19th New Zealand Parliament
Encyclopedia
The 19th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament
of New Zealand
. It opened on 24 June 1915, following the 1914 election
. It was dissolved on 27 November 1919 in preparation for 1919 election.
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
.
Turnout including Maori voters was 540,075.
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It opened on 24 June 1915, following the 1914 election
New Zealand general election, 1914
The New Zealand general election of 1914 was held on 10 December to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 19th session of the New Zealand Parliament. A total number of 616,043 voters were registered, of which 84.7% voters turned out to vote....
. It was dissolved on 27 November 1919 in preparation for 1919 election.
The 19th Parliament was the second term of the Reform Party
New Zealand Reform Party
The Reform Party, formally the New Zealand Political Reform League, was New Zealand's second major political party, having been founded as a conservative response to the original Liberal Party...
government, which had been elected in the 1911 election
New Zealand general election, 1911
The New Zealand general election of 1911 was held on Thursday, 7 and 14 December in the general electorates, and on Tuesday, 19 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 18th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
. William Massey
William Massey
William Ferguson Massey, often known as Bill Massey or "Farmer Bill" served as the 19th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1912 to 1925, and was the founder of the Reform Party. He is widely considered to have been one of the more skilled politicians of his time, and was known for the particular...
, the leader of the Reform Party, remained Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
. The Liberal Party
New Zealand Liberal Party
The New Zealand Liberal Party is generally regarded as having been the first real political party in New Zealand. It governed from 1891 until 1912. Out of office, the Liberals gradually found themselves pressed between the conservative Reform Party and the growing Labour Party...
, led by former Prime Minister Joseph Ward
Joseph Ward
Sir Joseph George Ward, 1st Baronet, GCMG was the 17th Prime Minister of New Zealand on two occasions in the early 20th century.-Early life:...
, was technically the main opposition party, although for the majority of the term, the Liberals were part of a war-time coalition
Grand coalition
A grand coalition is an arrangement in a multi-party parliamentary system in which the two largest political parties of opposing political ideologies unite in a coalition government...
with Reform. Two small left-wing parties, the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (New Zealand)
The Social Democratic Party of New Zealand was an early left-wing political party. It existed only a short time before being amalgamated into the new Labour Party...
and the loosely grouped remnants of the United Labour Party
United Labour Party (New Zealand)
The United Labour Party of New Zealand was an early left-wing political party. Founded in 1912, it represented the more moderate wing of the labour movement. In 1916 it joined with other political groups to establish the modern Labour Party.- Origins :...
, also held seats, and there was one left-wing independent (John Payne
John Payne (politician)
John Payne was a New Zealand politician.-Early years:Payne was born in Manchester, England. His father was clerk to a solicitor, and Payne himself initially took up office employment, but later migrated to New Zealand. There, he worked as a farmhand and a goldminer before turning to accountancy...
). During the 19th Parliament, the Social Democrats and most of the United Labour Party merged to form the modern Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
.
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.
