1931 New Zealand general election

none April 2024 April 2022 1931 New Zealand general election New Zealand 1931 parliamentary no 1928 New Zealand general election 1928 23rd New Zealand Parliament 1935 New Zealand general election 1935 All 80 seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives 41 seats were needed for a majority 1 (Māori) & 2 December (general) 1931 elected members 714,511 (83.3%) 200x200px Gordon Coates 27 May 1925 Reform Party (New Zealand) United–Reform Coalition Kaipara 27 seats, 34.8% 28 0 190,170 26.6% 9.3% 200x200px Harry Holland 27 August 1919 New Zealand Labour Party Buller 19 seats, 26.2% 24 5 244,881 34.3% 8.1% 200x200px George Forbes 21 May 1930 United Party (New Zealand) United–Reform Coalition Hurunui 27 seats, 29.8% 19 8 120,801 16.9% 13.3% 200x200px Harold Rushworth November 1928 Country Party (New Zealand) Bay of Islands 1 seat, 1.6% 1 0 16,710 2.3% 0.7% 1931 New Zealand general election - Results.svg 400px Results of the election. Prime Minister Subsequent Prime Minister George Forbes George Forbes United Party (New Zealand) United Party (New Zealand) The 1931 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 24th term. It resulted in the newly formed coalition between the United Party and the Reform Party remaining in office as the United–Reform Coalition Government, although the opposition Labour Party made some minor gains despite tallying more votes than any other single party. Background In the 1928 election, the Reform Party won 28 seats to the United Party's 27 seats. Shortly after the election the Reform Party lost a vote of no-confidence and the United Party managed to form a government, the United Government, with the support of the Labour Party, with governing Reform Party going into the opposition. In 1931, however, the agreement between United and Labour collapsed due to differing opinions on how to counter the Great Depression. The Reform Party, fearing that the Depression would give Labour a substantial boost, reluctantly agreed to form a coalition with United to avert elections. By forming a coalition, United and Reform were able to blunt Labour's advantage, ending the possibility of the anti-Labour vote being split. The election The date for the main 1931 elections was 2 December, a Wednesday. Elections to the four Māori electorates were held the day before. 874,787 people were registered to vote, and there was a turnout of 83.3%. This turnout was below average for the time period. The number of seats was 80, a number which had been fixed since 1902.General elections 1853–2005 - dates & turnout http://www.elections.org.nz/events/past-events/general-elections-1853-2014-dates-and-turnout Elections New Zealand 12 January 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20141114115332/http://www.elections.org.nz/events/past-events/general-elections-1853-2014-dates-and-turnout 14 November 2014 dead However, in four electorates (Bay of Plenty, Oroua, Pahiatua, Waitomo) there was only one candidate.Bassett 1982 67Wilson 1985 286 Results thumb|Crowd on intersection of Willis and Mercer Streets in Wellington, outside the offices of The Evening Post, awaiting the results of the 1931 general election. The 1931 election saw the recently formed governing coalition retain office as the United–Reform Coalition, winning fifty-one seats, including four independents. This was a drop of four seats from what the two parties had won in the previous elections, but was still considerably better than many had expected given the economic situation. The Labour Party won twenty-four seats, a gain of five. In the popular vote (including pro-coalition independents), the coalition won 54.0% of the vote, down from the 66.1% that the two parties had won previously. Labour won 34.3%. The only other party to gain a place in Parliament was the Country Party, which won a single seat. Four other independents were elected. Four candidates were elected unopposed: Walter Broadfoot in Waitomo, John Cobbe in Oroua, Alfred Ransom in Pahiatua, and Kenneth Williams in Bay of Plenty.Nominations Close https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19311120.2.111.1 3 August 2013 