1926 Eden by-election

New Zealand by-election April 2024 January 2021 1926 Eden by-election New Zealand 1926 presidential no 1925 New Zealand general election 1925 general 1928 New Zealand general election 1928 general 1926 4 15 y 11,048 100px Rex Mason New Zealand Labour Party 4,589 41.54% 95px James Gunson Reform Party (New Zealand) 4,163 37.68% 100px Ellen Melville Independent Reform 2,197 19.89% Member James Parr Rex Mason Reform Party (New Zealand) New Zealand Labour Party The 1926 Eden by-election was a by-election for the Eden electorate during the 22nd New Zealand Parliament. The seat became vacant after the appointment of the sitting member, James Parr of the Reform Party as High Commissioner to London. Parr resigned on 26 March.Scholefield 1950 131 Labour won the by-election and became the official opposition in Parliament. Background The by-election was held on 15 April 1926.Scholefield 1950 125 Three candidates contested the seat. James Gunson the official Reform candidate had been Mayor of Auckland from 1915 to 1925. Ellen Melville stood as an "Independent" Reform candidate, claiming interference by the party organiser Albert Davy prevented her being selected as the official candidate. The Reform Party vote was split allowing the Labour candidate, Rex Mason, to win.Scholefield 1950 125 The Liberal Party was "so weak .... that they could not field a candidate.Bassett 1982 35 Labour's candidate in Eden from the previous general election, Rex Mason was successful in winning the party nomination. The three others who vied for the candidacy were Frank Langstone (former MP for Waimarino), Tom Bloodworth (an Auckland City Councillor) and Jim Purtell (secretary of the Auckland Glassworkers' Union).Eden By-Election - The Labour Nominations https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19260304.2.95 Auckland Star 9 4 March 1926 LVII 53 19 August 2019 Gunson was expected to "romp home" in the by-election; Reform had 55 seats. But with the Liberals having 11 seats plus two Liberal-leaning independents and Labour 12, Labour realised their chance to be the official Opposition and "threw their all" into their contest; helped by Melville standing as Independent Reform. "Never before or since have people in the sprawling electorate stretching from Eden Park, through Mount Albert, Pt Chevalier, New Lynn, Te Atatu, Massey and Hobsonville been wooed as assiduously as they were in March and April 1926" with party leaders Coates and Holland spending days in the electorate.Bassett 1982 36-37 As a result of Labour's candidate Rex Mason winning the by-election, Labour became the second largest party in Parliament and Harry Holland became Leader of the Opposition on 16 June 1926.Bassett 1982 35 Result The following table gives the election results: Results by locality Following table showcasts the detailed results by locality for the ballot:Eden By-election http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19260416.2.35 The New Zealand Herald 10 16 April 1926 7 July 2016 Locality Mason (Labour) Gunson (Reform) Melville (Ind. Reform) WinnerVotes % Votes % Votes % Avondale Town Hall 576 47.21 393 32.21 251 20.58 Mason Avondale Flat 73 25.25 116 40.13 100 34.60 Gunson Avondale South 153 46.08 117 35.24 62 18.67 Mason Brigham's Creek 3 5.46 35 63.64 17 30.90 Gunson Edendale 234 50.74 114 24.72 113 24.51 Mason Glen Eden 159 33.75 237 50.31 75 15.92 Gunson Henderson Foresters Hall 258 37.61 303 44.16 125 18.23 Gunson Henderson Valley 5 8.92 27 48.21 24 42.85 Gunson Hobsonville 55 34.16 68 42.23 38 23.60 Gunson Huia 26 36.61 40 56.33 5 7.04 Gunson Karekare 2 25.00 6 75.00 0 0.00 Gunson Morningside 684 49.31 422 30.42 281 20.25 Mason St. Luke's 202 35.43 200 35.08 168 29.47 Mason Mont Albert 553 34.05 697 42.91 374 23.02 Gunson New Lynn 593 51.74 410 35.77 143 12.47 Mason Nihotupu 6 21.42 20 71.42 2 7.14 Gunson Oratia 19 15.70 81 66.94 21 17.35 Gunson Parau 7 28.00 17 68.00 1 4.00 Gunson Point Chevallier 615 58.18 280 26.49 162 15.32 Mason Swanson 46 21.90 87 41.42 77 36.66 Gunson Taupaki 12 12.12 79 79.79 8 8.08 Gunson Te Atatu 13 10.61 85 75.22 15 13.27 Gunson Titirangi 14 13.72 77 75.49 11 10.78 Gunson Waitakere 28 30.76 46 50.54 17 18.68 Gunson Western Springs 127 66.84 46 24.21 17 8.94 Mason Whenuapai 10 17.85 29 51.78 17 30.35 Gunson Total 4,589 41.54 4,163 37.68 2,197 19.89 Mason Notes References Scholefield Guy New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 Guy Scholefield 3rd First ed. published 1913 1950 Govt. Printer Wellington Bassett Michael Bassett Michael Three Party Politics in New Zealand 1911-1931 1982 Historical Publications Auckland 0-86870-006-1 Eden 1926 Category:1926 elections in New Zealand Category:Politics of the Auckland Region Category:1920s in Auckland Category:April 1926 in Oceania