1939 Christchurch South by-election

New Zealand by-election April 2024 April 2022 1939 Christchurch South by-election New Zealand 1939 presidential no 1938 New Zealand general election 1938 general 1943 New Zealand general election 1943 general Christchurch South 1939 6 3 y 11,905 (76.36%) 150x150px Robert Macfarlane New Zealand Labour Party 7,900 66.36% 150x150px Melville Lyons New Zealand National Party 4,005 33.64% Christchurch South electorate 1938-46.png Christchurch South electorate boundaries used for the by-election MP Ted Howard New Zealand Labour Party Robert Macfarlane New Zealand Labour Party The 1939 Christchurch South by-election held on 3 June was caused by the death of Ted Howard during the term of the 26th New Zealand Parliament. The by-election in the Christchurch South electorate was contested by Robert Macfarlane for Labour and Melville Lyons for National, with Macfarlane winning the election. At the time, Macfarlane was Mayor of Christchurch. Background Since the first election of Ted Howard in the 1919 general election, Christchurch South was held by the Labour Party. The By-Election https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19390602.2.60 13 November 2011 Evening Post 2 June 1939 CXXVII 128 8 At the last general election in 1938, Howard had polled 9,885 votes versus 3,890 votes for Gladstone Ward, the son of former Prime Minister Joseph Ward.General Election https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19381022.2.85 14 November 2011 The Evening Post 22 October 1938 CXXVI 98 10 When Howard died on 26 April 1939,Scholefield 1950 115 the electorate was thus regarded as a safe seat for Labour. On nomination day, two candidates were put forward, Robert Macfarlane for the Labour Party and Melville Lyons for the National Party.City By-Election https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19390522.2.124 14 November 2011 The Evening Post 22 May 1939 CXXVII 118 11 Mabel Howard, Ted Howard's daughter, had hoped to be put forward by the Labour Party, and she was endorsed by the local branch of the party.Labour Party Nomination https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19390503.2.30 14 November 2011 The Evening Post 3 May 1939 CXXVII 102 7 The national executive of the Labour Party chose Macfarlane, and Howard believed that she was opposed by the party's hierarchy due to her connections to John A. Lee, who was seen as a radical within the party.McAloon Jim 5H38 Howard, Mabel Bowden 15 November 2011 The chosen candidate, Macfarlane, had been Mayor of Christchurch since the previous year.http://www.ccc.govt.nz/thecouncil/howthecouncilworks/ourhistory/chairmenmayors.aspx Chairmen and mayors Christchurch City Council 15 November 2011 Christchurch dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100522063807/http://www.ccc.govt.nz/thecouncil/howthecouncilworks/ourhistory/chairmenmayors.aspx 22 May 2010 Results Results of the Christchurch South general election held on 15 October 1938 were: Christchurch South general election, 1938 New Zealand Labour Party Ted Howard 9,885 71.76 New Zealand National Party Gladstone Ward 3,890 28.24 5,995 43.52 13,775 Results of the by-election held on 3 June 1939 were:Official Count https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19390609.2.41 14 November 2011 The Evening Post 9 June 1939 CXXVII 134 6 There were 20 polling booths and Lyons obtained a majority at only two of those (at Kilmore Street and at the Provincial Chambers in Durham Street). Macfarlane could increase the Labour vote at one polling booth only (Antigua Street in Sydenham).Seat Retained https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19390605.2.98 14 November 2011 The Evening Post 5 June 1939 CXXVII 130 10 Macfarlane stated that in his belief, about 2,000 Labour Party supporters did not vote because the outcome of the election was a foregone conclusion.A Hard Fight https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19390605.2.99 14 November 2011 The Evening Post 5 June 1939 CXXVII 130 10 This view was disputed in an editorial by The Evening Post, arguing that the reduced Labour support is due to Howard's popularity that Macfarlane does not possess despite many high-profile politicians having campaigned on Labour's behalf, and that it is more likely that National supporters have suffered from apathy, as Lyons never had any hope of winning the election.A Straw Vote https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19390605.2.64 14 November 2011 The Evening Post 5 June 1939 CXXVII 130 8 Macfarlane held the electorate until its abolition at the 1946 general election and subsequently Christchurch CentralScholefield 1950 122 until the 1969 general election, when he retired. Notes References New Zealand Official Yearbook 1940 p926 Scholefield Guy New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 Guy Scholefield 3rd First published in 1913 1950 Govt. Printer Wellington Christchurch South 1939 Christchurch South Category:Politics of Christchurch Category:1930s in Christchurch