19th New Zealand Parliament explained

19th Parliament of New Zealand
Body:New Zealand Parliament
Election:1914 New Zealand general election
Government:Reform Government
Term Start:24 June 1915
Term End:5 November 1919
Before:18th Parliament
After:20th Parliament
Chamber1:House of Representatives
Chamber1 Image:File:19th New Zealand Parliament Seating.png
Membership1:80
Chamber1 Leader1 Type:Speaker of the House
Chamber1 Leader1:Frederic Lang
Chamber1 Leader2 Type:Prime Minister
Chamber1 Leader2:William Massey
Chamber1 Leader3 Type:Leader of the Opposition
Chamber1 Leader3:Joseph Ward
Chamber2:Legislative Council
Membership2:37 (at start)
39 (at end)
Chamber2 Leader1 Type:Speaker of the Council
Chamber2 Leader1:Sir Walter Carncross from 1 November 1918
Charles Johnson until 13 June 1918†
Charles Bowen until 4 July 1915
Chamber2 Leader2 Type:Leader of the Council
Chamber2 Leader2:Sir Francis Bell
Chamber3:Sovereign
Chamber3 Leader1 Type:Monarch
Chamber3 Leader1:HM George V
Chamber3 Leader2 Type:Governor-General
as Governor until 28 June 1917
Chamber3 Leader2:HE Rt. Hon. The Earl of Liverpool

The 19th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the New Zealand Parliament. It opened on 24 June 1915, following the 1914 election. It was dissolved on 27 November 1919 in preparation for 1919 election.

Sessions

The 19th Parliament opened on 24 June 1915, following the 1914 general election. It sat for six sessions (with two sessions in 1918), and was dissolved on 27 November 1919.

Session Opened Ended Prorogued
first 24 June 1915 12 October 1915 15 October 1915
second 9 May 1916 8 August 1916 9 August 1916
third 28 June 1917 1 November 1917 2 November 1917
fourth 9 April 1918 15 April 1918 17 April 1918
fifth 24 October 1918 9 December 1918 12 December 1918
sixth 28 August 1919 5 November 1919 7 November 1919

Historical context

The 19th Parliament was the second term of the Reform Party government, which had been elected in the 1911 election. William Massey, the leader of the Reform Party, remained Prime Minister. The Liberal Party, led by former Prime Minister Joseph Ward, was technically the main opposition party, although for the majority of the term, the Liberals were part of a war-time coalition with Reform. Two small left-wing parties, the Social Democratic Party and the loosely grouped remnants of the United Labour Party, also held seats, and there was one left-wing independent (John Payne). During the 19th Parliament, the Social Democrats and most of the United Labour Party merged to form the modern Labour Party.

Party standings

There were 616,043 electors on the European roll, with 521,525 (84.66%) voting, including 5,618 informal votes. Turnout including Maori voters was 540,075. The following table shows votes at and party strengths immediately after the 1914 election:

1914–1916

width=30% colspan=2 align=centerPartywidth=55% align=centerLeader(s)width=15% align=centerSeats at start
Reform PartyWilliam Massey40
Liberal PartyJoseph Ward34
United Labour PartyAlfred Hindmarsh3
Social Democrat PartyJames McCombs2
Independents1

1916–1919

width=30% colspan=2 align=centerPartywidth=55% align=centerLeader(s)width=15% align=centerSeats at end
Reform PartyWilliam Massey39
Liberal PartyJoseph Ward34
Labour PartyAlfred Hindmarsh, then Harry Holland5
Independents2

Members

Initial MPs

76 general and 4 Māori electorates existed for the 19th Parliament.

By-elections during the 19th Parliament

There were a number of changes during the term of the 19th Parliament.

Summary of changes

Party changes

Deaths

Resignations

Expulsions

References