1918 Wellington North by-election

New Zealand by-election April 2022 May 2016 1918 Wellington North by-election New Zealand 1918 By-election no 1914 New Zealand general election 1914 general 1919 New Zealand general election 1919 general The Wellington North seat in the House of Representatives.Election by simple majority using first-past-the-post voting. 1918 02 12 y 7,128 97px John Luke Reform Party (New Zealand) 2,986 41.89 100px Harry Holland New Zealand Labour Party 2,566 35.99 95px Alfred Brandon New Zealand Liberal Party 816 11.44 Member Alexander Herdman Reform Party (New Zealand) John Luke Reform Party (New Zealand) The Wellington North by-election of 1918 was a by-election held in the Wellington North electorate during the 19th New Zealand Parliament, on 12 February 1918. It was caused by the resignation of incumbent MP Alexander Herdman of the Reform Party, who was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court, and was won by John Luke with a majority of 420. Candidates Then current mayor of Wellington John Luke was selected as the Reform Party's candidate.Gustafson 1980 132 Under the terms of the coalition agreement between Reform and the Liberal's a condition was made not to oppose each other in by-elections for deceased or retiring MP's from their own parties. However, the Liberal Party were not completely satisfied with Luke being the Government's candidate and two Liberal candidates emerged to contest. Former mayor of Wellington Alfred Brandon chose to contest the seat and another, Angus Polson chose to likewise contest as an Independent Liberal.Gustafson 1980 132 The Labour Party chose Harry Holland, editor of the Maoriland Worker, as their candidate who had contested the seat in 1914 for the Social Democratic Party coming third.O'Farrell Patrick Patrick O'Farrell 3h32 Holland, Henry Edmund – Biography 21 February 2016 Holland was contemplating leaving New Zealand at the time and returning to Sydney though his candidacy persuaded him to stay. Holland reveled in the personal attacks made on him which was exactly the type of recognition he craved. Campaign Peter Fraser became Holland's campaign organiser where he demonstrated great strategic skill.Bassett King 2000 79 Holland stood on the grounds of opposing conscription, inflation and wartime 'special privilege'. Fraser encouraged Holland to directly challenge Prime Minister William Massey and Minister of Defence James Allen over the treatment of conscientious objectors in Europe which resulted in replies from both. As a result, Holland became a household name in Wellington.Bassett King 2000 79 Results The results of the Wellington North electorate at the 1914 general election were: 1914 general electionJ. Hislop The General Election, 1914 http://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&d=AJHR1915-I.2.3.2.36 National Library 1 August 2013 1–33 1915 Reform Party (New Zealand) Alexander Herdman 4,550 55.23 New Zealand Liberal Party William Turnbull 1,895 23.00 Social Democratic Party (New Zealand) Harry Holland 1,688 20.49 2,655 32.23 104 1.26 8,237 82.90 9,936 Results of the by-election held on 12 February 1918 were: Outcome Though the National Government retained the seat many within were alarmed by the near success of Labour. Their majority of 1,807 in 1914 shrunk to just 420 was a shock to conservative minds. At the declaration of Luke's victory, Prime Minister William Massey spoke to the crowd. He was greeted by much jeering and was pelted with eggs and rotten fruit. He lost his temper and thumbed his nose at them before storming off the stage, later re-created in an effective newspaper cartoon.Gustafson 1980 132 A Reform sympathising newspaper, Herald, suggested improper means being used to increase the Labour vote so dramatically, saying of the results: Mr Holland's large vote need cause no apprehension. It was made up of the steady 1500 socialists in the electorate, reinforced by several hundreds of 'trade' voters, hundreds of men who crowded into the boarding houses to comply with the one month's residence qualifications, and a few cravens — men and women who hoped that Mr Holland might retard or stop the sending of reinforcements to the army.Bassett 1982 22 However, the result was more a reflection of the growing disenchantment at the National Government bound with Labour (who refused the coalition) being seen as the only alternative.Bassett 1982 22 Based on his strong performance in Wellington North, Holland was chosen by the Labour Party as their candidate in the Grey by-election four months later where Holland was eventually successful in winning a seat in Parliament. Notes References Barry Gustafson Barry Gustafson Labour's path to political independence: The Origins and Establishment of the New Zealand Labour Party, 1900–19 Auckland, New Zealand Auckland University Press 1980 0-19-647986-X Bassett Michael Michael Bassett King Michael Michael King (historian) Tomorrow Comes the Song: A Life of Peter Fraser 2000 Penguin Auckland 0-14-029793-6 Bassett Michael Bassett Michael Three Party Politics in New Zealand 1911–1931 1982 Historical Publications Auckland 0-86870-006-1 WEllington Category:1918 elections in New Zealand Category:1910s in Wellington Category:February 1918 in Oceania Category:Politics of the Wellington Region