| Party | Candidates | Total Votes | Percentage | Swing | Seats won | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | 243,025 | 45.47 | 41 | ||||
| 70 | 223,633 | 41.84 | 33 | ||||
| 10 | 23,907 | 4.47 | 3 | ||||
| 10 | 22,500 | 4.21 | 2 | ||||
| 24 | 21,329 | 3.99 | 1 | ||||
| Total Valid Votes | 534,457 | 80 | |||||
Initial MPs
| Party | Name | Electorate | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3Third | |||
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| 1First | |||
| 1First | |||
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| 6Sixth | |||
| 4Fourth | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 1First | |||
| Sidey, Thomas Thomas Sidey Sir Thomas Kay Sidey was a New Zealand politician from the Otago Region, remembered for his successful advocacy of daylight saving time.-Early life:... |
6Sixth | ||
| 1First | |||
| 1First | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 6Sixth | |||
| 8Eighth | |||
| 10Tenth | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 6Sixth | |||
| 3Third | |||
| 7Seventh | |||
| 6Sixth | |||
| 7Seventh | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 8Eighth | |||
| 5Fifth | |||
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| 3Third | |||
| 1First | |||
| 3Third | |||
| 1First | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 4Fourth | |||
| 3Third | |||
| 3Third | |||
| 5Fifth | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 3Third | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 3Third | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 3Third | |||
| 5Fifth | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 3Third | |||
| 4Fourth | |||
| 4Fourth | |||
| 7Seventh | |||
| 1First | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 3Third | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 3Third | |||
| 3Third | |||
| 3Third | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 1First | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 8Eighth | |||
| 5Fifth | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 1First | |||
| 7Seventh | |||
| 4Fourth | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 4Fourth | |||
| 4Fourth | |||
| 1First | |||
| 2Second | |||
| 2Second |
By-elections during the 19th Parliament
| By-election | | Electorate | | Date | | Incumbent | | Party | Cause | Winner | | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
By-elections 1915–1919 |
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| 3 February | Charles Statham Charles Statham Sir Charles Ernest Statham was a New Zealand politician, and the ninth Speaker of the House of Representatives, from 1923 to 1935.He was born in Dunedin, and trained in law, practicing from 1904 in Dunedin... |
Resignation | Charles Statham |
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| 8 June | Vernon Reed Vernon Reed Vernon Herbert Reed was a Liberal Party and then a Reform Party member of parliament in New Zealand.He won the Bay of Islands electorate in the 1908 general election. His election in 1914, narrowly defeating Te Rangi Hīroa, was declared void in 1915... |
Election declared void | William Stewart William Stewart (New Zealand) William Stewart was a New Zealand politician of the Reform Party.He represented the Bay of Islands electorate from 1915 to 1917, when he resigned.... |
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| 15 June | William Jennings William Thomas Jennings William Thomas Jennings was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.-Career:He was born in Auckland, where he attended St. Paul's school and subsequently became an apprentice printer in the offices of the New Zealander... |
Election declared void | William Jennings |
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| 17 August | James Escott James Escott James Henry Escott was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He won the Pahiatua electorate in 1911, and held it until he died in 1916.-References:... |
Death | George Smith George Harold Smith George Harold Smith was a Reform Party Member of Parliament.He won the Pahiatua electorate in a 1916 by-election after the death of the previous MP, James Escott; and retired in 1919.-References:... |
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| 8 March | Robert McNab Robert McNab Dr Robert McNab was a New Zealand lawyer, farmer, historian, and politician of the Liberal Party.He represented the Mataura electorate from 1893 to 1896 when he was defeated by George Richardson. In 1898 Richardson was adjudged bankrupt... |
Death | John Findlay John Findlay (New Zealand) Sir John George Findlay was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party, and was a Cabinet minister from 1906 to 1911.-Political career:He represented the Hawke's Bay electorate from 1917 to 1919... |
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| 17 March | William Stewart |
Resignation | Vernon Reed Vernon Reed Vernon Herbert Reed was a Liberal Party and then a Reform Party member of parliament in New Zealand.He won the Bay of Islands electorate in the 1908 general election. His election in 1914, narrowly defeating Te Rangi Hīroa, was declared void in 1915... |
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| 24 November | Paddy Webb Paddy Webb Patrick Charles "Paddy" Webb was a New Zealand trade unionist and politician.-Early life:Webb was born in Rutherglen, a small town in the Australian state of Victoria. His father, George Webb, was a miner, and Paddy Webb eventually worked in the mines himself... |
