Vernon Cracknell
Encyclopedia
Vernon Francis Cracknell (30 May 1912, Auckland
- 4 June 1989) was a New Zealand
politician. Initially working as an accountant
, he became involved in politics through the Social Credit Party
, a group dedicated to the social credit
theory of monetary reform
. He was the party's third leader (1963–1970).
and 1963 elections
, Cracknell contested the seat of Hobson
in Northland. He placed second on both occasions, pushing the Labour Party
candidate into third place. The area had previously been receptive to social credit theory — the Social Credit Party had placed second in the 1954 elections
, and Harold Rushworth
of the credit-influenced Country Party
had held the Northland seat (then called Bay of Islands
) for three terms, from 1928 to 1938.
, Cracknell was finally successful, winning the seat with 48% of the vote. The incumbent MP, Logan Sloane
of the National Party
, won 45% of the vote. Cracknell's victory was unusual — no candidate not aligned with either Labour or National had been elected to Parliament since 1943
.
However, Cracknell found himself unsuited to Parliamentary debate, and did not make any substantial impact. Cracknell was not particularly skilled at dealing with the media, and so received little attention. In the 1969 elections
, Cracknell's campaign was almost universally regarded as poor, with his television appearance being described as uninteresting, overly academic, and rambling. Logan Sloane regained the seat by a substantial margin.
He was born in Auckland
in 1912, and died in Kawakawa
in 1989 aged 77 years.
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
- 4 June 1989) was a 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...
politician. Initially working as an accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
, he became involved in politics through the Social Credit Party
Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
The New Zealand Social Credit Party was a political party which served as the country's "third party" from the 1950s through into the 1980s. The party held a number of seats in the New Zealand Parliament, although never more than two at a time...
, a group dedicated to the social credit
Social Credit
Social Credit is an economic philosophy developed by C. H. Douglas , a British engineer, who wrote a book by that name in 1924. Social Credit is described by Douglas as "the policy of a philosophy"; he called his philosophy "practical Christianity"...
theory of monetary reform
Monetary reform
Monetary reform describes any movement or theory that proposes a different system of supplying money and financing the economy from the current system.Monetary reformers may advocate any of the following, among other proposals:...
. He was the party's third leader (1963–1970).
Successful candidate
In the 1960 electionsNew Zealand general election, 1960
The 1960 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 33rd term. It saw the governing Labour Party defeated by the National Party, putting an end to the short second Labour government.-Background:...
and 1963 elections
New Zealand general election, 1963
The 1963 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 34th term. The results were almost identical to those for the previous election, and the governing National Party remained in office....
, Cracknell contested the seat of Hobson
Hobson (New Zealand electorate)
-Population Centres:The electorate is in the Northland Region, and includes the following population centres:-History:The Hobson electorate existed from 1946 , to 1978 when the name reverted back to Bay of Islands...
in Northland. He placed second on both occasions, pushing the 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....
candidate into third place. The area had previously been receptive to social credit theory — the Social Credit Party had placed second in the 1954 elections
New Zealand general election, 1954
The 1954 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 31st term. It saw the governing National Party remain in office, but with a slightly reduced majority...
, and Harold Rushworth
Harold Rushworth
Harold Montague Rushworth was a New Zealand politician of the Country Party.-Early life:Rushworth was born in Croydon, England and was educated at Rugby School and Jesus College, Oxford, graduating with a degree in law. He became a civil engineer and surveyor and worked for the London County...
of the credit-influenced Country Party
Country Party (New Zealand)
The Country Party of New Zealand was a political party which based itself around rural voters. It was represented in Parliament from 1928 to 1938. Its policies were a mixture of rural advocacy and social credit theory....
had held the Northland seat (then called Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands (New Zealand electorate)
Bay of Islands is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It existed during various periods between 1853 and 1993.-Population centres:...
) for three terms, from 1928 to 1938.
Member of Parliament
In the 1966 electionsNew Zealand general election, 1966
The 1966 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 35th term. It saw the governing National Party win a third consecutive term in office...
, Cracknell was finally successful, winning the seat with 48% of the vote. The incumbent MP, Logan Sloane
Logan Sloane
Logan Francis Sloane was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.He represented the seat of Hobson in Northland from 1960 to 1966, and from 1969 to 1975, when he retired....
of the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
, won 45% of the vote. Cracknell's victory was unusual — no candidate not aligned with either Labour or National had been elected to Parliament since 1943
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...
.
However, Cracknell found himself unsuited to Parliamentary debate, and did not make any substantial impact. Cracknell was not particularly skilled at dealing with the media, and so received little attention. In the 1969 elections
New Zealand general election, 1969
The 1969 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 36th term. It saw the governing National Party win a fourth consecutive term, under Prime Minister Keith Holyoake.-The Election:...
, Cracknell's campaign was almost universally regarded as poor, with his television appearance being described as uninteresting, overly academic, and rambling. Logan Sloane regained the seat by a substantial margin.
After Parliament
In 1970, a bitter dispute saw Cracknell lose the Social Credit Party's leadership to the more confrontational John O'Brien. Cracknell had little involvement in politics after that, and did not attempt to regain his seat.He was born in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
in 1912, and died in Kawakawa
Kawakawa, New Zealand
Kawakawa is a small town in the Northland Region of northern New Zealand. It had a population of 1347 at the 2006 census, down from 1401 in 2001. Kawakawa developed as a service town when coal was found in the area in 1861, but there is no longer coal mining here...
in 1989 aged 77 years.