1947 Avon by-election

New Zealand by-election April 2024 July 2019 1947 Avon by-election New Zealand 1947 presidential no 1946 New Zealand general election 1946 general 1949 New Zealand general election 1949 general Avon 1947 5 28 y 13,035 (84.43%) 100px John Mathison New Zealand Labour Party 8,513 65.31 −3.33 100px Robert Alexander McDowell New Zealand National Party 4,422 33.92 +2.56 Member Dan Sullivan New Zealand Labour Party John Mathison New Zealand Labour Party The 1947 Avon by-election was a by-election held during the 28th New Zealand Parliament in the Christchurch electorate of Avon. The by-election occurred following the death of MP Dan Sullivan and was won by John Mathison. Background Dan Sullivan, who was first elected to represent Avon for the Labour Party in 1919, died on 8 April 1947.Watson, James (updated 22 June 2007). "Sullivan, Daniel Giles 1882 – 1947". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Retrieved 12 August 2013. This triggered the Avon by-election, which occurred on 28 May 1947.Norton 1988, p. 3. Candidates Labour There were six nominations for the Labour Party nomination:https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19470503.2.106 Avon Seat – Six Labour Party Nominees The Press 3 May 1947 LXXXIII 25174 8 Archie Grant, secretary of the Canterbury Trades Council of the Federation of Labour Mrs. A. J. Jones, a charity worker and member of Labour's Aranui branch Margaret Mackwell, the matron of the Glendower Maternity Hospital and member of the Canterbury Trained Nurses' Association George Manning, a Christchurch City Councillor and secretary of the Canterbury branch of the Workers' Educational Association John Mathison, a member of the Christchurch Transport Board and Labour candidate for Hurunui in 1946 Alan Williams, secretary of the North Canterbury Labour Representation Committee and Labour candidate for Fendalton in 1946 Two other expected candidates, Jack Roberts and Alan Sharp, declined nomination. Roberts, president of both the North Canterbury Labour Representation Committee and Canterbury Trades Council of the Federation of Labour, committed himself to union activities while Sharp (who was Labour's candidate for Selwyn in 1946) wished to run in Selwyn again at the next general election. With Roberts' declination Mathison was seen as the frontrunner for the nomination. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG19470419.2.11 Labour Nominee for Avon Ashburton Guardian 19 April 1947 67 160 3 Mathison was subsequently selected as Labour's nominee.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19470506.2.30 Avon By-election – Mr. J. Mathison Selected Otago Daily Times 6 May 1947 26453 6 National Dr. Robert Alexander McDowell, a medical doctor from Kaiapoi and representative of the Canterbury division on the council of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, was the only nominee for the National Party candidacy. He was National candidate for Avon in 1946.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG19470423.2.58 Avon By-election – Dr. McDowell willing to Stand Ashburton Guardian 23 April 1947 67 163 5 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19470501.2.43 The Avon Seat – National Party's Nominee Otago Daily Times 1 May 1947 26449 6 Others John Ramby Robertson was an independent candidate. Robertson was a member of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) but his nomination was refused endorsement by DLP leader John A. Lee. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19470524.2.10 Avon By-Election Evening Star 24 May 1947 LXXII 26109 5 Papers Past Robertson had stood unsuccessfully as a DLP candidate for the Christchurch City Council in 1944.Christchurch City Council 15 February 2020 The Press LXXX 24278 8 June 1944 7 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19440608.2.74.1 Papers Past The Communist Party decided not to put forward a candidate. The party's Christchurch secretary, Jack Locke, stated his party had no wish to embarrass the Government (whose policies they mostly supported) by drawing away votes. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19470501.2.70 No Communist Party Candidate The Press 1 May 1947 LXXXIII 25172 6 Previous election 1946 general election: AvonNorton 1988 195 New Zealand Labour Party Dan Sullivan 9,539 68.64 +7.44 New Zealand National Party Robert Alexander McDowell 4,359 31.36 5,180 37.27 +5.83 13,898 92.74 +2.11 15,092 Results The following table gives the election results: Mathison obtained 65.31% of the votes and was successful.Norton 1988 195 See also List of New Zealand by-elections 1887 Avon by-election Notes References Norton Clifford New Zealand parliamentary election results, 1946–1987 1988 Victoria University of Wellington Department of Political Science Wellington 0-475-11200-8 Category:Politics of Christchurch Category:1947 elections in New Zealand Category:By-elections in New Zealand Category:1940s in Christchurch Category:May 1947 in Oceania