Evening Post 20 November 1931 CXII 123 11 Party totals thumb|right|400px|Winning party by electorate. center Election results Party Leader Votes Percentage Seats change Reform Party (New Zealand) rowspan=3 United–Reform Coalition 5px Reform Gordon Coates 190,170 26.6054.03 28 ±0 United Party (New Zealand) United George Forbes 120,801 16.90 19 -8 Independent politicianIndependents (in support of Coalition) 75,069 10.53 4 +3 colspan=2 New Zealand Labour Party Labour Harry Holland 244,867 34.27 24 +5 colspan=2 Country Party (New Zealand) Country Party Harold Rushworth 16,710 2.34 1 ±0colspan=2 RatanaRatana 7,154 1.00 0 ±0 colspan=2 Independent politicianIndependents 66,894 8.36 4 -1 Total 714,511 100% 80 Votes summary Popular Vote #ddd 625px 410px All Coalition Parties United–Reform Coalition 54.03 Labour New Zealand Labour Party 34.27 Coalition Reform Reform Party (New Zealand) 26.60 Coalition United United Party (New Zealand) 16.90 Country Party Country Party (New Zealand) 2.34 Coalition Independent Independent politician 10.53 Independent Independent politician 9.36 Parliament seats #ddd 625px 410px All Coalition Parties United–Reform Coalition 63.75 Coalition Reform Reform Party (New Zealand) 35.00 Labour New Zealand Labour Party 30.00 Coalition United United Party (New Zealand) 23.75 Country Party Country Party (New Zealand) 1.25 Coalition Independent Independent politician 5.00 Independent Independent politician 5.00 The following table shows the detailed results: Key Reform Party (New Zealand) New Zealand Labour Party United Party (New Zealand) Country Party (New Zealand) Independent Liberal Ratana Independent politician Electorate results for the 1931 New Zealand general electionMcRobie 1989 87fSkinner 1932 1–10 |- |colspan=8 style="background-color:#FFDEAD" | General electorates |- Auckland Central Bill Parry New Zealand Labour Party 3,793Election Counts https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19311209.2.109 28 October 2014 Auckland Star LXII 291 9 December 1931 9 Harold Penfound Congdon United Party (New Zealand) Auckland East James Donald United Party (New Zealand) Bill Schramm New Zealand Labour Party 2,256Recount of Votes https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19311207.2.142 31 October 2014 Auckland Star LXII 289 7 December 1931 9 Harold Percy Burton Reform Party (New Zealand) Auckland Suburbs Rex Mason New Zealand Labour Party 1,223 Richard Herbert MarryattParliamentary Elections https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19311120.2.49.6 7 November 2014 Auckland Star LXII 275 20 November 1931 5 Reform Party (New Zealand) Auckland West Michael Joseph Savage New Zealand Labour Party 4,517 Hugh Ross Mackenzie United Party (New Zealand) Avon Dan Sullivan New Zealand Labour Party 3,039 Harben Robert Young United Party (New Zealand) Awarua Philip De La Perrelle United Party (New Zealand) 2,148 Norman McIntyrePage 4 Advertisements Column 4 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AMBPA19311201.2.15.4 8 November 2014 Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser LV 5636 1 December 1931 4 Independent politician Bay of Islands Harold Rushworth Country Party (New Zealand) 1,209 Allen Bell Reform Party (New Zealand) Bay of Plenty Kenneth Williams Reform Party (New Zealand) yes true Buller Harry Holland New Zealand Labour Party 3,631 John MenziesBuller Electorate https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19311125.2.59.9 8 November 2014 The Evening Post CXII 127 25 November 1931 10 Reform Party (New Zealand) Central Otago William Bodkin United Party (New Zealand) 2,516 Charles Todd Independent politician Chalmers Alfred Ansell Reform Party (New Zealand) 172 Norman Hartley Campbell New Zealand Labour Party Christchurch East Tim Armstrong New Zealand Labour Party 3,206 George Frederick Allen United Party (New Zealand) Christchurch North Henry Holland Reform Party (New Zealand) 2,077 Elizabeth McCombs New Zealand Labour Party Christchurch South Ted Howard New Zealand Labour Party 2,798 Charlie McCullyStraight Grained https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZTR19281108.2.30 2 November 2014 New Zealand Truth 