1887 New Zealand general election

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1887 New Zealand general election

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All 95 seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives
48 seats were needed for a majority
Turnout67.1%
  First party Second party
  Sir Harry Albert Atkinson, ca 1885.jpg Robert Stout, 1885.jpg
Leader Harry Atkinson Robert Stout
Party Conservatives Stout–Vogelites
Leader since 1883 1884
Leader's seat Egmont Dunedin East (lost seat)
Seats won 52 34
Seat change Increase 20 Decrease 23
Popular vote N/A N/A
Percentage N/A N/A
Swing N/A N/A

Premier before election

Robert Stout
Independent

Subsequent Premier

Harry Atkinson
Independent

The 1887 New Zealand general election was held on 26 September[1] to elect 95 MPs to the tenth session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 7 September. 175,410 votes (67.1% turnout) were cast.[2] In 5 seats there was only one candidate.[3]

1887 electoral redistribution[]

The Representation Act 1887 had major implication for the procedure of revising electoral boundaries. The revision task was transferred from committees formed by MPs to a permanent Representation Commission. The act specified that a country quota of 18% be applied to all designated districts that excluded boroughs with a population above 2,000 people, and that all electorates were to have the same nominal population within a tolerance of 750 people. It was also stipulated that electoral boundaries were to be reviewed after each New Zealand census.[4]

In the 1887 electoral redistribution, although the Representation Commission was required through the Representation Act 1887 to maintain existing electorates "as far as possible", rapid population growth in the North Island required the transfer of three seats from the South Island to the north. Ten new electorates were created: Auckland Central, Woodville, Wellington South and Suburbs, Masterton, Wellington East, Waimea-Picton, Linwood, Rangitata, Waihemo, and Ponsonby. One former electorate, Wairarapa, was recreated.[5]

1887 was the year the Independent Representation Commission was established to redraw electorate boundaries after each five-yearly population census. The country quota was reduced to 18%. A £10 candidate's deposit was introduced.[4]

The Scarecrow Ministry[]

The Stout-Vogel government had been soundly beaten. Only 34 returned members supported the government, whilst 52 opposition MPs were elected as well as nine independents.[6] This led to much confusion in Wellington in September 1887 when the members gathered to form a government. John Bryce, William Rolleston and Robert Stout had all lost their seats. Sir John Hall said he was too old. Sir Julius Vogel's policies had been rejected by the voters.

So there was no alternative to Harry Atkinson, and after two weeks of negotiations he announced a ministry on 11 October. Only two ministers had served with him before. The Scarecrow Ministry was not expected to last, but did.

The years 1887 and 1888 were the worst of the Long Depression, and Atkinson cut salaries, raised loans and raised customs duties. He was not popular with the wealthy, but they feared the Opposition leaders Grey and Ballance even more. By 1890 Atkinson was too ill to make speeches in the House.

Results[]

The following table shows the results of the 1887 general election:[7]

