1957 Bay of Plenty by-election explained

Election Name:1957 Bay of Plenty by-election
Country:New Zealand
Flag Year:1957
Type:presidential
Previous Election:1954 New Zealand general election
Previous Year:1954 general
Next Election:1957 New Zealand general election
Next Year:1957 general
Turnout:9,233 (72.15%)
Candidate1:Percy Allen
Party1:New Zealand National Party
Popular Vote1:5,290
Percentage1:53.99
Candidate2:Godfrey Santon
Party2:New Zealand Labour Party
Popular Vote2:4,091
Percentage2:41.75
MP
Before Election:Bill Sullivan
Before Party:New Zealand National Party
After Election:Percy Allen
After Party:New Zealand National Party

The Bay of Plenty by-election 1957 was a by-election held in the electorate in the Bay of Plenty during the term of the 31st New Zealand Parliament on 6 April 1957.

Background

The by-election was caused by the resignation of incumbent MP Bill Sullivan of the National Party for personal reasons on 13 February 1957.

Candidates

LabourThomas Godfrey Santon, a Taneaua dairy farmer who stood in the Bay of Plenty seat in, was selected to stand in the seat again for the Labour Party.[1] [2]
Liberal FederationReginald Joseph Pedley stood for the Liberal Federation, a newly created party. The president of the Liberal Federation, James Hill-Motion, stated that the party planned to use the by-election campaign to advertise its policies to New Zealanders. He also pushed back on jibes that his party were "dissenting Social Crediters" instead saying "We are dissenting Nationalists, but we see a danger for the country in socialism." Hill-Motion had been a Social Credit candidate for in 1954, but regretted his nomination.[2]
NationalThere were seven names that went forward for the National Party nomination:[3]

Butler, the chairman of the South Auckland division of the National Party, was initially seen as the likeliest candidate to win the National nomination.[4] On 11 March a selection meeting of about 140 branch delegates in Whakatane was held and chose Allen as the party candidate for the by-election.[5]

Results

The following table gives the election results:

The by-election was won by Allen who remained MP for the electorate until he retired in 1975.

References

Notes and References

  1. News: Bay of Plenty By-Election – Candidates For Seat . . 21 February 1957 . XCV . 28208 . 12 . 24 February 2022 .
  2. News: Bay of Plenty By-Election – Three Candidates In Contest . . 16 March 1957 . XCV . 28228 . 2 . 24 February 2022 .
  3. News: Bay of Plenty Seat – National Party Candidate . . 27 February 1957 . XCV . 28213 . 12 . 24 February 2022 .
  4. News: Bay of Plenty Electorate – By-Election Likely In April . . 7 February 1957 . XCV . 28196 . 12 . 24 February 2022 .
  5. News: Bay of Plenty Seat – National Party Candidate . . 12 March 1957 . XCV . 28224 . 10 . 24 February 2022 .