1947 Lower Hutt mayoral election explained

Election Name:1947 Lower Hutt mayoral election
Country:New Zealand
Flag Image:Lower Hutt COA.jpg
Type:Presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1944 Lower Hutt mayoral election
Previous Year:1944
Next Election:1949 Lower Hutt mayoral by-election
Next Year:1949
Election Date:19 November 1947
Turnout:11,626 (49.04%)
Candidate1:Ernst Peterson Hay
Party1:Lower Hutt Citizens' Association
Popular Vote1:6,109
Percentage1:52.54
Candidate2:Harry Saunders
Party2:New Zealand Labour Party
Popular Vote2:5,453
Percentage2:46.91
Mayor
Before Election:Ernst Peterson Hay
After Election:Ernst Peterson Hay

The 1947 Lower Hutt mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. The elections were held for the role of Mayor of Lower Hutt plus other local government positions including twelve city councillors, also elected triennially. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

Background

The winner of the previous mayoral election, Jack Andrews, resigned towards the end of his fifth term. The council did not hold a by-election due to the closeness to the regularly scheduled election and instead the councillors elected Ernst Peterson Hay in June 1947 to finish the remainder of the term.[1] Hay stood in the election where he was opposed by Labour's Henry "Harry" Saunders who was the chairman of the Boulcott School Committee and president of the Epuni-Waiwhetu branch of the Labour Party. Taking place during a period of rapid population growth in the area, it was the first election after the addition of the new suburb of Taita. Hay won the mayoralty and Saunders was elected a member of both the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board and Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Board, serving for just over a year until his death in December 1948.[2]

References

Notes and References

  1. News: Mr. Hay New Mayor . . 11 June 1947 . 21 . 2 . 7 .
  2. News: Obituary - Mr. Henry Saunders . . 8 December 1948 . XII . 25 . 7 .