1897 Awarua by-election

New Zealand by-election April 2024 April 2022 1897 Awarua by-election New Zealand 1897 presidential no 1896 New Zealand general election 1896 general 1899 New Zealand general election 1899 general 1897 08 05 y 2,976 113px Joseph Ward New Zealand Liberal Party 2,066 69.42 120px Cuthbert Cowan Conservative (New Zealand) 910 30.58 Member Joseph Ward Joseph Ward New Zealand Liberal Party New Zealand Liberal Party A by-election was held for the Awarua electorate on 5 August 1897, for the seat vacated by Joseph Ward, which he had held since 1887. Despite having had to resign due to bankruptcy, he exploited a legal loophole and was re-elected to the 13th New Zealand Parliament. Background and election Joseph Ward first won election to the Awarua electorate in the 1897 election.Wilson 1985 243 He held many portfolios in the Seddon Ministry, including that of Treasurer (i.e. Minister of Finance), when Justice Williams declared him "hopelessly insolvent" in 1896.Bassett Michael 2W9 Ward, Joseph George 26 November 2011 Michael Bassett He was forced to resign his portfolios in Cabinet on 16 June.Wilson 1985 72 In 1897, he had to file for bankruptcy, and was adjudicated bankrupt on 8 July 1897. He was then legally obliged to resign his seat in Parliament, which he did on 14 July.Wilson 1985 243 A loophole, however, meant that there was nothing to stop him from simply contesting it again. He did so, and was re-elected with an increased majority. His opponent, both in the previous general election in 1896 and in the by-election was Cuthbert Cowan, who had previously represented the Wallace (Wallace 1869) and Hokonui (1884–1890) electorates.Wilson 1985 191 Parliament passed a special Act on 13 October, the Awarua Seat Enquiry Act 1897, http://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/hist_act/asia189761v1897n5304/ Awarua Seat Enquiry Act 1897 19 June 2013 which required the Court of Appeal to urgently decide whether he could be re-elected to Parliament, and the court decided in his favour. The court judgement was published as AJHR H32 of 1897.http://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&cl=search&d=AJHR1897-II.2.3.2.37 "The Awarua Seat Inquiry Act, 1897," Report of Proceedings and Decision of the Court of Appeal, in the Matter of Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1897 Session II, H-32 1897 19 June 2013 Ward actually gained considerable popularity as a result of his financial troubles; Ward was widely seen as a great benefactor of the Southland region, and public perceptions were that he was being persecuted by his enemies over an honest mistake. Gradually, Ward rebuilt his businesses, and paid off his debtors. Richard Seddon, still prime minister, quickly reappointed Ward to Cabinet. 1896 general election result 1896 New Zealand Liberal Party Joseph Ward 1,836 63.60 Conservative (New Zealand) Cuthbert CowanThe General Election http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18961104.2.36 7 February 2014 The Press 4 November 1896 LIII 9565 6 Papers Past 1,051 36.40 2,887 72.68 785 27.19 3,887 1897 by-election result The following table gives the by-election results: Notes References Wilson James Oakley New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 4th First published in 1913 1985 V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer Wellington 154283103 Awarua 1897 Category:1897 elections in New Zealand Category:Politics of the Southland Region