Resignation | Paddy Webb |
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| 12 February | Alexander Herdman Alexander Herdman Alexander Lawrence Herdman was a New Zealand politician. He served as Attorney-General, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Police. He is known for his reforms of the civil service and for his hard line on law and order.He had 3 children ana born in 1890, jonn born in 1893 and Adam born in... |
Resignation | John Luke John Luke Sir John-Pearce Luke, CMG was a New Zealand politician. Luke was Mayor of Wellington from 1913–1921 and Member of Parliament for Wellington Suburbs 1908–1911 and Wellington North 1918–1928. His brother Charles Manley Luke had previously also been Mayor of Wellington in 1895... |
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| 21 February | Taare Parata Taare Parata Taare Rakatauhake Parata was a Māori and a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He won the Southern Maori electorate in the 1911 general election, and held it to 1918, when he died.-References:... |
Death | Hopere Uru John Hopere Wharewiti Uru John Hopere Wharewiti Uru was a Māori of Ngai Tahu and an Independent Member of Parliament in New Zealand.... |
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| 29 May | Paddy Webb Paddy Webb Patrick Charles "Paddy" Webb was a New Zealand trade unionist and politician.-Early life:Webb was born in Rutherglen, a small town in the Australian state of Victoria. His father, George Webb, was a miner, and Paddy Webb eventually worked in the mines himself... |
Imprisonment | Harry Holland Harry Holland Henry Edmund Holland was a New Zealand politician and unionist. He was the first leader of the New Zealand Labour Party.-Early life:... |
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| 3 October | Robert Fletcher Robert Fletcher (New Zealand) Robert Fletcher was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party.He ran unsuccessfully for the Wellington Central electorate in 1911, then in 1914 succeeded. He represented Wellington Central in Parliament from 1914 to 1918, when he died.-Further reading:... |
Death | Peter Fraser |
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| 10 October | Henry Okey Henry Okey Henry James Hobbs Okey was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He won the Taranaki electorate in a , and held it until 1918, when he died.-References:... |
Death | Sydney Smith Sydney George Smith Sydney George Smith was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party and then the National Party, and a cabinet minister.He was Minister of Education in the Liberal-Reform coalition Government of New Zealand from 1934 to 1935, and was also Minister of Labour.He represented the Taranaki... |
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| 19 December | David Buick David Buick (New Zealand) David Buick was a New Zealand politician of the Reform Party.He represented the Manawatu electorate of Palmerston from 1908 to 1918, when he died.-Further reading:... |
Death | James Nash James Alfred Nash James Alfred Nash was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand and a Mayor of Palmerston North.-Biography:Nash was born in 1871 in Foxton to Ann Ellen Webster and Norman Nash.... |
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| 19 December | Alfred Hindmarsh Alfred Hindmarsh Alfred Humphrey Hindmarsh was a New Zealand politician, lawyer and unionist.Hindmarsh was born in Port Elliot, Australia, and was the grandson of John Hindmarsh, the first Governor of South Australia. He moved with his family to Napier, New Zealand, in 1878. Hindmarsh trained as a lawyer, and was... |
Death | Bob Semple Bob Semple Robert "Bob" Semple was a union leader and later Minister of Public Works for the first Labour Government of New Zealand.... |
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Party changes
- Thomas RhodesThomas William RhodesThomas William Rhodes was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party, then the Reform Party. He changed his affiliation to the Reform Party in 1915.-Political career:...
, the Liberal Party MP for Thames, changed affiliation to the Reform Party in 1915.
- The Social Democratic Party and the loose United Labour Party grouping merged to form the modern Labour PartyNew Zealand Labour PartyThe New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
on 7 July 1916. One ULP member, Bill VeitchBill VeitchWilliam Andrew Veitch was a New Zealand politician. He began his career in the labour movement, but was a strong opponent of socialism, and rejected the militant views held by many of his colleagues.-Early life:...
, rejected the merger, and carried on as an independent.
Deaths
- James EscottJames EscottJames Henry Escott was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He won the Pahiatua electorate in 1911, and held it until he died in 1916.-References:...
(Reform, Pahiatua) died on 28 July 1916.- Pahiatua by-election 1916 — won by George SmithGeorge Harold SmithGeorge Harold Smith was a Reform Party Member of Parliament.He won the Pahiatua electorate in a 1916 by-election after the death of the previous MP, James Escott; and retired in 1919.-References:...
