1944 Christchurch mayoral election

January 2020 January 2020 1944 Christchurch mayoral election New Zealand Christchurch COA pre-1949.jpg Presidential no 36,754 1941 Christchurch mayoral election 1941 1947 Christchurch mayoral election 1947 27 May 1944 no 140x120px Ernest Andrews Citizens' DDEEFF 22,765 62.43 140x120px Robert Macfarlane Labour 13,702 37.57 Mayor Ernest Andrews Citizens' Ernest Andrews Citizens' The 1944 Christchurch City mayoral election was held on 27 May. The incumbent was Ernest Andrews of the conservative Citizens' Association. Andrews was challenged by his predecessor, Robert Macfarlane, of the Labour Party, who had returned from active war service. Andrews won by a large majority.Mayoral election: Mr Andrews's majority increased to 9063 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440602.2.38 18 January 2020 The Press LXXX 24273 2 June 1944 4 Background Andrews was the only person who sought nomination from the Citizens' Association. His candidacy for the group was decided on 17 February 1944.Candidate for mayoralty: Mr E. H. Andrews to stand https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440218.2.30 18 January 2020 The Press LXXX 24185 18 February 1944 4 Macfarlane had been the mayor from 1938 to 1941, and had not stood in the previous election as he wanted to go to war. He was discharged from the army after serving in the Middle East for two and a half years due to ill health.Clark Kath 4m10 Macfarlane, Robert Mafeking 19 January 2020 When Andrews' nomination was announced, the local newspaper The Press stated that the Labour Party had yet to make its selection, but that "it is said to be certain" that Macfarlane would be their candidate.Labour candidate https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440218.2.30 19 January 2020 The Press LXXX 24185 18 February 1944 4 Three Labour candidates sought nomination: Macfarlane (who had been MP for Christchurch South since a 1939 by-election), Mabel Howard (who had become MP for Christchurch East in a 1943 by-election, and Harold Denton (an unsuccessful candidate in the Riccarton electorate in the 1943 general election).Candidates for mayoralty: three Labour nominees https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440310.2.31 19 January 2020 The Press LXXX 24203 10 March 1944 4 Macfarlane's selection was announced on 17 March 1944.Mayoral contest: Mr R. M. Macfarlane the Labour nominee https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440317.2.38 19 January 2020 The Press LXXX 24209 17 March 1944 4 Candidates Ernest Andrews Ernest Herbert Andrews was a senior city councillor whose candidacy was announced on 17 February 1944. Andrews had been born in 1873 near Nelson. He had studied at Canterbury University College and had been a school teacher in various parts of the country before settling in Christchurch with a printing business in 1907. A representative cricketer, he was involved with numerous organisations.Who's Who in New Zealand Scholefield Guy Guy Scholefield 1951 5th A.H. & A.W. Reed Wellington 6 He had continuously been a member of Christchurch City Council since 1919, had chaired almost every council committee, and had been deputy-mayor under John Beanland (1936–1938).City mayoralty: Mr E. H. Andrews a candidate 19 January 2020 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19401206.2.15 The Press LXXVI 23196 6 December 1940 3 He had first stood for mayor in the 1941 local election and was the incumbent. Robert Macfarlane Macfarlane was born in Christchurch in 1900. Raised by his grandmother, he attended Waltham School and may have had two years of high school. He worked in various labour job. In 1918, he joined the Christchurch Socialist Party and became its president shortly after. In 1919, he joined the Christchurch South branch of the Labour Party. When the Christchurch East branch of the Labour Party was founding in 1922, Macfarlane became its inaugural secretary. In 1925, he became secretary of the North Canterbury Labour Representation Committee.The Municipal Elections: Mr Macfarlane for Mayoralty https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19380225.2.68 19 January 2020 The Press LXXIV 22336 25 February 1938 12 He was first elected onto Christchurch City Council in 1927 but failed to get re-elected in 1929. In the 1935 general election, he stood in the Christchurch North electorate and got narrowly beaten by Sidney Holland. He regained a seat on Christchurch City Council in a by-election in 1936. He was Mayor of Christchurch from 1938 to 1941, and had continuously represented the Christchurch South since 1939 despite his lengthy absence due to war service. Results The election was held on Saturday, 27 May 1944, from 9a.m. to 6p.m.Public notices 19 January 2020 The Press LXXX https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440525.2.40.2 24266 25 May 1944 3 For the first time, enrolment had become compulsory, although voting itself was not compulsory (as it remains to this day). There were five separate elections for Christchurch people: mayor (2 candidates), city council (46 candidates for 16 positions), the North Canterbury Hospital Board (27 candidates for 10 positions), and the Lyttelton Harbour Board (9 candidates for 4 positions), and the North Canterbury Catchment Board (newly constituted; 9 candidates for 4 positions).Local body elections: polling to-day 19 January 2020 The Press LXXX 27 May 1944 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440527.2.51 24268 6The municipal elections: record numbers of candidates 19 January 2020 The Press LXXX https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440516.2.50 24258 16 May 1944 4 The first-past-the-post voting system was used