1918 Wellington South by-election explained

Election Name:1918 Wellington South by-election
Country:New Zealand
Flag Year:1918
Type:By-election
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1914 New Zealand general election
Previous Year:1914 general
Next Election:1919 New Zealand general election
Next Year:1919 general
Turnout:3,990
Candidate1:Bob Semple
Party1:New Zealand Labour Party
Popular Vote1:2,412
Percentage1:60.45%
Candidate2:George Frost
Party2:Reform Party (New Zealand)
Popular Vote2:1,181
Percentage2:29.59%
Member
Before Election:Alfred Hindmarsh
Before Party:New Zealand Labour Party
After Election:Bob Semple
After Party:New Zealand Labour Party

The Wellington South by-election of 1918 was a by-election held in the electorate during the 19th New Zealand Parliament, on 19 December 1918. It was caused by the death of incumbent MP Alfred Hindmarsh, the leader of the Labour Party and was won by fellow party member Bob Semple with a majority of 1,231.[1]

Background

Bob Semple, a miners agent who was previously the organiser of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, was selected as the Labour Party candidate. The nomination was subject of much interest. The unsuccessful aspirants were Tom Brindle, Alec Monteith, John Read, Michael Reardon and Tom Young.[2]

Two Wellington City Councillors also stood as candidates. George Frost and John Castle offered themselves to the electorate, with Frost being endorsed by the Reform Party.

Results

The following table gives the election results:

Notes and References

  1. Book: Wilson, James Oakley . New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 . 4th . First published in 1913 . 1985 . V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer . Wellington . 154283103 . 233.
  2. News: By-election . 18 January 2018 . New Zealand Times . 9 December 1918 . XLIII . 10147 . 4.