(Reform)
- Pahiatua by-election 1916 — won by George Smith
- Robert McNabRobert McNabDr Robert McNab was a New Zealand lawyer, farmer, historian, and politician of the Liberal Party.He represented the Mataura electorate from 1893 to 1896 when he was defeated by George Richardson. In 1898 Richardson was adjudged bankrupt...
(Liberal, Hawkes Bay) died on 3 February 1917.- Hawkes Bay by-election 1917 — won by John FindlayJohn Findlay (New Zealand)Sir John George Findlay was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party, and was a Cabinet minister from 1906 to 1911.-Political career:He represented the Hawke's Bay electorate from 1917 to 1919...
(Liberal)
- Hawkes Bay by-election 1917 — won by John Findlay
- Taare ParataTaare ParataTaare Rakatauhake Parata was a Māori and a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He won the Southern Maori electorate in the 1911 general election, and held it to 1918, when he died.-References:...
(Liberal, Southern Maori) died on 8 January 1918.- Southern Maori by-election 1918 — won by John UruJohn Hopere Wharewiti UruJohn Hopere Wharewiti Uru was a Māori of Ngai Tahu and an Independent Member of Parliament in New Zealand....
(Independent)
- Southern Maori by-election 1918 — won by John Uru
- Robert FletcherRobert Fletcher (New Zealand)Robert Fletcher was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party.He ran unsuccessfully for the Wellington Central electorate in 1911, then in 1914 succeeded. He represented Wellington Central in Parliament from 1914 to 1918, when he died.-Further reading:...
(Liberal, Wellington Central) died on 4 September 1918.- Wellington Central by-election 1918 — won by Peter Fraser (Labour)
- Henry OkeyHenry OkeyHenry James Hobbs Okey was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He won the Taranaki electorate in a , and held it until 1918, when he died.-References:...
(Reform, Taranaki) died on 13 September 1918- Taranaki by-election 1918 — won by Sydney SmithSydney George SmithSydney George Smith was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party and then the National Party, and a cabinet minister.He was Minister of Education in the Liberal-Reform coalition Government of New Zealand from 1934 to 1935, and was also Minister of Labour.He represented the Taranaki...
(Independent aligned with Liberals)
- Taranaki by-election 1918 — won by Sydney Smith
- Alfred HindmarshAlfred HindmarshAlfred Humphrey Hindmarsh was a New Zealand politician, lawyer and unionist.Hindmarsh was born in Port Elliot, Australia, and was the grandson of John Hindmarsh, the first Governor of South Australia. He moved with his family to Napier, New Zealand, in 1878. Hindmarsh trained as a lawyer, and was...
(Labour, Wellington South) died on 13 November 1918.- Wellington South by-election 1918 — won by Bob SempleBob SempleRobert "Bob" Semple was a union leader and later Minister of Public Works for the first Labour Government of New Zealand....
(Labour)
- Wellington South by-election 1918 — won by Bob Semple
- David BuickDavid Buick (New Zealand)David Buick was a New Zealand politician of the Reform Party.He represented the Manawatu electorate of Palmerston from 1908 to 1918, when he died.-Further reading:...
(Reform, Palmerston) died on 18 November 1918.- Palmerston by-election 1918 — won by James NashJames Alfred NashJames Alfred Nash was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand and a Mayor of Palmerston North.-Biography:Nash was born in 1871 in Foxton to Ann Ellen Webster and Norman Nash....
(Reform)
- Palmerston by-election 1918 — won by James Nash
- James ColvinJames Colvin (New Zealand)James Colvin was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for Buller, in the South Island.-Member of Parliament:James Colvin represented the Buller electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives for twenty years from 1899 to his death in 1919...
(Liberal, Buller) died on 29 October 1919.- Seat remained vacant, as it was only two months until the general election.
Resignations
- William Stewart (Reform, Bay of Islands) resigned in March 1917. Stewart won the seat in a by-election when the victory of another Reform candidate, Vernon ReedVernon ReedVernon Herbert Reed was a Liberal Party and then a Reform Party member of parliament in New Zealand.He won the Bay of Islands electorate in the 1908 general election. His election in 1914, narrowly defeating Te Rangi Hīroa, was declared void in 1915...
