1954 Onslow by-election

New Zealand by-election April 2024 February 2022 1954 Onslow by-election New Zealand 1954 presidential 1951 New Zealand general election 1951 general 1954 New Zealand general election 1954 general 1954 07 07 y 150px Henry May New Zealand Labour Party elected unopposed MP Harry Combs New Zealand Labour Party Henry May New Zealand Labour Party The 1954 Onslow by-election was a by-election for the electorate of Onslow during the 30th New Zealand Parliament. It resulted from the death of the Labour Member of Parliament Harry Combs on 12 June 1954. Wilson James Oakley New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 4th First published in 1913 1985 V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer Wellington 154283103 190 Background In February 1954 Combs announced he would retire at the general election later that year owing to ill health.Mr. H. E. Combs, M.P., Dead The Evening Post 12 June 1954 13 As a result, Labour had already prepared to replace him in the electorate and at the time of Combs' death, Henry May, a member of the Petone Borough Council, had already been selected as the Labour candidate.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19540227.2.6 Next General Election – Seven More Labour Candidates The Press 27 February 1954 XC 27285 2 May's selection had been something of a surprise as the former Labour Party president James Roberts was the other candidate.Bassett Michael Michael Bassett Last of the old-time Labour men 27 April 1995 The Dominion 10 The National Party decided not to stand a candidate as it had already selected Wilfred Fortune (the sitting MP for Eden) to contest Onslow at the upcoming general election. National wanted to avoid confusion by putting up a proxy candidate and likewise did not wish to cause a by-election in Eden should Fortune be victorious. National had already faced selection difficulties with its expected candidate, Wellington City Council member Stewart Hardy, withdrawing before Fortune took his place.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19540410.2.6 National Candidate for Onslow The Press 10 April 1954 20 May 2022 XC 27321 2 The newly created Social Credit Party also decided to not contest the by-election. The party head office issued a press statement that given the close proximity of the next general election there was little purpose contesting the seat.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19540702.2.139 Patea and Onslow By-elections – No Social Credit Candidates The Press 2 July 1954 14 February 2022 XC 27391 12 The government intended it to coincide with the upcoming Patea by-election, even passing the Patea By-election Act 1954 to postpone it until the day of the Onslow by-election.House debates Patea by-election measure https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19540625.2.131 13 February 2022 The Press XC 27385 25 June 1954 12 Result As a general election was due towards the end of 1954 (and was held on 13 November), the nominated Labour candidate Henry May was not opposed, so was declared elected (from midday on 7 July 1954) when the writs closed for candidates.Norton 1988 297 It marked the last time, to date, that a candidate for the House of Representatives has been returned unopposed. As May was declared elected when the writs closed on 7 July it rendered the government's attempt to have the Patea election held back until 31 July pointless. May first learned of his default victory via a telegram from Petone MP Mick Moohan inviting him to attend that evening's session of parliament. May did so and was sworn in as an MP that very evening. At the general election in November May defeated Fortune by 519 votes, confirming him as the MP.Norton 1988 297 Notes References Norton Clifford New Zealand parliamentary election results, 1946–1987 1988 Victoria University of Wellington Department of Political Science Wellington 0-475-11200-8 External links Patea By-election Act 1954 Onslow Onslow Category:Politics of the Wellington Region Onslow by-election Category:1950s in Wellington