1930 Invercargill by-election

1930 by-election in Invercargill, New Zealand April 2024 December 2023 1930 Invercargill by-election New Zealand 1930 presidential no 1928 New Zealand general election 1928 general 1931 New Zealand general election 1931 general Invercargill 1930 8 13 y 9,842 (79.50%) 120px|Vincent Ward Vincent Ward United Party (New Zealand) 5,194 52.91 133px|James Hargest James Hargest Reform Party (New Zealand) 4,623 47.09 Member Sir Joseph Ward United Party (New Zealand) Vincent Ward United Party (New Zealand) The 1930 Invercargill by-election was a by-election during the 23rd New Zealand Parliament in the Southland electorate of Invercargill. The by-election occurred following the death of Sir Joseph Ward on 8 July 1930. The by-election, which was held on 13 August, was won by the late Prime Minister's second son, Vincent Ward against James Hargest. Background Sir Joseph Ward had suffered a defeat in the 1919, was ageing and often of poor health. It was generally expected that his political career was over. He attempted a comeback but suffered a humiliating defeat in the Tauranga 1923 in the Tauranga electorate. He managed to get re-elected in the Invercargill electorate in the 1925, when he had a "wafer-thin 159-vote victory" over James Hargest of the Reform Party.Bassett Michael 2W9 Ward, Joseph George 19 October 2013 Michael Bassett Sir Joseph contested the 1928 as the new leader of the United Party against the solicitor Stanley Morell Macalister (known as Morell Macalister), who stood for Reform.Johnston Alexa M. 5m2 Molly Morell Macalister 23 April 2017Political Quips http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19281112.2.115.12 19 October 2013 Auckland Star 12 November 1928 LIX 268 11 Soon after the 1928 election, Sir Joseph became Prime Minister for the second time. Under pressure from party colleagues, he resigned as Prime Minister due to ill health in May 1930. Sir Joseph died less than two months later on 8 July. Candidates Over the last years, Vincent Ward had acted as a political assistant to his father. He was nominated by the United Party in the resulting by-election, which was held on 13 August.Wilson 1985 244 His selection was not supported by all, and some had preferred William Hinchey, a former Mayor of Bluff.Invercargill Seat http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19300811.2.85 19 October 2013 The Evening Post 11 August 1930 CX 36 10Mr. W. Hinchey http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19360516.2.119.3 20 October 2013 The Evening Post 16 May 1936 CXXI 115 5 Ward Jr. was opposed by James Hargest, who had been narrowly beaten by Ward Sr. in the 1925 general election.Amended Results http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19251113.2.65 19 October 2013 The Evening Post 13 November 1925 CX 117 6 Hargest was regarded as a capable candidate, and he dealt with being heckled in large meetings quite well. Hargest claimed that as a director of a North Island company, Ward as an absentee could not effectively represent the Invercargill electorate. Hargest also appealed to Labour voters that he worked as hard as they did. He defended himself against the view that it should be Ward's right to succeed his father.Right to Stand http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19300805.2.110 19 October 2013 The Evening Post 5 August 1930 CX 31 10 Just before nominations closed, the independent candidate William Hinchey withdrew from the contest.Only two Candidates http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19300801.2.114 19 October 2013 Auckland Star 1 August 1930 LXI 180 9 The local Labour Party branch apparently had decided on the Rev John Archer, at the time the Mayor of Christchurch, as their first choice. Second choice was William Denham an Invercargill City Councillor (who was elected as Invercargill's MP in 1935). Then, Tom O'Byrne was considered as a candidate.Invercargill Seat http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19300806.2.55 19 October 2013 The Evening Post 6 August 1930 CX 32 9Labour's Attitude http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19300807.2.60.2 19 October 2013 The Evening Post 7 August 1930 CX 33 10 The local Labour Representation Committee were keen to stand a candidate but were overruled by the Labour Party's national executive, who made the decision not to stand a candidate. This decision was mocked in the press as being undemocratic.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC19300809.2.48 Labour and Reform Wanganui Chronicle 9 August 1930 73 339 8 Election meetings were well attended. Hargest had over 2000 attendees at his last meeting in the town hall.Invercargill Seat http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19300813.2.123 19 October 2013 The Evening Post 13 August 1930 CX 38 13 Election results Previous election 1928 general election: InvercargillGeneral Election http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19281127.2.136 19 October 2013 The Evening Post 27 November 1928 CVI 121 14 United Party (New Zealand) Sir Joseph Ward 7,309 63.89 +16.98 Reform Party (New Zealand) Morell Macalister 4,131 36.11 3,178 27.78 +26.27 88 0.76 +0.25 11,528 By-election results Hargest was beaten in by Ward Jr., who had a majority of 571 votes (5.82%). Vincent Ward retired at the end of the term in 1931.Wilson 1985 244 Hargest won the 1931 in the Invercargill electorate and remained an MP until his death in 1944.Wilson 1985 203 Ward was called to the Legislative Council in 1934 and served there until his death in 1946.Wilson 1985 166 See also List of New Zealand by-elections 1873 Invercargill by-election 1878 Invercargill by-election Notes References Wilson James Oakley New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 4 First ed. published 1913 1985 V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer Wellington 154283103 Category:1930 elections in New Zealand Invercargill 1930 Category:Politics of the Southland Region Category:August 1930 in Oceania