New Zealand general election, 1890

1890 general election

27 November (Māori) & 5 December (general) 1890

All 74 seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives 38 seats were needed for a majority Turnout 80.4%   First party Second party   Leader John Ballance Harry Atkinson Party Liberal Conservatives Leader since 1889 1887 Leader's seat Wanganui Egmont Seats won 40 25 Popular vote 76,548 39,338 Percentage 56.1% 28.9%

Premier before election Harry Atkinson Conservatives Elected Premier John Ballance Liberal

The New Zealand general election of 1890 was one of New Zealand's most significant.^[1] It marked the beginning of party politics in New Zealand with the formation of the Liberal Government, which was to enact major welfare, labour and electoral reforms, including giving the vote to women.

It was also the first election in which there was no legal plural voting. Multi-member electorates were re-introduced in the four main centres and the 'country quota' (which gave more weight to rural votes) was increased to 28%.

Following the election and the resignation of the previous government headed by Harry Atkinson, John Ballance formed the first Liberal Party ministry, taking office on 24 January 1891. At this stage no formal party organisation existed, but the formation of the Liberal ministry signalled the end of the system by which governments were made up of a loose and unstable coalition of independent MPs and the beginning of the 'party system'.

Electoral redistribution

In December 1887, the House of Representatives voted to reduce its membership from general electorates from 91 to 70. The 1890 electoral redistribution used the same 1886 census data used for the 1887 electoral redistribution. In addition, three-member electorates were introduced in the four main centres.^[2] This resulted in a major restructuring of electorates, with 12 new electorates created. Of those, four electorates were created for the first time: Te Aroha, Halswell, Dunedin Suburbs, and Palmerston. The remaining eight electorates had previously existed and were re-created through the 1890 electoral redistribution: City of Auckland, City of Christchurch, City of Dunedin, City of Wellington, Ellesmere, Franklin, Geraldine, and Westland.

74 MPs were elected to the 11th session of the New Zealand Parliament.^[3] The Māori electorates voted on 27 November and the European (now known as General) electorates on 5 December. There were 183,171 voters registered in the sixty-two European electorates, which returned a total of 70 members.^[4] This figure includes 13,668 voters in the six electorates where there was an unopposed return. 136,337 valid votes were cast in European electorates, including additional votes cast in the four three-member electorates.

Results

Party totals

Note that as the election was held before the establishment of formal political parties, the figures should only be regarded as an approximate indication of the division of political opinion.

Party		Total votes	Percentage	Seats won
	Liberal	76,548	56.1%	40
	Conservatives	39,338	28.9%	25
	Independent	20,451	15.0%	9

Mackie and Rose suggest there was a 74.4% turnout, based on valid votes cast as a percentage of the registered electors. The official turnout figure is 80.4%, calculated on a different basis (see the Elections New Zealand official results web-site link below for further details of the changing methods used to calculate the official turnout).

The Māori vote, for the remaining four seats, was held on 27 November. Maori electorates did not have electoral rolls so their voting figures and percentages are not included above.

Electorate results

The following table shows the results of the 1890 general election. Six European members were returned unopposed.^[3]