1197 8 November 1928 6 United Party (New Zealand) Clutha Fred Waite Reform Party (New Zealand) Peter McSkimming Independent politician 1,530 Fred Waite Reform Party (New Zealand) Dunedin Central Charles Statham Independent politician 262 Peter Neilson New Zealand Labour Party Dunedin North Jim Munro New Zealand Labour Party 524 John McCraehttps://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C36395 John McCrae Online Cenotaph Auckland War Memorial Museum 9 July 2022Dunedin North https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19311107.2.105 11 November 2014 Auckland Star LXII 264 7 November 1931 11 United Party (New Zealand) Dunedin South William Taverner United Party (New Zealand) Fred Jones New Zealand Labour Party 3,644 William Taverner United Party (New Zealand) Dunedin West William Downie Stewart Jr Reform Party (New Zealand) 924 John Gilchrist New Zealand Labour Party Eden Arthur Stallworthy United Party (New Zealand) 1,270Election Results https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19311208.2.11 1 November 2014 Auckland Star LXII 290 8 December 1931 3 Bill Anderton New Zealand Labour Party Egmont Charles Wilkinson Independent politician 1,308 Frederick Gawith Reform Party (New Zealand) Franklin Jack Massey Reform Party (New Zealand) 2,457 Harry MellsopElectoral https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19311211.2.177.4 15 November 2014 The New Zealand Herald LXVIII 21053 11 December 1931 22 Country Party (New Zealand) Gisborne Douglas Lysnar Independent politician David Coleman New Zealand Labour Party 317 Douglas Lysnar Independent politician Grey Lynn John Fletcher Independent politician John A. Lee New Zealand Labour Party 3,242 John Fletcher Independent politician Hamilton Alexander Young Reform Party (New Zealand) 3,072Electors' Choice https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19311203.2.80 1 November 2014 Auckland Star LXII 286 3 December 1931 8 Hubert Beebe New Zealand Labour Party |- | Hauraki | style="background-color:Reform Party (New Zealand);" | | colspan=3 style="text-align:center;background-color:;" | Walter William Massey | style="text-align:right;" | 2,750 | style="background-color:New Zealand Labour Party;" | | style="text-align:center;" | Charles Robert Petrie |- Hawke's Bay Hugh Campbell Reform Party (New Zealand) 2,259 Ted CullenA Coalition Certainty https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19311117.2.62.2 29 June 2014 CXII 120 The Evening Post 17 November 1931 10 New Zealand Labour Party Hurunui George Forbes United Party (New Zealand) 3,953 Robert Joseph LoganIn Canterbury https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19311127.2.90 16 November 2014 Auckland Star LXII 281 27 November 1931 8 New Zealand Labour Party Hutt Walter Nash New Zealand Labour Party 2,823 James Kerrnb For some biographical details of James Kerr refer to his father's article United Party (New Zealand) Invercargill Vincent Ward United Party (New Zealand) James Hargest Independent politician 508 William McChesney United Party (New Zealand) Kaiapoi Richard Hawke United Party (New Zealand) 1,414 John ArcherGustafson Barry 3A17 Archer, John Kendrick 8 April 2011 Barry Gustafson New Zealand Labour Party Kaipara Gordon Coates Reform Party (New Zealand) 2,084 Albert Edward RobinsonNotice of Nominations received and Polling Places appointed https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=ROTWKG19311125.2.24.2 21 November 2014 Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette 25 November 1931 7 Country Party (New Zealand) Lyttelton James McCombs New Zealand Labour Party 32 Frederick FreemanNotice of Nominations Received and Polling Places Appointed https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AMBPA19311124.2.15.4 22 November 2014 Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser LV 5634 24 November 1931 2 Reform Party (New Zealand) Manawatu Joseph Linklater Reform Party (New Zealand) 2,246 Lorrie Hunter New Zealand Labour Party Manukau Bill Jordan New Zealand Labour Party 3,394 Stanley Rickards Reform Party (New Zealand) Marsden Alfred Murdoch United Party (New Zealand) 2,942 Jim Barclay New