1957 New Zealand National Party leadership election

none April 2024 1957 New Zealand National Party leadership election 75px presidential no 1940 New Zealand National Party leadership election 1940 1972 New Zealand National Party leadership election 1972 13 August 1957 Caucus 160px Keith Holyoake elected unopposed 00529F Leader Leader after election Sidney Holland Keith Holyoake The 1957 New Zealand National Party leadership election was held to choose the next leader of the New Zealand National Party. The election was won by Pahiatua MP Keith Holyoake. Background By 1956 Sidney Holland’s health was beginning to fail. His memory began to deteriorate and he lost much energy which he needed for work. In October 1956 he suffered either a mild heart attack or stroke while working in his office during the Suez Crisis.Gustafson Barry 5h30 Holland, Sidney George 30 October 2012 Barry Gustafson The following year a group of senior cabinet ministers led by Keith Holyoake, Jack Marshall, Jack Watts and party president, Alex McKenzie, persuaded Holland (who was reluctant to go) to resign citing his health deterioration. Holland announced his retirement from the leadership at the National's annual conference in Christchurch on 12 August 1957. Almost immediately after finishing his speech he collapsed backstage and was rushed to hospital by an ambulance.Gustafson 1986 72 Candidates Keith Holyoake Holyoake was a senior member of Holland's government. He served as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Marketing. He had been seen for years as a potential leader and was often predicted to be the one to succeed Adam Hamilton as National's leader, however he was hampered in this after losing his seat in the 1938 election.Wood G. A. 5H33 Holyoake, Keith Jacka 30 October 2012 Others The only other possible successor to Holland was his minister of labour, Bill Sullivan. He was seen as leadership material being straight-talking, tough, energetic and resolute and when Holland's health began to fail Sullivan was speculated as being a possible prime minister. However, Sullivan had resigned from Parliament in February 1957, following the death of his son Bruce, ruling out the possibility of a candidature.Templeton Hugh 5s52 Sullivan, William 16 August 2012 Hugh Templeton Result Holland named Holyoake as his preferred successor as party leader in his resignation and stated that he would nominate Holyoake himself.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19570813.2.104 Mr Holland to Retire – Mr Holyoake As Successor The Press 13 August 1957 XCVI 28354 12 In the following caucus meeting, held on the next day, Holyoake was unanimously elected as National's third party leader.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19570814.2.110 Leadership of Party – Caucus Elects Mr Holyoake The Press 14 August 1957 XCVI 28355 10 Holyoake's elevation to the leadership left the deputy spot vacant. Attorney-General Jack Marshall defeated Minister of Finance Jack Watts for the position.Gustafson Barry 5m36 Marshall, John Ross 27 August 2013 Barry Gustafson Aftermath Holyoake served as prime minister for two months before the general election that year, making only modest changes to cabinet. After Holland's resignation he was knighted and made a Minister without portfolio by Holyoake before retiring from Parliament at the 1957 election, which National went on to lose, claiming 39 seats to Labour's 41. Notes 30em References Gustafson Barry Barry Gustafson The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party 1986 Reed Methuen Auckland 0-474-00177-6 Gustafson Barry Barry Gustafson Kiwi Keith: A Biography of Keith Holyoake 2008 Auckland University Press Auckland 978-1-86940-400-0 April 2017 National Party leadership 1957 New Zealand National Party leadership election Category:August 1957 in Oceania