1954 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election

New Zealand party leadership election April 2024 April 2022 1954 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election File:NZLP logo.jpg legislative no 1951 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election 1951 1963 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election 1963 23 June 1954 Caucus 120px Walter Nash DC241F 17 56.66% 122px Arnold Nordmeyer DC241F 9 30.00% Leader Walter Nash Leader after election Walter Nash The 1954 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election was held on 23 June 1954 to determine the future leadership of the New Zealand Labour Party. The election was won by Hutt MP Walter Nash, the incumbent leader. Background Nash's initial handling of the leadership of the Labour party was seen as rather mediocre. He had difficult obstacles, chiefly the waterfront dispute. Nash attempted to take a moderate position in the dispute, stating "we are not for the waterside workers, and we are not against them". Labour's neutral position merely ended up displeasing both sides, however, and Nash was widely accused of indecision and lack of courage.Sinclair 1976 284 Labour was defeated heavily in the 1951 snap election. In May 1953, Rex Mason informed Nash that several members were complaining to him about the party's leadership to him and that he thought that the majority wanted a new leader to take over.Logan 2008 280 Later, in February 1954, MP Angus McLagan referred to a newspaper article questioning Nash's leadership which resulted in a unanimous call for a date to be set for new leadership selection.Sinclair 1976 293 Candidates Walter Nash Nash had been Labour's leader since 1951. While his leadership was questioned by caucus colleagues, Nash had overwhelming support from the Trade Unions, who backed the party financially. Likewise, party branches from all over the country passed resolutions confirming their support for Nash, sending a message to prospective challengers.Sinclair 1976 293-4 Nash was nominated by Mick Moohan for the leadership. Arnold Nordmeyer Nordmeyer had been an MP since 1935, though briefly out of parliament from 1949 to 1951. He was the then President of the party and it was speculated he may have been involved with leaking the media report quoted by McLagan.Logan 2008 280 Nordmeyer was nominated by Warren Freer for the leadership.Sinclair 1976 294 Result Under pressure from the grass roots members and trade unions, the majority of Labour's caucus voted for Nash. Some, such as Moohan, switched sides and voted for Nash in recognition of the increasing unpopularity of a leadership change.Logan 2008 280-1 According to Nash himself, only nine votes were cast against him.Sinclair 1976 294 The four Maori MPs abstained from the vote.Franks McAloon 2016 147 Leadership ballot CandidateVotes% Walter Nash 17 56.67 Arnold Nordmeyer 9 30.00Abstentions 4 13.33Majority 6 20.00Turnout 30 How each MP voted A list of each MP's vote.Sinclair 1976 294 MP Leader Vote Bill Anderton Nordmeyer Clyde Carr Nash Charles Chapman New Zealand politician Nash Harry Combs politician Nash Phil Connolly Nordmeyer Joe Cotterill Nash Warren Freer Nordmeyer Fred Hackett Nordmeyer Mabel Howard Nash Wally Hudson Nash Paddy Kearins Nordmeyer Jim Kent politician Nash Ritchie Macdonald Nash Robert Macfarlane New Zealand politician Nordmeyer Rex Mason Nordmeyer Jock Mathison Nash Robert McKeen Nash Angus McLagan Nash Ethel McMillan Nash Mick Moohan Nash Walter Nash Nash Arnold Nordmeyer Nordmeyer Tiaki Omana Abstain Tapihana Paraire Paikea Abstain Iriaka Ratana Abstain Bob Semple Nash Jerry Skinner Nash John Stewart New Zealand politician Nordmeyer Eruera Tirikatene Abstain Hugh Watt Nash Aftermath The affair was messy and won little support from either public or party. As a result, Nordmeyer, Bill Anderton and Phil Connolly were called before Labour's National Executive.Logan 2008 281 Nash himself was shocked at Nordmeyer's level of support.Franks McAloon 2016 146 Nash would remain leader until 1963, when he retired. Nordmeyer took his place as leader, though was only to hold the post for two years. Jerry Skinner remained as deputy-leader, he was re-elected unopposed for the position.Sinclair 1976 294 Notes 30em References Franks Peter McAloon Jim Labour: The New Zealand Labour Party 1916-2016 2016 Victoria University Press Wellington 978-1-77656-074-5 Keith Sinclair Keith Sinclair Walter Nash Auckland, New Zealand Oxford 1976 Logan Mary Nordy, Arnold Nordmeyer a political biography 2008 Steele Roberts Publishers Wellington 978-1-877448-33-1 Labour Party leadership 1956 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election