Electorate
incumbent
Elected member
defeated candidates
MP's term
Bay of Islands
Held by R Hobbs
Richard Hobbs Fourth
2nd: John Lundon
Marsden
Held by E Mitchelson
Robert Thompson First
2nd: Joseph Dargaville
Rodney
Held by W Moat
William Moat Second
2nd: Jackson Palmer
3rd: A Colbeck
4th: J Hudson
Waitemata
Held by R Monk
Richard Monk Second
2nd: Reader Wood
Eden
Held by J Tole
Edwin Mitchelson Third
2nd: JA Connell
Newton
Held by T Peacock
Edward Withy First
2nd: Joseph Tole
3rd: HT Garrett
Ponsonby
New electorate
Thomas Peacock Third
2nd: CS Wright
3rd: E Cooper
Auckland North
Held by T Thompson
Thomas Thompson Second
2nd:Samuel Vaile
Auckland West[8]
Held by J McM Dargaville
David Goldie Second
2nd:John Shera
3rd: Edward W. Morrison
Auckland Central
New electorate
George Grey Seventh
Unopposed
Parnell
Held by FJ Moss
Frederick Moss Fifth
2nd:Seymour Thorne George
Manukau
Held by GM O'Rorke
Maurice O'Rorke Eighth
2nd: SS Osborne
Franklin North
Held by Frank Buckland
Frank Lawry First
2nd: Frank Buckland
Franklin South
Held by E Hamlin
Ebenezer Hamlin Fifth
2nd: Benjamin Harris
3rd: FB Kingsford
Coromandel
Held by A Cadman
Alfred Cadman Third
2nd: J Mackay
Thames
Held by W Fraser
William Fraser Second
2nd: James McGowan
3rd: J Frater
Waikato
Held by JB Whyte
John Blair Whyte Fourth
2nd: GW Russell
Tauranga
Held by GB Morris
William Kelly Second
2nd:
3rd: H Kerr
Waipa
Held by E Lake
William Jackson Second
2nd: JB Teasdale
3rd: D Maxwell
4th: T Campbell
East Coast
Held by S Locke
Andrew Graham First
2nd: A McDonald
3rd: MJ Gannon
Taranaki
Held by R Trimble
George Marchant First
2nd: Elliot
3rd: R Trimble
4th: T Kelly
New Plymouth
Held by O Samuel
Oliver Samuel Second
2nd: Edward Smith
3rd: Edward Dockrill
Egmont
Held by HA Atkinson
Harry Atkinson Eight
2nd: Felix McGuire
Wanganui
Held by J Ballance
John Ballance Fifth
2nd: Gilbert Carson
Waitotara
Held by J Bryce
George Hutchinson First
2nd: John Bryce
3rd: J Morgan
Napier
Held by JD Ormond
John Davies Ormond Seventh
2nd: Joseph Ivess
Hawkes Bay
Held by WR Russell
William Russell Fourth
2nd: A Desmond
Waipawa
Held by WC Smith
Thomas Tanner First
2nd:J Harker
3rd:Fred Sutton
4th: ARW Lascelles
Rangitikei
Held by RC Bruce
Robert Bruce Second
2nd: J Stevens
3rd: F Arkwright
Manawatu
Held by DH Macarthur
Douglas Macarthur Second
2nd: GL West
Foxton
Held by J Wilson
James Wilson Third
2nd: ES Thynne
3rd: Sanson
Woodville
New Electorate
William Smith Third
2nd: Horace Baker
3rd: William Wilson McCardle
Masterton
New Electorate
George Beetham Fifth
2nd: Alexander Hogg
3rd: RS Hawkins
Wairarapa
New Electorate
Walter Buchanan Third
2nd: Henry Bunny
Hutt
Held by HS Fitzherbert
Henry Fitzherbert Second
2nd: Thomas Mason
Wellington South and Suburbs
New Electorate
Charles Izard First
2nd: J Coombe
Thorndon
Held by A Newman
Alfred Newman Third
2nd: William McLean
Te Aro
Held by CJ Johnston
Andrew Stuart-Menteath Second
2nd: Francis Humphris Fraser
Wellington East
New Electorate
George Fisher Second
2nd: Robertson
3rd: T Carter
Nelson
Held by H Levestam
Henry Levestam Fourth
2nd: Jesse Piper
3rd: WB Gibbs
Waimea-Picton
New Electorate
Arthur Seymour Fourth
2nd: Joseph Harkness
3rd: Charles H. Mills
Motueka
Held by R Hursthouse
John Kerr Second
2nd: Richmond Hursthouse
Buller
Held by EJ O'Conor
Eugene O'Conor Third
2nd: John Munro
Wairau
Held by H Dodson
Henry Dodson Third
2nd:
3rd: Sutherland John Macalister[9]
Inangahua
Held by AA Stuart-Menteath
Richard Reeves Third
Unopposed
Greymouth
Held by AR Guinness
Arthur Guinness Second
2nd: Joseph Petrie
Kumara
Held by R Seddon
Richard Seddon Fourth
Unopposed
Hokitika
Held by J Bevan
Joseph Grimmond First
2nd: John Bevan
Cheviot
Held by JD Lance
James Lance Second
2nd: J Macfarlane
Ashley
Held by WF Pearson
William Pearson Third
2nd: RL Higgins
3rd: JM Verrall
Kaiapoi
Held by E Richardson
Edward Richardson Sixth
2nd: Richard Moore
Avon
Held by L Harper
Edwin Blake Second
2nd: Edward George Wright
Linwood
New Electorate
Andrew Loughrey First
2nd: William Flesher
3rd: Daniel Reese
4th: JT Partridge
Heathcote
Held by F Jones
Frederic Jones Second
2nd: JH Hopkins
St Albans
Held By FJ Garrick
William Reeves First
2nd: Francis James Garrick
Christchurch North
Held by J Vogel
Julius Vogel Sixth
2nd: H Roberts
Christchurch South
Held by J Holmes
Westby Perceval First
2nd: A Ayers
3rd: H Thomson
4th: E George
[10]
Sydenham
Held by RM Taylor
Richard Taylor Second
2nd: John Crewes
Lyttelton
Held by H Allwright
John Joyce First
2nd: H Allwright
Akaroa
Held by W Montgomery
Alexander McGregor First
2nd: William Barnett
3rd: George Armstrong
4th: George Russell Joblin
5th: Frederick Arthur Anson
6th: John Edward Thacker
Lincoln
Held by AP O'Callaghan
Arthur O'Callaghan Third
2nd: Alfred Saunders
3rd: John Davies Gilbert Enys
Selwyn
Held by E Wakefield
John Hall Sixth
2nd: John McLachlan
Ashburton
Held by WC Walker
William Campbell Walker Second
2nd: Charles Purnell
Rangitata
New Electorate
Searby Buxton First
2nd: William Rolleston
3rd: William Palmer
Timaru
Held by R Turnbull
Richard Turnbull Fifth
2nd: Edward George Kerr
Gladstone
Held by JH Sutter
Arthur Rhodes First
2nd: Jeremiah Twomey
3rd: F Franks
Waimate
Held by WJ Steward
William Steward Fourth
2nd: John Manchester
3rd: Charles G Clarke
Waitaki
Held by TY Duncan
Thomas Duncan Third
2nd: John Reid
Oamaru
Held by TW Hislop
Thomas Hislop Fourth
2nd: William Henry Frith[11]
3rd: John Church
Waihemo
New Electorate
John McKenzie Third
2nd: John Buckland
Dunedin West
Held by WD Stewart
William Stewart Fourth
2nd: Thomas Dick
Port Chalmers
Held by J Mills
James Mills Second
2nd: James Green
Dunedin East
Held by R Stout
James Allen First
2nd: Robert Stout
Dunedin Central
Held by T Bracken
Frederick Fitchett First
2nd: Edward Cargill
Dunedin South
Held by J Gore
Henry Fish Second
2nd: James Gore
Roslyn
Held by AH Ross
Archibald Hilson Ross Second
2nd: William Hutchinson
3rd: Walter Carlton
Peninsula
Held by W Larnach
William Larnach Fourth
2nd: Thomas Begg[12]
Caversham
Held by W Barron
William Barron Fourth
2nd: Robert Rutherford
Taieri
Held by J Fulton
James Fulton Fourth
2nd: W Carncross
Mount Ida
Held by S Mackenzie
Scobie Mackenzie Second
2nd: Owen Hodge
Bruce
Held by D Reid
Crawford Anderson First
2nd: Donald Reid
Tuapeka
Held by J Brown
James Brown Seventh
2nd: James Bennet
Dunstan
Held by V Pyke
Vincent Pyke Sixth
Unopposed
Clutha
Held by JW Thomson
Thomas Mackenzie First
2nd: James William Thomson
Waikaia
New electorate
Hugh Valentine First
2nd: Francis Wallace Mackenzie
3rd: FS Canning
Mataura
Held by GF Richardson
George Richardson Second
2nd: James Mackintosh[13]
Hokonui
Held by C Cowan
Cuthbert Cowan Third
2nd: Alfred Baldey
Wakatipu
Held by T Fergus
Thomas Fergus Third
Unopposed
Wallace
Held by H Hirst
Samuel Hodgkinson Second
2nd: Henry Hirst
3rd: John McIntyre
4th: Theophilus Daniel
Invercargill
Held by J Hatch
Henry Feldwick Third
2nd:
3rd: Joseph Hatch
4th: Cyril Tanner
5th: John Walker Mitchell
Awarua
Held by James Parker Joyce
Joseph Ward First
2nd: George Froggart
3rd: James Walker Bain
Northern Maori
Held by W Katene
Sydney Taiwhanga[14] First
2nd: Wi Katene
3rd: Peotipi
4th: Kereraru
5th: Tomoro Kingi
6th: Aratapu
Eastern Maori
Held by W Pere
James Carroll[14][15] First
2nd: Wi Pere
3rd: Alfred Warbrick
4th: Kereraru
Western Maori
Held by H Taipua
Hoani Taipua
Southern Maori
Held by T Parata
Tame Parata[16][17] Second
2nd: Thomas Ellison
3rd: Kahu
4th: Hone Taare Tikao

