THA18910406.2.21 The Te Aroha Election 2 February 2013 Thames Advertiser XXIV 6883 6 April 1891 2 http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=THA18910404.2.9 The Thames Advertiser 2 February 2013 Thames Advertiser XXIV 6882 4 April 1891 2 There was then legal argument that Fraser should be declared duly elected instead, but Justice Conolly rejected this, stating that it was up to the House of Representatives to decide on that. The judges disqualified Allen from standing in the Te Aroha electorate for 12 months, but he could contest by-elections in other electorates should they arise. The Te Aroha Election http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18910413.2.53 1 February 2013 The Press XLVIII 7836 13 April 1891 6 Telegraphic http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=BOPT18910415.2.7 2 February 2013 Bay of Plenty Times XVIII 2615 15 April 1891 2 Allen regretted that he could not contest the upcoming by-election. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=THA18910427.2.15 The Thames Advertiser 2 February 2013 Thames Advertiser XXIV 6901 27 April 1891 2 Some of his friends decided to petition parliament to have the disqualification overturned. The Public Petition Committee reported to the House on 10 July (i.e. the day after the by-election) and recommended that the Government pass a bill to remove the stigma of disqualification. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AG18910711.2.5.1 House of Representatives 2 February 2013 Ashburton Guardian XII 2403 11 July 1891 2 The following table gives the final 1890 election results: 1890 general election: Te ArohaThe General Election, 1890 http://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&cl=search&d=AJHR1891-I.2.1.6.2 National Library 25 February 2012 1891 Independent politician William Shepherd Allen 786 56.34 New Zealand Liberal Party William Fraser 609 43.65 175 12.54 1,395 48.60 2,870 Candidates Various potential candidates were approached by the electors and discussed in the newspapers. Fraser, a supporter of the Liberal Party, confirmed that he would contest the by-election on 15 April, after it had previously been reported that he would not stand again. William Herries of Shaftesbury in Piako County was asked to become a candidate in April. The Te Aroha Seat http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP18910416.2.29 2 February 2013 Evening Post XLI 89 16 April 1891 2 Joseph Dargaville, who had previously represented the Auckland West electorate, was discussed as a probable candidate, and the potential candidacy of Sir Maurice O'Rorke, who after 29 years in Parliament had been defeated at the 1890 election, was rumoured. The lawyer and ornithologist Walter Buller, who had previously been unsuccessful in the 1876 and 1881s,Galbreath Ross 1b46 Buller, Walter Lawry - Biography 23 October 2012 started canvassing in the electorate as a supporter of the Liberal Government during April. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=THS18910423.2.6 The Te Aroha Seat 29 June 2011 Thames Star XXIII 6863 23 April 1891 2 William McCullough, a former Mayor of Thames, was asked in mid June to stand in the upcoming by-election. New Zealand http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18910618.2.42 2 February 2013 The Press XLVIII 7893 18 June 1891 5 William Murray, who had until 1881 represented the Te Aroha electorate, was understood to be a candidate for the opposition to the ruling Liberal Government. Untitled http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CL18910619.2.9 2 February 2013 Clutha Leader XVII 883 19 June 1891 5 Dr. Charles Broome of Huntly announced his candidacy in late June, Te Aroha Election http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP18910624.2.42 2 February 2013 Evening Post XLI 147 24 June 1891 3 but his nomination was regarded as a "joke" by the local newspaper, the Thames Star. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=THS18910710.2.13 Te Aroha Election 29 June 2011 Thames Star XXIII 6930 10 July 1891 2 Lemuel Bagnall was another candidate. He retired from the contest in late June, as the public showed strong support for the government, and that as opposition candidate he would not find sufficient support. Untitled http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WH18910625.2.8 2 February 2013 Wanganui Herald XXV 7448 25 June 1891 2 Election Nominations were received by 29 June from Fraser, Buller, and Broome. The Te Aroha Seat http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP18910629.2.43 2 February 2013 Evening Post XLI 151 29 June 1891 3 On 1 July, the government decided to make Fraser its official candidate. The Te Aroha Election http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=ODT18910702.2.18 2 February 2013 Otago Daily Times 9157 2 July 1891 3 The by-election was held on 9 July 1891 and was won by Fraser. The following table gives the election results: Fraser represented the electorate until the end of the parliamentary term in 1893,Wilson 1985 198 when the electorate was abolished again.Wilson 1985 273 Notes References Wilson James Oakley New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 4th First ed. published 1913 1985 V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer Wellington 154283103 Te Aroha 1891 Category:1891 elections in New Zealand Category:Te Aroha Te Aroha by-election, 1891