1951 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election

New Zealand party leadership election April 2024 April 2022 1951 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election File:NZLP logo.jpg presidential no 1940 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election 1940 1954 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election 1954 17 January 1951 160px Walter Nash elected unopposed DC241F Leader Peter Fraser Leader after election Walter Nash The 1951 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election was held on 17 January to choose the fifth leader of the New Zealand Labour Party. The election was won by Hutt MP and incumbent deputy-leader Walter Nash. Background Labour leader Peter Fraser had led the party since 1940. He led New Zealand through the majority of World War II and retained power in the 1943 and 1946 elections. An ailing Fraser was unable to win the 1949 election and Labour lost power after 14 years in office. Just one year later he died, leading to the position of party leader to become vacant.Beaglehole Tim 4f22 Fraser, Peter - Biography 20 October 2015 Tim Beaglehole Deputy Leader of the Opposition Walter Nash had been acting leader since Fraser was taken ill the year earlier and was viewed as an obvious successor. As the election of Nash to replace Fraser was viewed as an inevitability, most speculation at the time was concentrated on the deputy leadership and the imminent by-election for Fraser's seat of Brooklyn. Both of these questions revolved around former cabinet minister Arnold Nordmeyer (seen as a viable contender for both positions) but had lost his seat in the 1949 election.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19501213.2.43.5 Choice of Successor - Probable Selection of Mr Nash Otago Daily Times 27571 13 December 1950 As acting leader, Nash brought the election of leader to before the by-election meaning Nordmeyer was unable to contest either position as only elected members of the caucus were eligible to stand. There was also suggestions that the deputy leadership should be left vacant until after the by-election.Opposition Leader to be Named on January 15 The Dominion 6 8 January 1951 Candidates Walter Nash Nash had served as a Member of Parliament since 1929. Most saw Nash, Fraser's deputy, as the most logical, or even inevitable, successor as leader.Sinclair 1976 281 Jerry Skinner Jerry Skinner was seen by many as Labour's rising star.Hobbs 1967 112 However, despite speculation that he may seek leadership, but was dismissed as mere media gossip. Skinner ruled himself out in favour of Nash, which was then seconded by Angus McLagan.Sinclair 1976 281 Arnold Nordmeyer Arnold Nordmeyer was also seen as a contender for future leadership, but lost his seat in Parliament in 1949.Brown Bruce 5n12 Nordmeyer, Arnold Henry - Biography 6 October 2012 When Fraser died in December 1950 Nordmeyer was selected to stand for Labour in the by-election for Fraser's seat. The date set by caucus for the leadership election was scheduled before Nordmeyer could re-enter Parliament. The haste taken was an indication that Nordmeyer was considered a threat to Nash and his supporters. According to Warren Freer Nash as acting leader brought the selection forward to 17 January, causing quite an argument in caucus, although caucus eventually voted by a majority of two to proceed with the early vote. Freer 2004 49,50 Result thumb|200px|Nash and Skinner congratulating each other. As Nash was the only officially nominated candidate, he was elected unopposed as leader.Sinclair 1976 281 Jerry Skinner was then elected as Nash's Deputy-leader. The vote for the deputy position was Skinner twenty-two, Terry McCombs seven and Fred Hackett two. Hobbs 1967 112Freer 2004 49,50 Both Angus McLagan and Mick Moohan were likewise nominated to stand for the deputy leadership, but both declined to do so.Deputy-Leadership of Party Contested By Ex-Ministers The Dominion 8 8 January 1951 Deputy-leadership ballot CandidateVotes% Jerry Skinner 22 70.96 Terry McCombs 7 22.58 Fred Hackett 2 6.45Majority 15 48.38Turnout 31 Aftermath Nash would remain the Labour Party's leader until his retirement in early 1963.Sinclair 1976 357 He led them to successive election losses in 1951 and 1954, though led them successfully in 1957. Upon Nash's election acting-Prime Minister Keith Holyoake congratulated him on winning the leadership. Nash's first act as leader was to attend a morning tea function honouring Sir John Anderson, the chairman of the Port of London Authority, who also congratulated Nash.Opposition Chooses New Leader The Dominion 6 18 January 1951 Notes References Keith Sinclair Keith Sinclair Walter Nash Auckland, New Zealand Oxford 1976 Hobbs Leslie The Thirty-Year Wonders 1967 Whitcombe and Tombs Christchurch Freer Warren W Warren Freer A Lifetime in Politics: the memoirs of Warren Freer 2004 Victoria University Press Wellington 0-86473-478-6 Labour Party leadership 1951 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election Category:January 1951 in Oceania