and absentee voting was not allowed for. There were 23 polling booths in Christchurch Central and Richmond, 23 polling booths across Linwood, Woolston, and Mount Pleasant, 26 polling booths across St Albans and Papanui, 31 polling booths across Sydenham and Spreydon, 1 polling booth in Lyttelton, and 6 polling booths in New Brighton; a total of 110 booths. In addition, there were a total of 8 polling booths in Riccarton and Sumner for the North Canterbury Catchment Board election.Christchurch City Council 19 January 2020 The Press LXXX https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440516.2.70.1 24258 16 May 1944 7Christchurch City Council 19 January 2020 The Press LXXX 24258 16 May 1944 7 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440516.2.70.2 Andrews had a significant majority, getting 22,765 votes compared to Macfarlane's 13,702. The last time there had been such a clear majority was at the 1925 mayoral election. The turnout for the mayoral election was circa 46.4 percent.Mayoral election: Mr Andrews's majority increased to 9,063 19 January 2020 The Press LXXX 24273 2 June 1944 4 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440602.2.38 Labour heavily defeated at polls 19 January 2020 The Press LXXX 24269 29 May 1944 6 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440529.2.69.1 Mayoral election results 1944 Christchurch mayoral election Citizens' #DDEEFF Ernest Andrews 22,765 62.43 +18.46 New Zealand Labour Party Robert Macfarlane 13,702 37.57 287 0.78 9,063 24.85 +20.99 36,754 c. 46.4 Andrews was installed on 7 June 1944 at a ceremony held at the municipal offices in Manchester Street, with councillor Melville Lyons chosen as his deputy.City Council's committees: Cr. Lyons again Deputy-Mayor 19 January 2020 The Press LXXX 24278 8 June 1944 4 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440608.2.46 City councillor election results In mid-May 1944, the Electors' Association formed itself as a body for independent candidates.The municipal polls: Electors' Association formed 19 January 2020 The Press LXXX 24257 15 May 1944 4 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440515.2.48 The election saw the Labour Party gain just one seat on the city council, with three of their sitting members (John Septimus "Jack" Barnett, Teresa Green, and Harold Denton) defeated. Four councillors for the Citizens' Association were elected for the first time (James Hay, Leslie George Amos, Ron Guthrey, and John Edward Tait). In the table below the final voting numbers reported as final are shown. The last six placing candidates lost their NZ£3 deposit.One Labour seat: position on city council: three sitting members defeated 19 January 2020 The Press LXXX 24269 29 May 1944 4 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440529.2.69.2 1944 Christchurch local electionChristchurch City Council 15 February 2020 The Press LXXX 24278 8 June 1944 7 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440608.2.74.1 Citizens' #DDEEFF James Hay 19,933 61.58 Citizens' #DDEEFF Melville Lyons 19,516 60.29 -0.95 Citizens' #DDEEFF Ron Guthrey 18,967 58.59 Citizens' #DDEEFF Mary McLean 18,656 57.63 +6.38 Citizens' #DDEEFF Jim Clarke 17,953 55.46 -3.07 Citizens' #DDEEFF Leslie George Amos 17,545 54.20 Citizens' #DDEEFF Bill Glue 17,369 53.66 +3.73 Citizens' #DDEEFF Reginald Gilbert Brown 17,211 53.17 +0.39 Citizens' #DDEEFF Clyde Sheppard 17,027 52.60 +2.43 Citizens' #DDEEFF Frank Sturmer Wilding 16,880 52.15 -5.71 New Zealand Labour Party George Manning 16,574 51.20 -4.10 Citizens' #DDEEFF John Edward Tait 16,464 50.86 Citizens' #DDEEFF John James Hurley 16,333 50.46 -1.55 Citizens' #DDEEFF Hugh Paterson Donald 16,281 50.29 -0.55 Citizens' #DDEEFF Walter Llewellyn King 16,054 49.59 Citizens' #DDEEFF George Griffiths 15,973 49.34 +0.59 New Zealand Labour Party Jack Barnett 15,957 49.29 -11.37 Citizens' #DDEEFF Donald Sinclair Murchison 15,637 48.31 New Zealand Labour Party Mabel Howard 15,608 48.22 +1.58 New Zealand Labour Party Teresa Green 15,536 47.99 -2.39 New Zealand Labour Party Edward Parlane 15,034 46.44 New Zealand Labour Party Harold Denton 14,824 45.79 -6.21 New Zealand Labour Party Lyn Christie 13,086 40.42 New Zealand Labour Party Thomas Nuttall 12,923 39.92 -8.05 New Zealand Labour Party Ernest Alan Sharp 12,199 37.68 -6.31 New Zealand Labour Party John Edward Jones 12,140 37.50 -7.49 New Zealand Labour Party George William Dell 11,973 36.99 New Zealand Labour Party James Shankland 11,321 34.97 New Zealand Labour Party James William Morgan 11,066 34.18 New Zealand Labour Party Tommy Martin 10,479 32.37 -5.10 New Zealand Labour Party Frederick Kelso 10,358 32.00 -5.12 New Zealand Labour Party Patrick Joseph Kelly 8,761 27.06 Independent politician William Henry Davies 3,837 11.85 Democratic Labour Party (New Zealand) Gordon Kelly 3,645 11.26 Communist Party of New Zealand William John Whiting 3,130 9.67 Electors' Association Fred Whiley 2,822 8.71 Democratic Labour Party (New Zealand) David John Upton 2,670 8.24 Electors' Association Robert McKenzie Bailey 2,350 7.26 Electors' Association George Thomas Baker 2,239 6.91 Democratic Labour Party (New Zealand) Henry Maloney 2,032 6.27 Independent politician Lynwood Hollings 1,941 5.99 -4.48 Electors' Association Vincent Francis Roberts 1,882 5.81 Democratic Labour Party (New Zealand) Trevor Roland Hill 1,825 5.63 Democratic Labour Party (New Zealand) John Ranby Robertson 1,558 4.81 Democratic Labour Party (New Zealand) Morris Sears 1,084 3.34 Electors' Association Ernest Yealands 1,041 3.21 References Category:Mayoral elections in Christchurch Category:1944 elections in New Zealand Category:Politics of Christchurch Category:1940s in Christchurch Category:May 1944 in Oceania