Lyttelton by-election, 1935
Encyclopedia
The Lyttelton by-election of 1935 was a by-election
held on 24 July 1935 during the 24th New Zealand Parliament
in the Lyttelton electorate
. The electorate was won by Terence McCombs
of the New Zealand Labour Party
, succeeding his mother.
had held the seat after winning it in a by-election in 1933
. She died on 7 June 1935 after succumbing to illness.
The New Zealand Labour Party
chose Terrence McCombs to stand for them. This was in some ways a surprise as many expected that James Thorn
would be the candidate.
The United/Reform Coalition who were operating under the name "National Political Federation" selected Melville Lyons
as their candidate. Lyons had a rural background as he was secretary of the New Zealand Sheepbreeders' Association at the time. In the New Zealand general election, 1925
he had stood for the New Zealand Reform Party
in 1925 in Lyttelton against James McCombs
. He was declared the winner with a victory of eight votes but the election court overturned this and McCombs won by just one vote.
The New Zealand Democrat Party's leader Albert Davy
declined to stand a candidate in the by-election. He believed that the by-election was a waste of money given the close proximity to the 1935 general election
.
Other candidates who chose to stand included Edward Hills and G.S Hamilton.
Results of the by-election held on 24 July 1935 were:
McCombs extended his majority to 2,645 at the general election later that year and held the seat until 1951
. This meant that his family held the seat for 38 years ever since his father's win in the Lyttelton by-election of 1913.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held on 24 July 1935 during the 24th New Zealand Parliament
24th New Zealand Parliament
The 24th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. It opened on 23 February 1932, following the 1931 election. It was dissolved on 1 November 1935 in preparation for the 1935 election...
in the Lyttelton electorate
Lyttelton (New Zealand electorate)
Lyttelton is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It existed from 1853–90, and again from 1893–1996, when it was replaced by the Banks Peninsula electorate.-Population Centres:...
. The electorate was won by Terence McCombs
Terence McCombs
Sir Terence Henderson McCombs, OBE ED was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.-Early life:He was educated at Waitaki Boys' High School and Canterbury University College.-Member of Parliament:...
of the New Zealand 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....
, succeeding his mother.
Selection process
Terrence McCombs's mother, Elizabeth McCombsElizabeth McCombs
Elizabeth McCombs was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party, and the first woman elected to the New Zealand Parliament. New Zealand women gained the right to vote in 1893, though were not allowed to stand for the House of Representatives until the election of 1919...
had held the seat after winning it in a by-election in 1933
Lyttelton by-election, 1933
The Lyttelton by-election of 1933 was a by-election held during the 24th New Zealand Parliament in the Christchurch electorate of Lyttelton. It is notable for being won by Elizabeth McCombs of the New Zealand Labour Party, who became the first woman to be elected to the New Zealand Parliament...
. She died on 7 June 1935 after succumbing to illness.
The New Zealand 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....
chose Terrence McCombs to stand for them. This was in some ways a surprise as many expected that James Thorn
James Thorn
James Thorn was a New Zealand politician of the Social Democratic Party and the Labour Party.He was born in Christchurch, educated at Christchurch Boys' High School. He was a bugler in the third New Zealand Contingent to the Boer War in 1900–1901; the experience turned him into a pacifist.He...
would be the candidate.
The United/Reform Coalition who were operating under the name "National Political Federation" selected Melville Lyons
Melville Lyons
Melville Edwin Lyons , sometimes called Tiny, was briefly a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand until his election was declared void. A journalist by trade, he became involved in local politics in Christchurch after having served in WWI...
as their candidate. Lyons had a rural background as he was secretary of the New Zealand Sheepbreeders' Association at the time. In the New Zealand general election, 1925
New Zealand general election, 1925
The New Zealand general election of 1925 was held 4 November to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 22nd session of the New Zealand Parliament...
he had stood for the New Zealand 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...
in 1925 in Lyttelton against James McCombs
James McCombs
James McCombs was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for Lyttelton.-Early years:McCombs was born in County Leitrim, Ireland and came to New Zealand with his parents in 1876 as a three year old. He was educated at Sydenham School and Christchurch East School...
. He was declared the winner with a victory of eight votes but the election court overturned this and McCombs won by just one vote.
The New Zealand Democrat Party's leader Albert Davy
Albert Davy
Albert Ernest Davy was a New Zealand political organiser and campaign manager; and at the height of his career, was regarded by some as the best in the country...
declined to stand a candidate in the by-election. He believed that the by-election was a waste of money given the close proximity to the 1935 general election
New Zealand general election, 1935
The 1935 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 25th term. It resulted in the Labour Party's first electoral victory, with Michael Joseph Savage becoming the first Labour Prime Minister...
.
Other candidates who chose to stand included Edward Hills and G.S Hamilton.
Results
Results of the by-election held on 13 September 1933 were:Results of the by-election held on 24 July 1935 were:
McCombs extended his majority to 2,645 at the general election later that year and held the seat until 1951
New Zealand general election, 1951
The 1951 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 30th term. It saw the governing National Party remain in office, increasing its lead over the opposition Labour Party.-Background:...
. This meant that his family held the seat for 38 years ever since his father's win in the Lyttelton by-election of 1913.