Notes[]

  1. ^ "THE GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS". No. 6043. Star. 27 September 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  2. ^ "General elections 1853-2005 - dates & turnout". Elections New Zealand. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  3. ^ Wilson 1985, p. 286.
  4. ^ a b McRobie 1989, p. 51.
  5. ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 50–53.
  6. ^ "Summary of the Results". No. 6868. Press. 28 September 1887. p. 5. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  7. ^ "The General Election, 1887". National Library. 1887. pp. 1–4. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  8. ^ "City West". Auckland Star. Vol. XVIII, no. 219. 19 September 1887. p. 5. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  9. ^ Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). "Mr. Sutherland John Maclister". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  10. ^ "Christchurch South". The Star. No. 6034. 16 September 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  11. ^ Cyclopedia Company Limited (1905). "Flourmillers, Grocers, Etc". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Otago & Southland Provincial Districts. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  12. ^ "Election Notes". Otago Daily Times. No. 7972. 9 September 1887. p. 3. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  13. ^ Cyclopedia Company Limited (1905). "Old Colonists". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Otago & Southland Provincial Districts. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  14. ^ a b "Maori Electorates". Hawera & Normanby Star. Vol. IX, no. 1724. 9 September 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  15. ^ "Election News". Ashburton Guardian. Vol. VII, no. 1638. 17 August 1887. p. 3. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  16. ^ "The Maori Members". The Press. Vol. XLIV, no. 6861. 20 September 1887. p. 6. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  17. ^ "The Southern Native Member". The Press. Vol. XLIV, no. 6856. 14 September 1887. p. 6. Retrieved 16 January 2014.

References[]

  • Bassett, Judith (1969). Sir Harry Atkinson. Wellington: AH & AW Reed.
  • Bassett, Judith (1975). Sir Harry Atkinson, 1831–1892. Auckland: Auckland/Oxford University Presses. ISBN 0-19-647934-7.
  • 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.
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