1915 Wellington City mayoral election explained

Election Name:1915 Wellington City mayoral election
Country:New Zealand
Flag Image:Wellington Coat Of Arms.svg
Type:Presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1914 Wellington City mayoral election
Previous Year:1914
Next Election:1917 Wellington City mayoral election
Next Year:1917
Election Date:8 May 1915
Turnout:18,644 (55.65%)
Candidate1:John Luke
Party1:Wellington Citizens League
Popular Vote1:9,987
Percentage1:53.56
Candidate2:Robert Fletcher
Party2:Independent politician
Popular Vote2:7,525
Percentage2:40.36
Candidate3:Charles Chapman
Party3:Social Democratic Party (New Zealand)
Popular Vote3:1,132
Percentage3:6.07
Mayor
Before Election:John Luke
After Election:John Luke

The 1915 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1915, elections were held for the Mayor of Wellington plus other local government positions including fifteen city councillors. John Luke, the incumbent Mayor, retained office tallying just ten votes fewer than he did two years earlier. The standard first-past-the-post electoral method was used to conduct polling.

Background

The election was held during World War I, which was the dominant news item of the day. The war was a topic in the election itself, with the current mayor John Luke being a strong supporter campaigning along a 'win the war' line. In stark contrast the Labour movement were opposed to the war, in particular conscription. In mid-1915 the war was still supported by the bulk of the population, thus the Labour mayoral candidate Charles Chapman performing much poorer than expected, when only three years earlier (before the war) Wellingtonians voted in the city's first Labour mayor. The Labour movement had restored some unity between the moderate and militant factions (helped by mutual opposition to conscription) and both factions agreed on a single candidate for the mayoralty, and a reduced but joint ticket for the council. However, the expected nadir in support in the face of jingoistic opponents came to fruition with none of the six Labour candidates elected to the council. This left Alfred Hindmarsh (who was elected to the Wellington Harbour Board) the sole elected Labour representative in Wellington.[1]

References

Notes and References

  1. News: Wellington City Council . . 8 . 8 May 1915 . 25 May 2016 . LXXXIX . 108 .