1926 Eden by-election

The 1926 Eden by-election was a by-election for the Eden electorate during the 22nd New Zealand Parliament. The seat became vacant after the appointment of the sitting member, James Parr of the Reform Party as High Commissioner to London. Parr resigned on 26 March.[1] Labour won the by-election and became the official opposition in Parliament.

1926 Eden by-election
15 April 1926 (1926-04-15)
Turnout11,048
 
Candidate Rex Mason James Gunson Ellen Melville
Party Labour Reform Independent Reform
Popular vote 4,589 4,163 2,197
Percentage 41.54% 37.68% 19.89%
Eden electorate boundaries used for the by-election
Member before election

James Parr
Reform

 Elected Member

Rex Mason
Labour

Background

The by-election was held on 15 April 1926.[2] Three candidates contested the seat. James Gunson the official Reform candidate had been Mayor of Auckland from 1915 to 1925. Ellen Melville stood as an "Independent" Reform candidate, claiming interference by the party organiser Albert Davy prevented her being selected as the official candidate. The Reform Party vote was split allowing the Labour candidate, Rex Mason, to win.[2] The Liberal Party was "so weak .... that they could not field a candidate.[3]

Labour's candidate in Eden from the previous general election, Rex Mason was successful in winning the party nomination. The three others who vied for the candidacy were Frank Langstone (former MP for Waimarino), Tom Bloodworth (an Auckland City Councillor) and Jim Purtell (secretary of the Auckland Glassworkers' Union).[4]

Gunson was expected to "romp home" in the by-election; Reform had 55 seats. But with the Liberals having 11 seats plus two Liberal-leaning independents and Labour 12, Labour realised their chance to be the official Opposition and "threw their all" into their contest; helped by Melville standing as Independent Reform. "Never before or since have people in the sprawling electorate stretching from Eden Park, through Mount Albert, Pt Chevalier, New Lynn, Te Atatu, Massey and Hobsonville been wooed as assiduously as they were in March and April 1926" with party leaders Coates and Holland spending days in the electorate.[5]

As a result of Labour's candidate Rex Mason winning the by-election, Labour became the second largest party in Parliament and Harry Holland became Leader of the Opposition on 16 June 1926.[3]

Result

The following table gives the election results:

1926 Eden by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rex Mason 4,589 41.54 +2.06
Reform James Gunson 4,163 37.68
Independent Reform Ellen Melville 2,197 19.89
Informal votes 99 0.90 -0.02
Majority 3,811 3.86
Turnout 11,048 80.03 -11.23
Labour gain from Reform Swing

Results by locality

Following table showcasts the detailed results by locality for the ballot:[6]

LocalityMason (Labour)Gunson (Reform)Melville (Ind. Reform)
Votes %Votes %Votes %
Avondale Town Hall57647.2139332.2125120.58
Avondale Flat7325.2511640.1310034.60
Avondale South15346.0811735.246218.67
Brigham's Creek35.463563.641730.90
Edendale23450.7411424.7211324.51
Glen Eden15933.7523750.317515.92
Henderson Foresters Hall25837.6130344.1612518.23
Henderson Valley58.922748.212442.85
Hobsonville5534.166842.233823.60
Huia2636.614056.3357.04
Karekare225.00675.0000.00
Morningside68449.3142230.4228120.25
St. Luke's20235.4320035.0816829.47
Mont Albert55334.0569742.9137423.02
New Lynn59351.7441035.7714312.47
Nihotupu621.422071.4227.14
Oratia1915.708166.942117.35
Parau728.001768.0014.00
Point Chevallier61558.1828026.4916215.32
Swanson4621.908741.427736.66
Taupaki1212.127979.7988.08
Te Atatu1310.618575.221513.27
Titirangi1413.727775.491110.78
Waitakere2830.764650.541718.68
Western Springs12766.844624.21178.94
Whenuapai1017.852951.781730.35
Total4,58941.544,16337.682,19719.89

Notes
  1. Scholefield 1950, p. 131.
  2. Scholefield 1950, p. 125.
  3. Bassett 1982, p. 35.
  4. "Eden By-Election - The Labour Nominations". Auckland Star. Vol. LVII, no. 53. 4 March 1926. p. 9. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  5. Bassett 1982, p. 36-37.
  6. "Eden By-election". The New Zealand Herald. 16 April 1926. p. 10. Retrieved 7 July 2016.

References
  • Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
  • Bassett, Michael (1982). Three Party Politics in New Zealand 1911-1931. Auckland: Historical Publications. ISBN 0-86870-006-1.
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