Thames (New Zealand electorate)
Encyclopedia
Thames is a former New Zealand electorate
, in the Thames-Coromandel District
. It existed from 1871 to 1946.
. At times, it covered the Coromandel Peninsula
.
Charles Gordon O'Neill
was the first representative, elected in the 1871 general election. He represented the electorate until the end of the term in December 1875.
Thames was then converted into a two-member electorate. George Grey
stood for both the City of Auckland West
and the Thames electorates in the 1875 general election. In the two-member Auckland electorate, only Grey and Patrick Dignan
were put forward as candidates, and were thus declared elected on 22 December 1875. The Thames electorate was contested by six candidates, including Julius Vogel
(who was Premier
in 1875), William Rowe
and Charles Featherstone Mitchell. On election day (6 January 1876), Grey attracted the highest number of votes and unexpectedly, Rowe beat Vogel to second place (Vogel also stood in a second electorate – Wanganui
, where he was returned). Hence Grey and Rowe were declared elected for Thames. A protest against Grey's election was lodged with the returning officer the following day, stating that Grey had not been eligible to stand for election in Thames, as he had already been elected in Auckland West. This petition was filed to the House of Representatives at the end of January.
With this controversy going on for several months, but being unresolved, Grey advised in mid June 1876 in a series of telegrams that he had chosen to represent Auckland West. On 8 July, the report of the committee inquiring into Sir George Grey's election for the Thames was read to the House. It was found that his election to the Thames electorate was in accordance with the law, but that he had to make a decision which electorate he would represent. On 15 July 1876, Grey announced that he would represent Thames, and he moved that a by-election be held in Auckland West for the seat that he would vacate there.
Rowe retired at the end of the term. The 1879 general election
was contested by John Sheehan and George Grey, and they were thus declared elected unopposed.
In 1881, the electorate reverted to be represented by only one member. In the 1881 general election
, Grey successfully contested Auckland East
. Sheehan was confirmed as the representative for Thames.
In the 1884 general election
, Sheehan (unsuccessfully) contested Napier
. William Fraser
was elected for Thames. Fraser was confirmed again in the 1887 general election
.
Edmund Taylor
and Alfred Cadman
contested the Thames electorate in the 1890 general election
. Cadman was successful with a 104 votes majority. He resigned his seat on 11 July 1893.
The resulting 31 July 1893 by-election was won by James McGowan
, and he represented the electorate for many years until his resignation on 6 January 1909, as he was appointed to the Legislative Council
.
Taylor, who was unsuccessful in 1890 against Cadman, won the resulting 4 February 1909 by-election. The second ballot electoral system
was in place at the time, and required for this by-election. He held the electorate until the end of the parliamentary term in 1911.
Thomas William Rhodes
defeated Taylor in the 1911 general election
. Rhodes represented the electorate until his retirement in 1928.
Albert Samuel
was first elected in the 1928 general election
. He was re-elected in 1931
and retired in 1935.
James Thorn
was the last representative of Thames. He was first elected in the 1935 general election
. His parliamentary career finished in 1946. In the following year, he became High Commissioner to Canada. The Thames electorate was abolished in 1946.
New Zealand electorates
An electorate is a voting district for elections to the Parliament of New Zealand. In informal discussion, electorates are often called seats. The most formal description, electoral district, is rarely seen outside of electoral legislation. Before 1996, all Members of Parliament were directly...
, in the Thames-Coromandel District
Thames-Coromandel District
The Thames-Coromandel District Council in the North Island of New Zealand is seated in the town of Thames. It is located in the region around the Firth of Thames and Coromandel Peninsula, to the southeast of Auckland...
. It existed from 1871 to 1946.
Geographic coverage
The electorate is based on the town of ThamesThames, New Zealand
Thames is a town at the southwestern end of the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand's North Island. It is located on the Firth of Thames close to the mouth of the Waihou River. The town is the seat of the Thames-Coromandel District Council....
. At times, it covered the Coromandel Peninsula
Coromandel Peninsula
The Coromandel Peninsula lies in the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Waikato Region and Thames-Coromandel District and extends 85 kilometres north from the western end of the Bay of Plenty, forming a natural barrier to protect the Hauraki Gulf and the Firth of Thames in the west...
.
