Avon (New Zealand electorate)

Avon is a former New Zealand parliamentary electorate. It was created for the 1861 general election and existed until 1996. It was represented by 13 Members of Parliament and was held by Independents, Liberal Party or Labour Party representatives.

Population centres

The electorate was in Christchurch, New Zealand, named after the Avon River. For the 1887 by-election, polling booths were in Riccarton and Papanui.[1] For the 1887 general election, polling booths were in Papanui, Bright's Road, Spreydon and New Brighton.[2] For the 1890 election, polling booths were in Papanui, Richmond, Belfast, Ohoka and Clarkville.[3]

History

The electorate was created in 1861, and existed continuously until 1996, when with MMP it was absorbed into the new Christchurch East electorate.

Alfred Richard Creyke stood in the 1861 general election (held on 1 February) in the Avon electorate for Parliament, whilst William Thomson stood in the same electorate for the Canterbury Provincial Council. Thomson proposed Creyke and vice versa; both were elected unopposed.[4] Creyke thus became the first representative.[5] Creyke resigned from Parliament on 21 April 1862.[6]

Creyke was succeeded by William Thomson, who was elected in the 11 June 1862 by-election and took his oath on 30 July 1862.[7] He retired on 27 January 1866.[8] Thomson was succeeded by Crosbie Ward, who won the 1866 election. Ward resigned in the following year.[9]

William Reeves won the resulting 1867 by-election by-election. He resigned in the following year.[10] William Rolleston represented the electorate from the resulting 1868 by-election to 1884.[11] In the 1879 general election, he was returned unopposed.[12] Rolleston did not stand in the Avon electorate in the 1884 election, but (successfully) contested Geraldine instead.[11]

Rolleston was succeeded by Leonard Harper in the Avon electorate.[13] Harper resigned on 3 May 1887,[13][14] and the resulting by-election was contested by Edwin Blake and William Dunlop, who received 255 and 252 votes, respectively.[1] The 1887 general election was contested by Edwin Blake and E. G. Wright.[15] Blake won the election by a good margin.[2] In the 1890 election, Edwin Blake and George Gatonby Stead received 774 and 587 votes, respectively.[3] At the end of the parliamentary term in 1893, Blake retired from politics.

William Tanner won the 1893 election. In the previous Parliament, he had represented the Heathcote electorate.[16] Tanner was initially an independent, but joined the Liberal Party for the 1905 election. In the 1908 election, he was beaten by George Warren Russell in the second ballot (the voting system in place from 1908 until 1913).[17] In the 1911 election, four candidates contested the electorate, with Russell representing the liberal Ward Government, James McCombs standing as an Independent Liberal, J. O. Jamieson as an opposition candidate and W. R. Smith representing labour interests. Russell and McCombs polled 3,040 and 2,817 votes, respectively, and proceeded to the second ballot.[18] Russell won the second ballot with 3,854 to 3,583 votes.[19] Russell was defeated in the 1919 election by Labour's Dan Sullivan.[20] Sullivan was successful at the next eight subsequent elections. In the 1943 election, he was opposed by James Neil Clarke of the National Party, who a few years later became Deputy-Mayor of Christchurch.[21] Sullivan died in office on 8 April 1947.[20]

Sullivan's death caused the 1947 by-election by-election, which was won by John Mathison of the Labour Party.[22] He was a cabinet minister from 1957 to 1960 in the Second Labour Government and retired from Parliament in 1972.[23]

Mathison was succeeded by Mary Batchelor, who represented the electorate for five parliamentary terms.[24] Batchelor in turn was succeeded by Larry Sutherland, who won the 1987 election. He served the electorate until its abolition in 1996. He successfully contested the replacement electorate of Christchurch East in the 1996 election.[25]

Members of Parliament

Key

  Independent     Liberal     Labour  

Election Winner
1861 election Alfred Richard Creyke
1862 by-election William Thomson
1866 election Crosbie Ward
1867 by-election William Reeves
1868 by-election William Rolleston
1871 election
1875 election
1879 election
1881 election
1884 election Leonard Harper
1887 by-election Edwin Blake
1887 election
1890 election
1893 election William Tanner
1896 election
1899 election
1902 election
1905 election
1908 election George Warren Russell
1911 election
1914 election
1919 election 1922 election 1925 election 1928 election 1931 election 1935 election 1938 election 1943 election 1946 election Dan Sullivan
1947 by-election 1949 election 1951 election 1954 election 1957 election 1960 election 1963 election 1966 election 1969 election John Mathison
1972 election 1975 election 1978 election 1981 election 1984 election Mary Batchelor
1987 election 1990 election 1993 election Larry Sutherland
(Electorate abolished 1996)