Electorate incumbent	Elected member defeated candidates	MP's term
Bay of Islands Held by R Hobbs	Robert Houston	First
	2nd: James Trounsen 3rd: John Lundon 4th: Joseph Dargaville
Marsden Held by R Thompson	Robert Thompson	Second
	2nd: Albert Elliott[5]
Waitemata Held by R Monk	Jackson Palmer	First
	2nd: Richard Monk
Eden Held by E Mitchelson	Edwin Mitchelson	Fourth
	2nd: Joseph Greenwood[6]
Newton Held by E Withy	David Goldie	Third
	Unopposed
City of Auckland New electorate	John Shera	First
	Thomas Thompson	Third
	William Lee Rees	Second
	4th: Adam Porter[7] 5th: William Joseph Napier 6th: James Wallis 7th: Harry Farnall[8]
Parnell Held by F Moss	Frank Lawry	Second
	2nd: J M Lennox[9]
Manukau Held by GM O'Rorke	Frank Buckland	Second
	2nd:Maurice O'Rorke 3rd: Alex Grant[10]
Franklin New electorate	Ebenezer Hamlin	Sixth
	2nd: Benjamin Harris
Thames Held by W Fraser	Alfred Cadman	Fourth
	2nd: Edmund Taylor
Waikato Held by JB Whyte	John Bryce	Eight
	Unopposed
Te Aroha New electorate	William Shepherd Allen	First
	2nd: W Fraser
East Coast Held by AC Arthur	William Kelly	Third
	2nd: AC Arthur
New Plymouth Held by O Samuel	Edward Metcalf Smith	First
	2nd: John Elliot 3rd: Robert Hughes
Egmont Held by H Atkinson	Harry Atkinson	Ninth
	2nd: Felix McGuire
Wanganui Held by J Ballance	John Ballance	Sixth
	2nd: Gilbert Carson
Waitotara Held by G Hutchinson	George Hutchinson	Second
	2nd: Robert Bruce
Napier Held by JD Ormond	George Henry Swan	First
	2nd: Michael Gannon
Hawke's Bay Held by W Russell	William Russell	Fifth
	2nd: Charles William Reardon[11]
Waipawa Held by T Tanner	William Cowper Smith	Fourth
	2nd: George Hunter
Rangitikei Held by RC Bruce	Douglas Hastings Macarthur	Third
	2nd: Francis Arkwright
Palmerston New electorate	James Wilson	Fourth
	2nd: Frederick Pirani 3rd: John Stevens
Masterton Held by George Beetham	Alexander Hogg	First
	2nd: George Beetham
Wairarapa Held by W Buchanan	Walter Buchanan	Fourth
	2nd: Henry Bunny
Hutt Held by HS Fitzherbert	Alfred Newman	Fourth
	2nd: George Thomas London[12] Charles Hayward Izard
City of Wellington New electorate	George Fisher	Third
	John Duthie	First
	Kennedy Macdonald	First
	4th: Francis Bell 5th: Edwin George Jellicoe[13] 6th: Francis Humphris Fraser 7th: William McLean[14][15] 8th: Robert Winter[16]
Nelson Held by Joseph Harkness	Joseph Harkness	Second
	2nd: John Kerr 3rd: Francis William Flowerday
Waimea-Picton Held by A Seymour	Charles H. Mills	First
	2nd: Richmond Hursthouse 3rd: William Henry Phillips
Buller Held by EJ O'Conor	Eugene O'Conor	Fourth
	Unopposed
Wairau Held by H Dodson	Lindsay Buick	First
	2nd: Arthur Seymour 3rd: Sutherland John Macalister[17]
Inangahua Held by R Reeves	Richard Reeves	Fourth
	2nd: John Drake[18]
Grey Held by AR Guinness	Arthur Guinness	Third
	2nd: William Hugh Jones[19]
Westland New electorate	Richard Seddon	Fifth
	2nd: Joseph Grimmond
Ashley Held by J Verrall	Richard Meredith	First
	2nd: James Dupré Lance 3rd: John George Knight[20]
Kaiapoi Held by E Richardson	Richard Moore	First
	2nd: William Hoban[20]
Avon Held by E Blake	Edwin Blake	Third
	2nd: George Stead
City of Christchurch New electorate	William Pember Reeves	Second
	Westby Perceval	Second
	Richard Molesworth Taylor	Third
	4th: John Tippett Smith 5th: Edward Wingfield Humphreys 6th: Eden George
Heathcote Held by F Jones	William Tanner	First
	2nd: Heaton Rhodes
Halswell New electorate	William Rolleston	Seventh
	2nd: Francis Samuel Parker
Akaroa Held by A McGregor	John Joyce	Second
	2nd: Alexander McGregor 3rd: William Barnett
Selwyn Held by J Hall	Alfred Saunders	Fifth
	2nd: Thomas Hamilton Anson 3rd: William Jerrington Popple
Ellesmere New electorate	John Hall	Seventh
	2nd: John McLachlan
Ashburton Held by W Walker	Edward George Wright	Third
	2nd: Rev. James Wright Sawle[21] 3rd: William Campbell Walker 4th: James Brown[22]
Geraldine New electorate	Arthur Rhodes	Second
	2nd: Searby Buxton
Timaru Held by W Hall-Jones	William Hall-Jones	Second
	2nd: Edward George Kerr[23] 3rd: Jeremiah Twomey 4th: Samuel Frederick Smithson 5th: Philip E Thoreau
Waimate Held by WJ Steward	William Steward	Fifth
	2nd: Alpheus Hayes
Waitaki Held by TY Duncan	John McKenzie	Fourth
	2nd: J C Buckland 3rd: George Bruce
Oamaru Held by TW Hislop	Thomas Young Duncan	Fourth
	2nd: Thomas William Hislop
Mount Ida Held by S Mackenzie	Scobie Mackenzie	Third
	2nd: Vincent Pyke
Chalmers Held by J Mills	James Mills	Third
	2nd: John A. Millar
Peninsula Held by W Larnach	William Earnshaw	First
	2nd: William Larnach
City of Dunedin New electorate	David Pinkerton	First
	Henry Fish	Third
	William Hutchison	Third
	4th: James Allen[24] 5th: Richard Henry Leary[24] 6th: Alfred Lee Smith[24]
Dunedin Suburbs New electorate	William Dawson	First
	2nd: Archibald Hilson Ross 3rd: Francis Wilkinson[24]
Taieri Held by J Fulton	Walter Carncross	First
	2nd: William Snow 3rd: William Barron 4th: Arthur John Burns
Bruce Held by C Anderson	James William Thomson	Sixth
	2nd: James Smith[25]
Tuapeka Held by J Brown	Hugh Valentine	Second
	2nd: James Clark Brown
Clutha Held by T Mackenzie	Thomas Mackenzie	Second
	Unopposed
Mataura Held by GF Richardson	George Richardson	Third
	2nd: John Gideon Fraser[26]
Wakatipu Held by T Fergus	Thomas Fergus	Fourth
	Unopposed
Wallace Held by S Hodgkinson	James Mackintosh	First
	2nd: Samuel Hodgkinson 3rd: Henry Hirst
Invercargill Held by Henry Feldwick	James Whyte Kelly	First
	2nd: James Walker Bain 3rd: H Feldwick
Awarua Held by J Ward	Joseph Ward	Second
	Unopposed
Northern Maori[27] Held by S Taiwhanga	Sydney Taiwhanga[nb 1]	Second
	2nd: Tinoti Pupipupi 3rd: Wi Katene 4th: Wiremu Mikihana
Eastern Maori[28] Held by J Carroll	James Carroll	Second
	2nd: Wi Pere 3rd: Sydney Taiwhanga[nb 2] 4th: Timiwata Rinni 5th: Strum
Western Maori[29][30] Held by H Taipua	Hoani Taipua	Third
	2nd: Pepene Eketone 3rd: Kipa Te Whatanui[nb 3] 4th: Te Kahui Kararahe 5th: Tatana Te Whataupoko
Southern Maori[31] Held by T Parata	Tame Parata	Third
	2nd: Honi Maaka Hape 3rd: Riki Te Mairaki Taiaroa 4th: Thomas Ellison[nb 4]