History
The electorate existed from 1871 to 1946. At times, it was a multi-member electorate. It was represented by ten Members of Parliament.Charles Gordon O'Neill
Charles Gordon O'Neill
Charles Gordon O'Neill was a Scottish-Australasian civil engineer, inventor, parliamentarian and philanthropist, and a co-founder of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia and New Zealand.-Biography:...
was the first representative, elected in the 1871 general election. He represented the electorate until the end of the term in December 1875.
Thames was then converted into a two-member electorate. George Grey
George Grey
George Grey may refer to:*Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet , British politician*George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent *Sir George Grey , Governor of Cape Colony, South Australia and New Zealand...
stood for both the City of Auckland West
Auckland West
The former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate on the western outskirts of Auckland, was known as West Auckland from 1984 to 1993. The earlier electorates were known as City of Auckland West from 1861 to 1890, and then Auckland West from 1905 to 1946.-History:The "City of Auckland West" electorate...
and the Thames electorates in the 1875 general election. In the two-member Auckland electorate, only Grey and Patrick Dignan
Patrick Dignan
Patrick Dignan was a 19th century Member of Parliament in Auckland, New Zealand.He represented the Auckland West electorate from 1867 to 1870 when he was defeated, and from 1875 to 1879 when he resigned....
were put forward as candidates, and were thus declared elected on 22 December 1875. The Thames electorate was contested by six candidates, including Julius Vogel
Julius Vogel
Sir Julius Vogel, KCMG was the eighth Premier of New Zealand. His administration is best remembered for the issuing of bonds to fund railway construction and other public works...
(who was Premier
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...
in 1875), William Rowe
William Rowe (politician)
William Rowe was a 19th century Member of Parliament in the Auckland Region, New Zealand.He represented the Thames electorate from 1876 to 1879 when he retired....
and Charles Featherstone Mitchell. On election day (6 January 1876), Grey attracted the highest number of votes and unexpectedly, Rowe beat Vogel to second place (Vogel also stood in a second electorate – Wanganui
Whanganui (New Zealand electorate)
Whanganui is a New Zealand parliamentary electorate. It was first established in 1855 for the 2nd Parliament and has existed continuously since then.It is currently held by Chester Borrows MP.-Population centres:...
, where he was returned). Hence Grey and Rowe were declared elected for Thames. A protest against Grey's election was lodged with the returning officer the following day, stating that Grey had not been eligible to stand for election in Thames, as he had already been elected in Auckland West. This petition was filed to the House of Representatives at the end of January.
With this controversy going on for several months, but being unresolved, Grey advised in mid June 1876 in a series of telegrams that he had chosen to represent Auckland West. On 8 July, the report of the committee inquiring into Sir George Grey's election for the Thames was read to the House. It was found that his election to the Thames electorate was in accordance with the law, but that he had to make a decision which electorate he would represent. On 15 July 1876, Grey announced that he would represent Thames, and he moved that a by-election be held in Auckland West for the seat that he would vacate there.
Rowe retired at the end of the term. The 1879 general election
New Zealand general election, 1879
The New Zealand general election of 1879 was held between 28 August and 15 September to elect a total of 88 MPs to the 7th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 1 and 8 September. A total number of 82,271 voters turned out to vote.The election came about when George...
was contested by John Sheehan and George Grey, and they were thus declared elected unopposed.
In 1881, the electorate reverted to be represented by only one member. In the 1881 general election
New Zealand general election, 1881
The New Zealand general election of 1881 was held 9 December to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 8th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 8 December...
, Grey successfully contested Auckland East
Auckland East
Auckland East was a New Zealand electorate, situated in the east of Auckland.-History:The Auckland East electorate was established for the 1860-1861 elections, when the Auckland electorate was split in half. It consisted of most of modern Auckland's central business district...
. Sheehan was confirmed as the representative for Thames.
In the 1884 general election
New Zealand general election, 1884
The New Zealand general election of 1884 was held on 22 July to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 9th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 21 July. A total number of 137,686 voters turned out to vote.-References:...
, Sheehan (unsuccessfully) contested Napier
Napier (New Zealand electorate)
thumb|right|Boundaries of Napier Electorate for 2008 and 2011 electionsNapier is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Napier is Chris Tremain, of the National Party. He has held this position since...