Election results

1947 by-election

Avon by-election, 1947[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jock Mathison 8,513 65.31
National R. A. McDowell 4,422 33.92 +2.56
Independent J. R. Robertson 100 0.77
Majority 4,091 31.38 −5.89
Turnout 13,035 84.43 −9.31
Labour hold Swing −3.33

1935 election

General election, 1935: Avon[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dan Sullivan 8,955 71.11 +7.65
Independent L C Walker 3,545 28.15
Informal votes 93 0.73 +0.46
Majority 5,410 57.76
Turnout 12,593

1931 election

General election, 1931: Avon[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dan Sullivan 7,166 63.46 +7.00
United Harben Robert Young 4,127 36.54
Majority 3,039 26.91 -7.13
Informal votes 31 0.27 -0.92
Turnout 11,324 84.82 -3.42
Registered electors 13,350

1928 election

General election, 1928: Avon[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dan Sullivan 6,376 56.45 -1.70
United George Thomas Baker[30] 2,531 22.41
Reform Frederick Boulton Hughes[31] 2,387 21.14
Majority 3,845 34.04 +17.73
Informal votes 136 1.19 +0.22
Turnout 11,430 88.24 -3.35
Registered electors 12,953

1925 election

General election, 1925: Avon[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dan Sullivan 6,377 58.16 +13.65
Reform Walter Edmund Leadley[33] 4,588 41.84
Majority 1,789 16.32 -3.99
Informal votes 107 0.97 -0.24
Turnout 11,072 91.59 -0.17
Registered electors 12,088

1922 election

General election, 1922: Avon[34][35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dan Sullivan 4,462 44.50 -13.52
Liberal George Warren Russell 2,426 24.20 -15.33
Reform Albert Edward Loach 1,731 17.27
Independent Ann Elizabeth Herbert 1,407 14.03
Majority 2,036 20.31 +1.80
Informal votes 122 1.20 -1.05
Turnout 10,148 91.76 +9.95
Registered electors 11,059

1919 election

General election, 1919: Avon[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dan Sullivan 5,168 58.03 +27.70
Liberal George Warren Russell 3,520 39.52 -3.46
Reform John Louis "Jack" Carl[37][38] 218 2.45
Majority 1,648 18.50 +5.84
Informal votes 205 2.25 +1.64
Turnout 9,111 81.81 -6.31
Registered electors 11,137

1914 election

General election, 1914: Avon[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Warren Russell 3,642 42.99 -8.83
Social Democrat Dan Sullivan[40] 2,569 30.32
Reform Henry Dyke Acland 2,261 26.69
Majority 1,073 12.67 +9.02
Informal votes 52 0.61 +0.42
Turnout 8,524 88.12 +3.30
Registered electors 9,673

1911 election

Avon general election, 1911, first ballot[41][42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Warren Russell 3,040 39.39 +6.12
Independent Labour James McCombs 2,817 36.50
Opposition John Owen Jameson[43] 1,062 13.76
Labour (original) William Robert Smith[44] 798 10.34 +7.01
Majority 223 2.89 +2.54
Informal votes 66 0.85
Registered electors 8,784
Turnout 7,783 88.60 +9.07
Avon general election, 1911, second ballot[41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Warren Russell 3,854 51.82 -0.20
Labour (original) James McCombs[45] 3,583 48.18
Majority 271 3.64 -4.59
Informal votes 14 0.19
Turnout 7,451 84.82 +8.63
Registered electors 8,784

1908 election

General election, 1908: Avon, first ballot[46]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Warren Russell 2,185 33.27
Liberal William Tanner 2,162 32.92
Opposition John Jamieson 1,322 20.13
Ind. Labour League Dan Sullivan 679 10.34
Liberal William Robert Smith 219 3.33
Majority 23 0.35
Turnout 6,567 79.53
Registered electors 8,257
General election, 1908: Avon, second ballot[47]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Warren Russell 3,416 52.02
Liberal William Tanner 2,875 43.78
Majority 541 8.24
Turnout 6,291 76.19
Registered electors 8,257

1899 election

General election, 1899: Avon[48]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Tanner 2,074 51.85 +0.76
Opposition Arthur Rhodes 1,926 48.15
Majority 148 3.70 -11.34
Turnout 4,000 81.75 +10.92
Registered electors 4,893