Table footnotes:

1. Sydney Taiwhanga won the election and, despite having died on election day, was declared elected
2. Sydney Taiwhanga stood in both Eastern Maori and Northern Maori electorates
3. Rankings from the third place down are based on preliminary results only
4. Thomas Ellison was nominated under his Maori name Rangiwahia Erihana, mis-spelled in the source as Raniera Erihani

See also

• Elections in New Zealand

Notes

1. Atkinson, Neill (2003), Adventures in Democracy: A History of the Vote in New Zealand, p.81
2. McRobie 1989, pp. 54ff.
3. "The General Election, 1890". National Library. 1891. pp. 1–3. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
4. "General elections 1853-2005 - dates & turnout". Elections New Zealand. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
5. "Marsden Electoral District". The Northern Advocate. 29 November 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
6. "Mr Greenwood's Dry Humour". Observer X (618). 1 November 1890. p. 4. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
7. Scholefield, Guy, ed. (1940). A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : M–Addenda (PDF) II. Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs. p. 179. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
8. "Auckland City". Auckland Star XXI (280). 27 November 1890. p. 5. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
9. "The Contest in Parnell". Auckland Star XXIV (280). 25 November 1893. p. 4. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
10. "Manukau Electors". The New Zealand Herald. XXVII (8427). 1 December 1890. p. 1. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
11. "Notabilia". Daily Telegraph (6007). 25 November 1890. p. 3. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
12. "Election News". The Evening Post XL (127). 26 November 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
13. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1897). "Barristers And Solicitors". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Wellington Provincial District. Wellington: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
14. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1897). "Wellington Ex-Members Of The House Of Representatives". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Wellington Provincial District. Wellington. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
15. "Nominations". The Southland Times (11591). 26 November 1890. p. 3. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
16. "Mr Robert Winter at Wellington". The Star (7000). 1 November 1890. p. 4. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
17. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). "Mr. Sutherland John Maclister". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
18. "General Election". Inangahua Times XV (20881). 17 November 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
19. "Public Notices". Grey River Argus. XXXIX (6871). 26 September 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
20. "Ashley Electoral District". The Press. XLVIL (7721). 28 November 1890. p. 8. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
21. "Obituary". The Press LVI (16961). 9 October 1920. p. 3. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
22. "Electoral District of Ashburton". Ashburton Guardian VII (2587). 1 December 1890. p. 3. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
23. "History of The Timaru Herald". The Timaru Herald. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
24. "Election Notices". Otago Daily Times (9975). 29 November 1890. p. 3. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
25. "Bruce Electoral District". Bruce Herald XXI (2219). 28 November 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
26. "Gore". Otago Witness (1918). 20 November 1890. p. 30. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
27. "The Maori Representation". Otago Witness (1920). 4 December 1890. p. 15. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
28. "Election News". The Marlborough Express XXVI (321). 28 November 1890. p. 4. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
29. "Telegrams". Inangahua Times XV (20887). 1 December 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
30. "By Telegraph". The Southland Times (11568). 28 October 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
31. "Maori Electorates". The Press. XLVIL (7694). 28 October 1890. p. 6. Retrieved 27 November 2013.

References

• Mackie, Thomas T.; Rose, Richard (1991). The International Almanac of Electoral History (3rd ed.). Macmillan.
• McRobie, Alan (1989). Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books. ISBN 0-477-01384-8.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.

External links

• Official election results website