1962 Buller by-election

New Zealand by-election April 2024 July 2019 1962 Buller by-election New Zealand 2010 presidential no 1960 New Zealand general election 1960 general 1963 New Zealand general election 1963 general Buller 1962 7 7 y 11,691 (79.40%) 120x120px Bill Rowling New Zealand Labour Party 5,242 44.98 100px Ernie King New Zealand National Party 4,846 41.58 120x120px P. H. Matthews Social Credit Party (New Zealand) 1,566 13.44 Member Jerry Skinner New Zealand Labour Party Bill Rowling New Zealand Labour Party The Buller by-election 1962 was a by-election held in the Buller electorate in the West Coast during the term of the 33rd New Zealand Parliament, on 7 July 1962. The by-election was caused by the death of incumbent MP Jerry Skinner of the Labour Party (and a likely future leader) on 26 April 1962.Wilson 1985 234 The by-election was won by Bill Rowling, also of the Labour Party (and a future leader).Wilson 1985 232 The Social Credit candidate P. H. Matthews was also the leader of the party. Date The initial date of the by-election announced by the Prime Minister Keith Holyoake was 21 July, contrary to expectations it would be early to mid June, by extending the time allowed for the issue of the writ in order to coincide with another by-election in Timaru. The Leader of the Opposition Walter Nash criticized the decision saying it was a "nullification of democracy" and motivated to place the election after the budget to allow the government to spend its money electioneering.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19620526.2.133 Buller By-election Delayed Till July The Press 26 May 1962 CI 29832 12 The Social Credit Party were also critical of the decision claiming National were frightened following its decreased majorities at the recent by-elections in Hurunui and Waitaki.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19620526.2.137 Criticism of Move - Social Credit Reaction The Press 26 May 1962 CI 29832 12 The decision to delay was later threatened on legal grounds by the Labour Party who challenged it in the Supreme Court.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19620530.2.97 Court Action Suggested on By-election Delay The Press 30 May 1962 CI 29835 14 The government backed down and changed the date to 7 July.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19620531.2.78 Date for Buller Poll Changed - By-election Now to Be Held on July 7 The Press CI 29836 31 May 1962 10 Candidates Labour There were several names put forward as potential Labour nominees for the Labour Party candidacy:https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19620507.2.131 By-election in Buller - Possible Labour Nominees The Press 7 May 1962 CI 29815 12 Mr M. Organ, a Labour Party member formerly of the Westport branch Robert Philp, the chairman of the Buller County Council Neville Pickering, the former MP for St Albans Claude Rielly, of the Takaka branch of the Labour Party Bill Rowling, Labour's candidate for Fendalton in 1960 Terry Skinner, Secretary of the Southern Buller Labour Representation Committee (Jerry Skinner's son) Philip Skoglund, the former MP for Palmerston North and Minister of Education Rielly declined the invitation to seek the nomination and Philp withdrew after he suffered a mild stroke.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19620519.2.105 By-election in Buller - Selections Today The Press 19 May 1962 CI 29826 10 Rowling was chosen after winning a ballot of local party members at a meeting of party members in Murchison.Henderson 1981 68https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19620521.2.110 Candidates in Buller By-election Chosen The Press 21 May 1962 CI 29827 10 National Two people sought the National Party candidature.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19620518.2.124 Two Nominations For National In Buller Electorate The Evening Post 18 May 1962 10 Ernie King, a stud stock specialist from Appleby who was National's candidate for Buller in 1960 Charles Mclntosh Robertson, a company manager from Westport King was chosen as the National candidate after winning a ballot of members at a meeting in Motueka. Social Credit The Social Credit Party chose P. H. Matthews as their candidate. Matthews was leader of the party and had contested Buller in both 1957 and 1960.Candidate for Buller The New Zealand Herald 14 May 1962 3 Campaign The New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation announced there would be no pre-election addresses broadcast in the by-election but would have full coverage of the polling results.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19620530.2.97 No Broadcasts By Candidates The Press 30 May 1962 CI 29835 14 Results The following table gives the election results: Notes References Henderson John Rowling: The Man and the Myth 1981 Fraser Books Auckland 0-908620-03-9 Norton Clifford New Zealand parliamentary election results, 1946–1987 1988 Victoria University of Wellington Department of Political Science Wellington 0-475-11200-8 Wilson James Oakley New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 4th First published in 1913 1985 V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer Wellington 154283103 Buller 1962 Category:1962 elections in New Zealand Category:Politics of the West Coast Region Category:July 1962 in Oceania