1896 election

General election, 1896: Avon[49]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Tanner 1,552 51.09 -2.80
Opposition George McIntyre 1,095 36.04 +2.63
Opposition George Swann 307 10.11
Independent Charles Burgess 84 2.76
Majority 457 15.04 -5.43
Turnout 3,038 70.83
Registered electors 4,289

1893 election

General election, 1893: Avon[50][51]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Tanner 1,719 53.89
Independent George McIntyre 1,066 33.42
Opposition John Leaf Wilson 405 12.70
Majority 653 20.47 +6.81
Turnout 3,190 73.83
Registered electors 4,321

Notes

  1. 1 2 "THE AVON ELECTION.". The Star (5944). 2 June 1887. p. 3. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Avon.". The Star (6043). 27 September 1887. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  3. 1 2 "Avon". The Star (7029). 6 December 1890. p. 4. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  4. ↑ "Elections". Lyttelton Times XV (859). 2 February 1861. p. 4. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  5. ↑ Cyclopedia Company Limited (1903). "Mr. Alfred Richard Creyke". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Canterbury Provincial District. Christchurch. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  6. ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 191.
  7. ↑ "GENERAL ASSEMBLY.". Otago Witness (560). 23 August 1862. p. 2. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  8. ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 240.
  9. ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 243.
  10. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 134.
  11. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 136.
  12. ↑ "The General Elections.". The Star (3551). 28 August 1879. p. 2. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  13. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 112.
  14. ↑ "HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.". The Star (5920). 5 May 1887. p. 4. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  15. ↑ "Avon". The Star (6034). 16 September 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  16. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 142.
  17. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 137.
  18. ↑ "Official Results". The Press. LXVII (14224). 12 December 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  19. ↑ "Official returns". The Press. LXVII (14229). 18 December 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  20. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 141.
  21. ↑ "More Candidates". Evening Post. CXXXVI (31). 5 August 1943. p. 6. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  22. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 126.
  23. ↑ Wilson 1985.
  24. ↑ Bryce, Fiona (1 April 2005). "Where are they now?... Former MP Mary Batchelor". The Star. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  25. ↑ "Obituaries — Hon Jonathan Elworthy, Larry Sutherland". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  26. ↑ Norton 1988, p. 195.
  27. ↑ The New Zealand Official Year-Book. Government Printer. 1936. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  28. ↑ The General Election, 1931. Government Printer. 1932. p. 1. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  29. ↑ The General Election, 1928. Government Printer. 1929. p. 1. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  30. ↑ "Electoral Notices". The Press LXIV (19454). 30 October 1928. p. 15. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  31. ↑ "Christchurch Seats". Auckland Star LIX (245). 16 October 1928. p. 8. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  32. ↑ The General Election, 1925. Government Printer. 1926. p. 4. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  33. ↑ "Tribute to Mr Leadley". The Press LXI (18528). 2 November 1925. p. 15. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  34. ↑ Hislop, J. (1923). The General Election, 1922. Government Printer. p. 5. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  35. ↑ "Election Notices". The Press. LVIII (17623). 28 November 1922. p. 14. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  36. ↑ Hislop, J. (1921). The General Election, 1919. National Library. p. 4. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  37. ↑ "Election Notices". The Press LV (16716). 27 December 1919. p. 14. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  38. ↑ "Avon". The Press LV (16707). 16 December 1919. p. 11. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  39. ↑ Hislop, J. (1915). The General Election, 1914. National Library. p. 21. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  40. ↑ "The Avon Seat". The Star (11215). 22 October 1914. p. 8. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  41. 1 2 "The General Election, 1911". National Library. 1912. pp. 4, 8. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  42. ↑ "Thacker and Davey in Second Ballot". The Evening Post. LXXXII (141). 12 December 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  43. ↑ "Things going merrily in Christchurch". Evening Post. LXXXII (121). 18 November 1911. p. 9. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  44. ↑ "Notes". The Press. LXVII (14207). 22 November 1911. p. 10. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  45. ↑ "Labour Party's Support". Wairarapa Daily Times LXIV (11219). 9 December 1911. p. 5. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  46. ↑ AtoJs 1908 election 1909, p. 32.
  47. ↑ AtoJs 1908 election 1909, p. 17.
  48. ↑ "The General Election, 1899". Wellington: Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives. 19 June 1900. p. 2. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  49. ↑ "Electoral District of Avon". The Press LIII (9593). 7 December 1896. p. 1. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  50. ↑ "The General Election, 1893". National Library. 1894. p. 2. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  51. ↑ "The General Election". Nelson Evening Mail. XXVII (281). 29 November 1893. p. 2. Retrieved 26 March 2014.

References

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