Zealand Labour Party Masterton George Sykes Reform Party (New Zealand) 1,951 Peter Butler New Zealand Labour Party Mataura David McDougall United Party (New Zealand) 943 Thomas GoldenMr McDougall Opposed https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19311117.2.62.19 24 November 2014 The Evening Post CXII 120 17 November 1931 10 Independent politician Mid-Canterbury David Jones Reform Party (New Zealand) Jeremiah Connolly Independent Liberal 136Public Notices https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EG19311211.2.2.6 24 November 2013 Ellesmere Guardian 11 December 1931 LII 99 1 David Jones Reform Party (New Zealand) Motueka George Black Independent politician 517 Keith Holyoake Reform Party (New Zealand) Napier Bill Barnard New Zealand Labour Party 1,456 John Butler Reform Party (New Zealand) Nelson Harry Atmore Independent politician 100 Herbert EverettOpposing Mr Atmore https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19311105.2.95.2 27 November 2014 The Evening Post CXII 110 5 November 1931 10 Reform Party (New Zealand) New Plymouth Sydney George Smith United Party (New Zealand) 3,472 William Sheat New Zealand Labour Party Oamaru Jack MacPherson United Party (New Zealand) 1,046 John Kirkness Reform Party (New Zealand) Oroua John Cobbe United Party (New Zealand) yes true Otaki William Hughes Field Reform Party (New Zealand) 1,321 Jim Thorn New Zealand Labour Party Pahiatua Alfred Ransom United Party (New Zealand) yes true Palmerston Jimmy Nash Reform Party (New Zealand) 1,245 Joe Hodgens New Zealand Labour Party Parnell Bill Endean Reform Party (New Zealand) 4,821 John William Yarnall New Zealand Labour Party Patea Harold Dickie Reform Party (New Zealand) 3,495 William Simpson New Zealand Labour Party Raglan Lee Martin New Zealand Labour Party Stewart Reid Reform Party (New Zealand) 806 Lee Martin New Zealand Labour Party Rangitikei James Thomas Hogan Independent politician Alexander Stuart Reform Party (New Zealand) 15 James Thomas Hogan Independent politician Riccarton Bert Kyle Reform Party (New Zealand) 589 Archibald McLachlannb For some biographical details of McLachlan refer to his grandfather's article Independent politician Roskill George Munns United Party (New Zealand) Arthur Shapton Richards New Zealand Labour Party 171 William John HoldsworthElectoral https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19311209.2.175.5 2 December 2014 The New Zealand Herald LXVIII 21051 9 December 1931 18 Reform Party (New Zealand) Rotorua Cecil Clinkard United Party (New Zealand) 57 Alexander Moncur New Zealand Labour Party Stratford William Polson Independent politician 1,518 James McMillannb McMillan claimed to stand for the Reform Party, but he was not the official candidate, as the United–Reform Coalition endorsed William Polson, who ran as an independentStratford Electorate https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19311113.2.123 6 December 2014 The New Zealand Herald LXVIII 21029 13 November 1931 11 Independent politician Tauranga Charles Macmillan Reform Party (New Zealand) 658 Bill Sullivannb Bill Sullivan was a member of the United Party, but Charles Macmillan was the official candidate of the United–Reform Coalition, hence Sullivan stood as an independent Independent politician Temuka Thomas Burnett Reform Party (New Zealand) 1,237 Bert Langford United Party (New Zealand) Thames Albert Samuel Reform Party (New Zealand) 464 John Montgomeriehttp://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NA19250618.2.27 Reform Triumph The Northern Advocate 18 June 1925 15 December 2014 5 New Zealand Labour Party Timaru Clyde Carr New Zealand Labour Party 820 Herbert N. ArmstrongKerr Stephen "Good Old Clyde": Clyde Carr M.P., Timaru and the Art of Incumbency, 1928–1962 http://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/bitstream/10092/4267/1/Thesis_fulltext.pdf 2003 University of Canterbury 16 December 2014 66nb The Reform and United parties could not agree on an official coalition candidate for the Timaru electorate, so neither Armstrong (Reform) nor Herbert Hall (United) were official candidates, and many sources show them as Independents Reform Party (New Zealand) Waikato Frederick Lye United Party (New Zealand) 981 Solomon Zimannb Ziman was the father of John ZimanZiman, John Michael https://michaelberryphysics.