. William Fraser
William Fraser (New Zealand politician)
William Fraser was a 19th century Liberal Party Member of Parliament in the Auckland Region, New Zealand.He represented the Thames electorate from 1884 to 1890....
was elected for Thames. Fraser was confirmed again in the 1887 general election
New Zealand general election, 1887
The New Zealand general election of 1887 was held on 26 September to elect 95 MPs to the tenth session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 7 September. 175,410 votes were cast....
.
Edmund Taylor
Edmund Taylor (New Zealand)
Edmund Harvey Taylor was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He won the Thames electorate in in a 1909 by-election after the resignation of James McGowan; but was defeated in the next election in 1911.-References:...
and Alfred Cadman
Alfred Cadman
Sir Alfred Jerome Cadman was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party. He was the Minister of Railways from 1895 to 1899 in the First Liberal Government.-Early life:Cadman was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1847...
contested the Thames electorate in the 1890 general election
New Zealand general election, 1890
The New Zealand general election of 1890 was one of New Zealand's most significant. It marked the beginning of party politics in New Zealand with the formation of the First Liberal government, which was to enact major welfare, labour and electoral reforms, including giving the vote to women.It was...
. Cadman was successful with a 104 votes majority. He resigned his seat on 11 July 1893.
The resulting 31 July 1893 by-election was won by James McGowan
James McGowan (politician)
James McGowan was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party.-Political career:He represented the Thames electorate from an 1893 by-election...
, and he represented the electorate for many years until his resignation on 6 January 1909, as he was appointed to the Legislative Council
New Zealand Legislative Council
The Legislative Council of New Zealand was the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament from 1853 until 1951. Unlike the lower house, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was appointed.-Role:...
.
Taylor, who was unsuccessful in 1890 against Cadman, won the resulting 4 February 1909 by-election. The second ballot electoral system
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
was in place at the time, and required for this by-election. He held the electorate until the end of the parliamentary term in 1911.
Thomas William Rhodes
Thomas William Rhodes
Thomas 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:...
defeated Taylor in the 1911 general 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...
. Rhodes represented the electorate until his retirement in 1928.
Albert Samuel
Albert Samuel
Albert Moeller Samuel was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He was elected to the Ohinemuri electorate in the 1925 general election. In 1928 he was elected to the Thames electorate, but was defeated in 1935.-References:...
was first elected in the 1928 general election
New Zealand general election, 1928
The New Zealand general election of 1928 was held on Tuesday, 13 November in the Māori electorates, and on Wednesday, 14 November in the general electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 23rd session of the New Zealand Parliament...
. He was re-elected in 1931
New Zealand general election, 1931
The 1931 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 24th term. It resulted in the newly formed coalition between the United Party and the Reform Party remaining in office as the Liberal-Reform Government, although the opposition Labour...
and retired in 1935.
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...
was the last representative of Thames. He was first elected in 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...
. His parliamentary career finished in 1946. In the following year, he became High Commissioner to Canada. The Thames electorate was abolished in 1946.
Members of Parliament
Thames was represented by ten Members of Parliament.1871 to 1875
From 1871 to 1875, Thames was represented by one Member of Parliament.| Election | Winner | |
| 1871 election | Charles Gordon O'Neill Charles Gordon O'Neill Charles Gordon O'Neill was a Scottish-Australasian civil engineer, inventor, parliamentarian and philanthropist, and a co-founder of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia and New Zealand.-Biography:... (Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... ) |
|
1876 to 1881
From 1876 to 1881, Thames was a two-member electorate. It was represented by three Members of Parliament:| Election | Winners | |||
| 1876 election | William Rowe William Rowe (politician) William Rowe was a 19th century Member of Parliament in the Auckland Region, New Zealand.He represented the Thames electorate from 1876 to 1879 when he retired.... |
George Grey George Grey George Grey may refer to:*Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet , British politician*George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent *Sir George Grey , Governor of Cape Colony, South Australia and New Zealand... |
||
| 1879 New Zealand general election, 1879 The New Zealand general election of 1879 was held between 28 August and 15 September to elect a total of 88 MPs to the 7th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 1 and 8 September. A total number of 82,271 voters turned out to vote.The election came about when George... |
John Sheehan | |||
1881 to 1946
From 1881 to 1946, Thames was a single member electorate again. Sheehan continued his representation, and six other members followed him:| Election | Winner | |
| 1881 election New Zealand general election, 1881 The New Zealand general election of 1881 was held 9 December to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 8th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 8 December... |
John Sheehan (continued; Independent) | |
| 1884 election New Zealand general election, 1884 The New Zealand general election of 1884 was held on 22 July to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 9th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 21 July. A total number of 137,686 voters turned out to vote.-References:... |
William Fraser William Fraser (New Zealand politician) William Fraser was a 19th century Liberal Party Member of Parliament in the Auckland Region, New Zealand.He represented the Thames electorate from 1884 to 1890.... (Independent) |
