Christchurch East by-election, 1943
Encyclopedia
The 1943 Christchurch East by-election held on 6 February was caused by the death of Tim Armstrong during the term of the 26th New Zealand Parliament. The by-election in the Christchurch East
electorate was contested by five candidates, including representatives from the Labour Party
, the Labour breakaway party Democratic Labour Party
and the National Party
. The election was won by the Labour candidate, Mabel Howard
, and started her long parliamentary career, which included her becoming the first female cabinet minister in 1947.
and held the electorate for Labour until his death. The by-election in this Labour stronghold attracted five candidates.
Mabel Howard, the daughter of former MP
Ted Howard, had wanted to follow her father in the 1939 Christchurch South by-election
caused by his death, but although she was the favoured candidate by the local branch of the party, the Labour Party hierarchy chose Robert Macfarlane
instead. Howard believed that back then, she was opposed due to her connections to John A. Lee
, who was seen as a radical within the party. But for the 1943 by-election in the Christchurch East electorate, Mabel Howard was nominated by the Labour Party.
Lee had been expelled from the Labour Party in 1940 and had immediately set up a splinter party that he called Democratic Labour Party
(DLP). Horace Herring stood for the DLP and it was expected that this would split the Labour vote.
Owen McKee was a union delegate from South Canterbury. A former vice-president of the General Labourers' Union in Timaru
, he was seen as running a personal campaign against Howard over a difference of opinion. His candidacy was not seen as serious.
Melville Lyons
was the candidate put forward by the National Party
. A seasoned political campaigner, Lyons had briefly been elected to Parliament in 1925
for the Lyttelton electorate
before his election was declared void.. At the time, he was Deputy-Mayor of Christchurch
. In conjunction with the split vote caused by the DLP, Lyons was expected to be a threat to Labour.
The last candidate, Lincoln Efford, was a peace advocate and was not taken seriously.
There were 14,835 people on the electoral roll, of which 9,644 voted in the 6 February 1943 by-election. The individual results were:
As it had been predicted, the Labour vote was split between Howard and Herring. The National vote was practically unchanged compared to the 1938 general election. With Labour's substantial majority in 1938, even the split vote gained Howard a comfortable win, with Herring (DLP) coming second and Lyons (National) coming third. The two remaining candidates had marginal returns. Howard was the fourth woman to be represented in the New Zealand Parliament
, and the fifth woman overall. It started Howard's long parliamentary career, which lasted until 1969 when she retired. She was to become the first woman cabinet minister (as Minister of Health
in 1947–1949) in New Zealand.
Christchurch East
Christchurch East is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It is currently held by Lianne Dalziel of the Labour Party.-History:The electorate was first created, as Christchurch City East, for the...
electorate was contested by five candidates, including representatives from the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
, the Labour breakaway party Democratic Labour Party
Democratic Labour Party (New Zealand)
The Democratic Labour Party was a left-wing political party in New Zealand in the 1940s. It was a splinter from the larger Labour Party, and was led by the prominent socialist John A. Lee.-Party history:...
and the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
. The election was won by the Labour candidate, Mabel Howard
Mabel Howard
|-...
, and started her long parliamentary career, which included her becoming the first female cabinet minister in 1947.
Background and candidates
Tim Armstrong was first elected to Parliament in the Christchurch East electorate in the 1922 general electionNew Zealand general election, 1922
The New Zealand general election of 1922 was held on Monday, 6 December in the Māori electorates, and on Tuesday, 7 December in the general electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 21st session of the New Zealand Parliament...
and held the electorate for Labour until his death. The by-election in this Labour stronghold attracted five candidates.
Mabel Howard, the daughter of former MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Ted Howard, had wanted to follow her father in the 1939 Christchurch South by-election
Christchurch South by-election, 1939
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...
caused by his death, but although she was the favoured candidate by the local branch of the party, the Labour Party hierarchy chose Robert Macfarlane
Robert Macfarlane (New Zealand)
Sir Robert Mafeking Macfarlane, KCMG was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. He was a Member of Parliament, served as Speaker of the House of Representatives and was a Mayor of Christchurch.-Local body politics:...
instead. Howard believed that back then, she was opposed due to her connections to John A. Lee
John A. Lee
John Alfred Alexander Lee DCM was a New Zealand politician and writer. He is one of the more prominent avowed socialists in New Zealand's political history.-Early life:...
, who was seen as a radical within the party. But for the 1943 by-election in the Christchurch East electorate, Mabel Howard was nominated by the Labour Party.
Lee had been expelled from the Labour Party in 1940 and had immediately set up a splinter party that he called Democratic Labour Party
Democratic Labour Party (New Zealand)
The Democratic Labour Party was a left-wing political party in New Zealand in the 1940s. It was a splinter from the larger Labour Party, and was led by the prominent socialist John A. Lee.-Party history:...
(DLP). Horace Herring stood for the DLP and it was expected that this would split the Labour vote.
Owen McKee was a union delegate from South Canterbury. A former vice-president of the General Labourers' Union in Timaru
Timaru
TimaruUrban AreaPopulation:27,200Extent:Former Timaru City CouncilTerritorial AuthorityName:Timaru District CouncilPopulation:42,867 Land area:2,736.54 km² Mayor:Janie AnnearWebsite:...
, he was seen as running a personal campaign against Howard over a difference of opinion. His candidacy was not seen as serious.
Melville Lyons
Melville Lyons
Melville Edwin Lyons , sometimes called Tiny, was briefly a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand until his election was declared void. A journalist by trade, he became involved in local politics in Christchurch after having served in WWI...
was the candidate put forward by the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
. A seasoned political campaigner, Lyons had briefly been elected to Parliament in 1925
New Zealand general election, 1925
The New Zealand general election of 1925 was held 4 November to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 22nd session of the New Zealand Parliament...
for the Lyttelton electorate
Lyttelton (New Zealand electorate)
Lyttelton is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It existed from 1853–90, and again from 1893–1996, when it was replaced by the Banks Peninsula electorate.-Population Centres:...
before his election was declared void.. At the time, he was Deputy-Mayor of Christchurch
Mayor of Christchurch
The Mayor of Christchurch is the head of the municipal government of Christchurch, New Zealand, and presides over the Christchurch City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system...
. In conjunction with the split vote caused by the DLP, Lyons was expected to be a threat to Labour.
The last candidate, Lincoln Efford, was a peace advocate and was not taken seriously.
Results
There were 15,330 voters registered in the Christchurch East electorate for the 1938 general election held on 15 October. Results of the Christchurch East general election were:There were 14,835 people on the electoral roll, of which 9,644 voted in the 6 February 1943 by-election. The individual results were:
As it had been predicted, the Labour vote was split between Howard and Herring. The National vote was practically unchanged compared to the 1938 general election. With Labour's substantial majority in 1938, even the split vote gained Howard a comfortable win, with Herring (DLP) coming second and Lyons (National) coming third. The two remaining candidates had marginal returns. Howard was the fourth woman to be represented in the New Zealand Parliament
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
, and the fifth woman overall. It started Howard's long parliamentary career, which lasted until 1969 when she retired. She was to become the first woman cabinet minister (as Minister of Health
Minister of Health (New Zealand)
The Minister of Health is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the New Zealand Ministry of Health and the District Health Boards.The present Minister is Tony Ryall, a member of the National Party.-History:...
in 1947–1949) in New Zealand.