, had been overturned, and Stewart's resignation opened the way for Reed to return via another by-election.- Bay of Islands by-election 1915 — won by William Stewart (Reform)
- Bay of Islands by-election 1917 — won by Vernon ReedVernon ReedVernon Herbert Reed was a Liberal Party and then a Reform Party member of parliament in New Zealand.He won the Bay of Islands electorate in the 1908 general election. His election in 1914, narrowly defeating Te Rangi Hīroa, was declared void in 1915...
(Reform)
- Paddy WebbPaddy WebbPatrick Charles "Paddy" Webb was a New Zealand trade unionist and politician.-Early life:Webb was born in Rutherglen, a small town in the Australian state of Victoria. His father, George Webb, was a miner, and Paddy Webb eventually worked in the mines himself...
(Labour, Grey) resigned in November 1917. He then challenged the government to fight the resulting by-election on the issue of conscription, which Webb opposed. The government declined the challenge, and did not contest the by-election.- Grey by-election 1917 — won by Paddy WebbPaddy WebbPatrick Charles "Paddy" Webb was a New Zealand trade unionist and politician.-Early life:Webb was born in Rutherglen, a small town in the Australian state of Victoria. His father, George Webb, was a miner, and Paddy Webb eventually worked in the mines himself...
(Labour)
- Grey by-election 1917 — won by Paddy Webb
- Alexander HerdmanAlexander HerdmanAlexander Lawrence Herdman was a New Zealand politician. He served as Attorney-General, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Police. He is known for his reforms of the civil service and for his hard line on law and order.He had 3 children ana born in 1890, jonn born in 1893 and Adam born in...
(Reform, Wellington North) resigned in February 1918. Herdman, as Attorney-GeneralAttorney-General (New Zealand)The Attorney-General is a political office in New Zealand. It is simultaneously a ministerial position and an administrative office, and has responsibility for supervising New Zealand law and advising the government on legal matters...
, had just appointed himself to a judicial position, and was resigning in order to take up this role.- Wellington North by-election 1918 — won by John LukeJohn LukeSir John-Pearce Luke, CMG was a New Zealand politician. Luke was Mayor of Wellington from 1913–1921 and Member of Parliament for Wellington Suburbs 1908–1911 and Wellington North 1918–1928. His brother Charles Manley Luke had previously also been Mayor of Wellington in 1895...
(Liberal)
- Wellington North by-election 1918 — won by John Luke
Expulsions
- William Jennings (Liberal Party, Taumarunui) lost his seat in May 1915 when his election the previous year was declared void.
- Taumarunui by-election 1915 — won by William Jennings (Liberal)
- Vernon ReedVernon ReedVernon Herbert Reed was a Liberal Party and then a Reform Party member of parliament in New Zealand.He won the Bay of Islands electorate in the 1908 general election. His election in 1914, narrowly defeating Te Rangi Hīroa, was declared void in 1915...
(Reform, Bay of Islands) lost his seat in May 1915 when his election the previous year was declared void. (His replacement later resigned, allowing Reed to reclaim the seat).- Bay of Islands by-election 1915 — won by William Stewart (Reform)
- Paddy WebbPaddy WebbPatrick Charles "Paddy" Webb was a New Zealand trade unionist and politician.-Early life:Webb was born in Rutherglen, a small town in the Australian state of Victoria. His father, George Webb, was a miner, and Paddy Webb eventually worked in the mines himself...
(Labour, Grey) lost his seat in April 1918, having been jailed for refusing military service. (He had previously fought and won a by-election on the issue).- Grey by-election 1918 — won by Harry HollandHarry HollandHenry Edmund Holland was a New Zealand politician and unionist. He was the first leader of the New Zealand Labour Party.-Early life:...
(Labour)
- Grey by-election 1918 — won by Harry Holland