Country Party (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
The Country Party of New Zealand
was a political party
which based itself around rural
voters. It was represented in Parliament from 1928 to 1938. Its policies were a mixture of rural advocacy and social credit
theory.
The Country Party had its origins in the Auckland Farmers' Union, a branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union which covered most of the upper North Island
. In the 1920s, members of this branch increasingly came to believe that the Reform Party
, which traditionally enjoyed much support in rural areas, was now putting the interests of farmers behind those of businesses in the city. The Auckland branch was also strongly influenced by the social credit theory of monetary reform
, promoted by C. H. Douglas
. Many farmers believed that the country's financial system did not treat them fairly, and that they were being exploited by big-city bankers and moneylenders.
The Auckland branch grew increasingly frustrated with the Farmers' Union leadership, which did not support having an independent rural party. Eventually members of the Auckland branch established the Country Party without the Union's backing. In 1928, the branch broke away from the Union altogether, giving its full backing to the Country Party. Because of this geographical basis, the Country Party was largely confined to the upper North Island.
In the 1925 elections
, the Country Party fielded five candidates, but only won 0.3% of the vote. In the 1928 elections
, however, the party won 1.6% of the vote, and Harold Rushworth
, its candidate in the Bay of Islands
seat, was narrowly elected. In Parliament, the Country Party tended to align itself with the growing Labour Party
, primarily because both parties were distrustful of the financial and banking industries.
In the 1931 elections
, the Country Party increased its share of the vote to 2.3%, and Rushworth kept his seat. In the 1935 elections
, the party's share of the vote dropped slightly, but it won two seats — Rushworth, aided by the Labour Party's decision not to stand a candidate against him, was re-elected, while Arthur Sexton
was elected in the Franklin
electorate.
In the 1938 elections
, the Country Party lost both its seats as Labour decided to contest them, with Rushworth retiring (partly because of Labour's intervention) and Sexton being defeated by National
. The party won only 0.2% of the vote, and disappeared soon afterwards. Most rural voters who had supported it turned to the National Party
, which incorporated the former Reform Party. Later, however, the Social Credit Party
would gain a certain amount of success in rural areas using much the same formula — some see the Country Party as a forerunner to the more long-lived Social Credit.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
was a political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
which based itself around rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
voters. It was represented in Parliament from 1928 to 1938. Its policies were a mixture of rural advocacy and social credit
Social Credit
Social Credit is an economic philosophy developed by C. H. Douglas , a British engineer, who wrote a book by that name in 1924. Social Credit is described by Douglas as "the policy of a philosophy"; he called his philosophy "practical Christianity"...
theory.
The Country Party had its origins in the Auckland Farmers' Union, a branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union which covered most of the upper North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
. In the 1920s, members of this branch increasingly came to believe that the Reform Party
New Zealand Reform Party
The Reform Party, formally the New Zealand Political Reform League, was New Zealand's second major political party, having been founded as a conservative response to the original Liberal Party...
, which traditionally enjoyed much support in rural areas, was now putting the interests of farmers behind those of businesses in the city. The Auckland branch was also strongly influenced by the social credit theory of monetary reform
Monetary reform
Monetary reform describes any movement or theory that proposes a different system of supplying money and financing the economy from the current system.Monetary reformers may advocate any of the following, among other proposals:...
, promoted by C. H. Douglas
C. H. Douglas
Major C. H. Douglas MIMechE, MIEE, , was a British engineer and pioneer of the Social Credit economic reform movement.-Education and engineering career:...
. Many farmers believed that the country's financial system did not treat them fairly, and that they were being exploited by big-city bankers and moneylenders.
The Auckland branch grew increasingly frustrated with the Farmers' Union leadership, which did not support having an independent rural party. Eventually members of the Auckland branch established the Country Party without the Union's backing. In 1928, the branch broke away from the Union altogether, giving its full backing to the Country Party. Because of this geographical basis, the Country Party was largely confined to the upper North Island.
In the 1925 elections
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...
, the Country Party fielded five candidates, but only won 0.3% of the vote. In the 1928 elections
New Zealand general election, 1928
The New Zealand general election of 1928 was held on Tuesday, 13 November in the Māori electorates, and on Wednesday, 14 November in the general electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 23rd session of the New Zealand Parliament...
, however, the party won 1.6% of the vote, and Harold Rushworth
Harold Rushworth
Harold Montague Rushworth was a New Zealand politician of the Country Party.-Early life:Rushworth was born in Croydon, England and was educated at Rugby School and Jesus College, Oxford, graduating with a degree in law. He became a civil engineer and surveyor and worked for the London County...
, its candidate in the Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands (New Zealand electorate)
Bay of Islands is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It existed during various periods between 1853 and 1993.-Population centres:...
seat, was narrowly elected. In Parliament, the Country Party tended to align itself with the growing 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....
, primarily because both parties were distrustful of the financial and banking industries.
In the 1931 elections
New Zealand general election, 1931
The 1931 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 24th term. It resulted in the newly formed coalition between the United Party and the Reform Party remaining in office as the Liberal-Reform Government, although the opposition Labour...
, the Country Party increased its share of the vote to 2.3%, and Rushworth kept his seat. In the 1935 elections
New Zealand general election, 1935
The 1935 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 25th term. It resulted in the Labour Party's first electoral victory, with Michael Joseph Savage becoming the first Labour Prime Minister...
, the party's share of the vote dropped slightly, but it won two seats — Rushworth, aided by the Labour Party's decision not to stand a candidate against him, was re-elected, while Arthur Sexton
Arthur Sexton
Arthur Clifton Axford Sexton was a New Zealand politician of the Country Party.-Member of Parliament:He was the Member of Parliament for from 1935 to 1938, when he was defeated....
was elected in the Franklin
Franklin (New Zealand electorate)
Franklin was a rural New Zealand parliamentary electorate. It existed from 1861 to 1996 during four periods.-Population centres:The original electorate from 1861 to 1881 included the South Auckland towns of Papatoetoe, Papakura, Pukekohe and Waiuku, and west of Waiuku to the West Coast...
electorate.
In the 1938 elections
New Zealand general election, 1938
The 1938 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 26th term. It resulted in the governing Labour Party being re-elected, although the newly-founded National Party gained a certain amount of ground.-Background:The Labour Party had won...
, the Country Party lost both its seats as Labour decided to contest them, with Rushworth retiring (partly because of Labour's intervention) and Sexton being defeated by National
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 party won only 0.2% of the vote, and disappeared soon afterwards. Most rural voters who had supported it turned to 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:...
, which incorporated the former Reform Party. Later, however, the Social Credit Party
Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
The New Zealand Social Credit Party was a political party which served as the country's "third party" from the 1950s through into the 1980s. The party held a number of seats in the New Zealand Parliament, although never more than two at a time...
would gain a certain amount of success in rural areas using much the same formula — some see the Country Party as a forerunner to the more long-lived Social Credit.