|
| 1887 election New Zealand general election, 1887 The New Zealand general election of 1887 was held on 26 September to elect 95 MPs to the tenth session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 7 September. 175,410 votes were cast.... |
||
| 1890 election New Zealand general election, 1890 The New Zealand general election of 1890 was one of New Zealand's most significant. It marked the beginning of party politics in New Zealand with the formation of the First Liberal government, which was to enact major welfare, labour and electoral reforms, including giving the vote to women.It was... |
Alfred Cadman Alfred Cadman Sir Alfred Jerome Cadman was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party. He was the Minister of Railways from 1895 to 1899 in the First Liberal Government.-Early life:Cadman was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1847... (Liberal 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... ) |
|
| 1893 by-election | James McGowan James McGowan (politician) James McGowan was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party.-Political career:He represented the Thames electorate from an 1893 by-election... (Liberal 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... ) |
|
| 1893 election New Zealand general election, 1893 The New Zealand general election of 1893 was held on Tuesday, 28 November in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 20 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 12th session of the New Zealand Parliament... |
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| 1896 election New Zealand general election, 1896 The New Zealand general election of 1896 was held on Wednesday, 4 December in the general electorates, and on Thursday, 19 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 13th session of the New Zealand Parliament... |
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| 1899 election New Zealand general election, 1899 The New Zealand general election of 1899 was held on Wednesday, 6 December in the general electorates, and on Tuesday, 19 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 14th session of the New Zealand Parliament. A total number of 373,744 voters turned out to... |
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| 1902 election New Zealand general election, 1902 The New Zealand general election of 1902 was held on Tuesday, 25 November in the general electorates, and on Monday, 22 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 15th session of the New Zealand Parliament... |
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| 1905 election New Zealand general election, 1905 The New Zealand general election of 1905 was held on Wednesday, 6 December in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 20 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 16th session of the New Zealand Parliament... |
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| 1908 election New Zealand general election, 1908 The New Zealand general election of 1908 was held on Tuesday, 17 November, 24 November and 1 December in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 2 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 17th session of the New Zealand Parliament... |
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| 1909 by-election | Edmund Taylor Edmund Taylor (New Zealand) Edmund Harvey Taylor was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He won the Thames electorate in in a 1909 by-election after the resignation of James McGowan; but was defeated in the next election in 1911.-References:... (Liberal 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... ) |
|
| 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... |
Thomas William Rhodes Thomas William Rhodes Thomas 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:... (Liberal 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... , then Reform 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... ) |
|
| 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.... |
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| 1919 election | ||
| 1922 election New Zealand general election, 1922 The New Zealand general election of 1922 was held on Monday, 6 December in the Māori electorates, and on Tuesday, 7 December in the general electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 21st session of the New Zealand Parliament... |
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| 1925 election 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... |
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| 1928 election New Zealand general election, 1928 The New Zealand general election of 1928 was held on Tuesday, 13 November in the Māori electorates, and on Wednesday, 14 November in the general electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 23rd session of the New Zealand Parliament... |
Albert Samuel Albert Samuel Albert Moeller Samuel was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He was elected to the Ohinemuri electorate in the 1925 general election. In 1928 he was elected to the Thames electorate, but was defeated in 1935.-References:... (Reform 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... ) |
|
| 1931 election New Zealand general election, 1931 The 1931 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 24th term. It resulted in the newly formed coalition between the United Party and the Reform Party remaining in office as the Liberal-Reform Government, although the opposition Labour... |
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| 1935 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... |
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... (Labour 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.... ) |
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| 1938 election New Zealand general election, 1938 The 1938 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 26th term. It resulted in the governing Labour Party being re-elected, although the newly-founded National Party gained a certain amount of ground.-Background:The Labour Party had won... |
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| 1943 election New Zealand general election, 1943 The 1943 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 27th term. With the onset of World War II, elections were initially postponed, but it was eventually decided to hold a general election in September 1943, around two years after it... |