1911 Christchurch North by-election

New Zealand by-election April 2024 April 2022 1911 Christchurch North by-election New Zealand 1911 presidential no 1908 New Zealand general election 1908 general 1911 New Zealand general election 1911 general 1911 08 17 y 6,921 100px Leonard Isitt Independent Liberal FFDD00 3,815 100px Dryden Hall Reform Party (New Zealand) Member Tommy Taylor Leonard Isitt Liberal–Labour (New Zealand) Independent Liberal The 1911 Christchurch North by-election was a by-election during the 17th New Zealand Parliament held on 17 August that year in the Christchurch North electorate. It was triggered by the death of sitting member Tommy Taylor on 27 July and was won by his close friend and political ally, Leonard Isitt. Background Taylor had come to national prominence over prohibition even before he was first elected to parliament in the 1896. A radical politician, he was interested in a variety of labour and liberal issues, but was a staunch opponent of Richard Seddon and always maintained his independence, going as far as refusing company ownership or joining cabinet. On a personal level, he was deeply popular with the population, and when he died aged 49 only months after having been elected Mayor of Christchurch, 50,000 people lined the streets during his funeral procession.Grigg Anthony R. 2t16 Taylor, Thomas Edward 28 October 2013 Candidates and campaign At the time, Taylor had been one of New Zealand's most colourful politicians. Naturally, when it came to discussions around his succession in the Christchurch North electorate, a focus was on people who could advance some of the causes that had been important to Taylor. The two politicians mentioned in this context were Leonard Isitt and James McCombs. The next general election was not too far away and McCombs had already committed himself to contest Christchurch East, and he thus declined. He also stated that he was too busy during the by-election campaign period, as he had committed himself to organise the Taylor memorial fund, for which he was secretary.North Christchurch http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS19110731.2.38 24 December 2015 The Star 10219 31 July 1911 3 Isitt accepted the nomination. Also a prohibitionist and a close friend of Taylor's, Isitt was at his bedside when he died. Labour interests did not stand a candidate against Isitt out of respect for Taylor. The conservative candidate was Dryden Hall, the second son of a former premier, John Hall.Obituary http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP19410710.2.50 24 December 2015 The Press LXXVII 23377 10 July 1941 8 Results The following table gives the election results: Commentators attributed the win of successful candidate Leonard Isitt to floods of sympathy votes. Isitt held the Christchurch North electorate until he retired at the 1925. Wilson James Oakley New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 4th First published in 1913 1985 V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer Wellington 154283103 207 Hall contested the Christchurch North electorate in the 1911 general election a few months after the by-election, but was beaten by Isitt in the second ballot.AtoJs 1911 election 1912 Mansfield F. W. The General Election, 1911 http://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&d=AJHR1909-II.2.5.2.12 National Library 25 April 2015 1912 4 References Christchurch North 1911 Category:1911 elections in New Zealand Category:1910s in Christchurch Category:Politics of Christchurch Category:August 1911 in Oceania