1901 Napier Borough Council election

July 2025 July 2025 1901 Napier Borough Council election New Zealand 1899 Napier Borough Council election 1899 1902 Napier Borough Council election 1902 24 April 1901 2,477 yes Mayoral election John McVay Independent File:John McVay (cropped).jpg 1,204 1,252 50.55% Samuel Carnell Progressive Liberal File:Samuel Carnell (cropped).jpg 48.61% ffffaa Mayor George Swan Conservative John McVay Independent yes yes yes Council election 12 seats on the Napier Borough Council 7 Electors no NEA 5 Progressive Liberal / Electors no Independent Liberal 3 Independents 2 Progressive Liberal no Independent Liberal 1 Conservative (New Zealand) 1 The 1901 Napier Borough Council election was a local election held on 24 April in the Borough of Napier of New Zealand, as part of that year's nation-wide local elections. Voters elected the mayor of Napier for a one-year term and 12 city councillors for a two-year term. In person voting and the first-past-the-post voting system were used. Background This election was the first held following the changes made to local governance and elections under the Municipal Corporations Act 1900. The previously existing wards in the borough were abolished and instead councillors were elected at-large. The borough had had 9 councillors but now 12 were to be elected.23 March 1901 Napier News https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAIPM19010323.2.12 Waipawa Mail 2 23 4179 Incumbent mayor George Swan did not run for re-election as mayor,13 April 1901 Napier News https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAIPM19010413.2.28 Waipawa Mail 3 23 4188 but did run for council. Campaign Napier Progressive Liberal Association At a meeting on the 27 March, the Napier Progressive Liberal Association adopted a platform which they submitted to candidates for consideration.28 March 1901 Napier Progressive Liberal Association https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBH19010328.2.11.6 Hawke's Bay Herald 2 36 11805 The policies supported by the group included the "municipalisation" of borough lighting, that contacts for street lighting made with the Gas Company be for annual terms only, the improvement of the sewer outlet, the abolition of the Public Works Committee, the holding of weekly council meetings, the reorganisation of council staff on a "more economical" basis, that borough officials should not accept other employment, that all employees, regardless of if they're salaried or otherwise, be on "equal-footing" with regards to holiday wages, the introduction of a minimum wage in contracts for labour, and that all council employees be paid no less than 8 shillings a day. Napier Municipal Reform Association The Napier Municipal Reform Association released a platform advocating for several policies including the reduction of costs spent on council staff, the reorganisation of the staff, the paying of a fixed monthly salary to the mayor, the municipal control of street lighting, that all council business be done in the open before the press, that details of committee meetings be given to the press, the abolition of log-rolling in "special" parts of the borough, the appointment of an executive to help the mayor, and that no expense be incurred unless agreed by council in open meeting.27 March 1901 Municipal Elections https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBH19010327.2.6 Hawke's Bay Herald 2 36 11804 Napier Electors' Association The Napier Electors' Association said they would support independent candidates for election. The association declared that they were "free from all political bias". They supported an inquiry by a "competent" sanitary engineer with regards to the borough's water infrastructure, and the establishment of a public library and baths. They supported the formation and leveling of outlying streets and the purchase of the gas works; if this could not be done they would support only annual lighting contracts. They supported an inquiry on the cost of introducing electric lighting and into equitable pay of borough staff. They supported collaboration with other local bodies to establish light railways to open up trade. Candidates Mayor John McVay John McVay was an incumbent borough councillor, having held the position for 17 years. He had been the chair of the public works, water works, road, and finance committees over that time, amongst others.McVay John 20 April 1901 Mayoral Election Borough of Napier https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBH19010420.2.15.5 Hawke's Bay Herald 3 36 11824 McVay wrote in the Hawke's Bay Herald that he had helped bring the various amenities of the city to a state of "execellence", whilst noting that the rates in the borough were lower than elsewhere in the country. He wrote that he supported the construction of public baths in the borough and that a concrete storm water channel would need to be constructed following the reclamation of the "Whare-o-maranui" reserve. He wrote that he supported a public library being constructed but objected the plans that had been previously suggested before the council. Samuel Carnell Samuel Carnell had served briefly in parliament as a Liberal MP for the Napier electorate. The Waipawa Mail derided his term as an MP as a "wretched failure". Incumbents Incumbent borough councillor Frederick George Smith stood for re-election, having already been on the council for 15 years.Smith Frederick George 23 April 1901 To the Electors of Napier https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBH19010423.2.13.7 Hawke's Bay Herald 3 36 11826 Napier Progressive Liberal Association The association endorsed mayoral candidate Samuel Carnell and 12 candidates who supported their platform.19 April 1901 Untitled https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBH19010419.2.9 Hawke's Bay Herald 2 36 11823 Napier Electors' Association The association endorsed 12 candidates who supported their platform.Robert Bristy Hyman Phineas Cohen Charles Hugh Cranby Thomas Charles Dawson Montague William Percy Lascelles William James McGrath Robert Northe William Plowman Frederick William Robjohns Frederick George Smith James Spence John Chaddesley Westall Results Mayor John McVay narrowly defeated Samuel Carnell by 48 votes.26 April 1901 Napier Borough District Election of Mayor https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBH19010426.2.27.6 Hawke's Bay Herald 3 36 11829 Affiliation Candidate Votes % Independent John McVay 1,25250.55 Progressive Liberal Samuel Carnell 1,20448.61 Informal210.85 Turnout2,477 Registered +By polling booth25 April 1901 The Elections https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBH19010425.2.14 Hawke's Bay Herald 3 36 11828BoothMcVayCarnellInformalTotals Council Chambers 4692636738Foresters' Hall205 2487460Shakespeare Road 1671192288Spit128 3003431Chaucer Road78 1500228Orange Hall 2071243334Totals 1,2521,204212,477 Council 12 borough councillors were elected. All incumbent councilors were returned except Laws and Robjohns.26 April 1901 Mayoralty Elections https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC19010426.2.16.7https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC19010426.2.16.7 The Colonist 3 44 10091 Affiliation Candidate Votes % ElectorsMontague William Percy Lascelles1,67567.62ElectorsFrederick George Smith 1,603 64.72Progressive LiberalJohn Vigor Brown 1,404 56.68Progressive Liberal / ElectorsWilliam Plowman 1,396 56.36IndependentCharles Howard Edwards 1,394 56.28ConservativeGeorge Henry Swan 1,347 54.38 Progressive Liberal / ElectorsJames Spence 1,085 43.80ElectorsHyman Phineas Cohen 989 39.93ElectorsCharles Hugh Cranby 978 39.48ElectorsJohn Chaddesley Westall 966 39.00IndependentGeorge White 948 38.27Progressive Liberal / ElectorsWilliam James McGrath 939 37.91 Independent James Porteots Thomson93237.63 Progressive Liberal / Electors Frederick William Robjohns 89736.21 Electors Thomas Charles Dawson88135.57 Progressive Liberal Thomas Laws71428.83 Progressive Liberal Andrew Paul70928.62 Progressive Liberal / Electors Robert Northe69528.06 Independent Arthur Hector Gore57023.01 Electors Robert Bristy51220.67 Progressive Liberal Robert Yuill43417.52 Progressive Liberal Joseph David Briasco 36714.82 Progressive Liberal John Burden34613.97 Progressive Liberal George William Temperley27411.06 Independent George Edwards25510.29 Informal2188.80 Turnout2,477 Registered Notes References Category:1901 New Zealand local elections Category:Napier Borough Council elections