1917 Hawkes Bay by-election

New Zealand by-election

1917 Hawkes Bay by-election

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| <- 1914 general | 8 March 1917 | 1919 general ->

|
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Turnout| 4,858 (48.82%)
|  |  |

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Candidate  | Sir John Findlay | H. Ian Simson
Party  | Liberal | Liberal–Labour
Popular vote  | 2,635 | 2,164
Percentage  | 54.24 | 44.54

* * *

| Member before election

Robert McNab
Liberal

| Elected Member

Sir John Findlay
Liberal

|

The 1917 Hawkes Bay by-election was a by-election held in the eastern North Island electorate of Hawkes Bay during the 19th New Zealand Parliament, on 8 March 1917.

It was caused by the death of incumbent MP Robert McNab,[1] and was won by fellow party Liberal Party member Sir John Findlay with a majority of 471 votes.

## Background[edit]

Under the terms of the coalition agreement between Reform and the Liberals a condition was made not to oppose each other in by-elections for deceased or retiring MPs from their own parties. As the deceased MP for this electorate was a Liberal the Reform Party did not contest the seat, and endorsed the Liberal's official candidate as a sign of goodwill and wartime unity. The newly formed Labour Party chose not to stand a candidate, but there was rumour that former MP for Nelson, Harry Atmore was considering standing in "Labour" interests.[2] This did not eventuate.

Sir John Findlay was chosen by the Liberal Party to contest the seat, he was a former Legislative Councillor and served in Sir Joseph Ward's cabinet from 1906 to 1911 as Attorney-General and later as Minister of Justice.[3] Former Napier MP Alfred Fraser previously sought the Liberal nomination, however he retired from the contest,[2] yet 9 votes were still cast for him.

H. Ian Simson also stood in support of the National Government and was Findlay's only real competition for the seat.[2]

## Results[edit]

The following table gives the election results:

1917 Hawkes Bay by-election[4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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|
|
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| Liberal | Sir John Findlay | 2,635  | 54.24  |
| Liberal–Labour | H. Ian Simson  | 2,164  | 44.54  |
| Liberal | Alfred Fraser | 9  | 0.18  |
Informal votes  | 50  | 1.02  |
Majority  | 471  | 9.69  |
Turnout | 4,858  | 48.82  |
Registered electors | 9,950  |  |

Findlay held the seat until the next general election and then retired.[3]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
2. ^ a b c "Hawke's Bay Seat". Wanganui Herald. Vol. LI, no. 15152\. 22 February 1917. p. 5. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
3. ^ a b Hall, Geoffrey G. "Findlay, John George". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
4. ^ "The Final Figures". Sun. Vol. IV, no. 960\. 9 March 1917. p. 11. Retrieved 7 April 2016.

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* 1926 Eden
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* 1929 Bay of Islands
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* 1932 Southern Maori
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* 1936 Manukau

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