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/berry416.pdf Oxford University Press 16 December 2014 Country Party (New Zealand) Waimarino Frank Langstone New Zealand Labour Party 591 William Wackrow United Party (New Zealand) Waipawa Albert Jullnb Jull was the official candidate of the United–Reform Coalition United Party (New Zealand) 386 John Ormond, Jr.nb Ormond was the son of John Davies Ormond and the father of John Ormond Reform Party (New Zealand) Wairarapa Thomas McDonald United Party (New Zealand) Alex McLeod Reform Party (New Zealand) 616 Thomas McDonald United Party (New Zealand) Wairau Edward Healy United Party (New Zealand) 1,424 William Girling Independent politician Waitaki John Bitchener Reform Party (New Zealand) 885 Alexander PatersonFacer Wayne Arthur Pickard William Jellie: Unitarian, Scholar and Educator M.Phil. In New Zealand: Timaru 1923–1925 http://mro.massey.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10179/4359/02_whole.pdf?sequence=1 2012 Massey University 14 March 2015 New Zealand Labour Party Waitemata Alexander Harris Independent politician 2,378 Arthur OsborneParliamentary Elections https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19311120.2.49.5 29 October 2014 Auckland Star LXII 275 20 November 1931 New Zealand Labour Party Waitomo Walter Broadfoot United Party (New Zealand) yes true Wallace Adam Hamilton Reform Party (New Zealand) 2,842 Peter GilfedderDeclaration of Result of Poll for the Electoral District of Wallace http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OSWCC19311215.2.17.3 15 March 2015 Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle XXVII 1349 15 December 1931 2 Independent politician Wanganui Bill Veitch United Party (New Zealand) 590 Bill Rogers New Zealand Labour Party Wellington Central Peter Fraser New Zealand Labour Party 2,471Declaration of Result of Poll for the Electoral District of Wellington Suburbs https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19311210.2.6.7 5 March 2014 The Evening Post 10 December 1931 CXII 140 2 Robert Darroch United Party (New Zealand) Wellington East Bob Semple New Zealand Labour Party 593 Thomas Forsyth Reform Party (New Zealand) Wellington North Charles Chapman New Zealand Labour Party 1,061 George Troup Reform Party (New Zealand) Wellington South Robert McKeen New Zealand Labour Party 2,659 Will AppletonCoalition Selection http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19311113.2.84.1 17 March 2015 The Evening Post CXII 117 13 November 1931 8 United Party (New Zealand) Wellington Suburbs Robert Wright Reform Party (New Zealand) 2,570 Tom Brindle New Zealand Labour Party Westland James O'Brien New Zealand Labour Party 1,121 John Greenslade Independent politician |- |colspan=8 style="background-color:#FFDEAD" | Māori electorates |- Eastern Maori Āpirana Ngata United Party (New Zealand) 3,211 Pita Moko Ratana Northern Maori Taurekareka Henare Reform Party (New Zealand) 1,188 Paraire Karaka Paikea Ratana Southern Maori Tuiti Makitanara United Party (New Zealand) 19 Eruera Tirikatene Ratana Western Maori Taite Te Tomo Reform Party (New Zealand) 1,436 Toko Ratana Ratana |} Table footnotes: nb Four of the eight independent MPs (Connolly, Hargest, McSkimming, and Polson) were aligned with the United–Reform Coalition, and are not classified as independents by some sources. Notes References Bassett Michael Three Party Politics in New Zealand 1911-1931 Michael Bassett 1982 Historical Publications Auckland 0-86870-006-1 Electoral Atlas of New Zealand McRobie Alan 1989 GP Books Wellington 0-477-01384-8 Skinner W. A. G. The General Election, 1931 1932 Government Printer https://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&d=AJHR1932-I-II.2.3.2.31 2 November 2014 Wilson Jim Jim Wilson (librarian) New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 4th First ed. published 1913 1985 V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer Wellington 154283103 Category:December 1931 in Oceania