The former New Zealand parliamentary electorate on the western inner city of Auckland, was known as City of Auckland West from 1861 to 1890, and then Auckland West from 1905 to 1946.

Population centres

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From 1861 to 1884 the electorate comprised the suburbs of Ponsonby, Grey Lynn and Herne Bay. With the creation of the Ponsonby electorate for the 1887 election, Auckland West was moved south to include Grey Lynn, Newton and Kingsland.

From 1890 to 1905, Auckland West – along with Auckland Central and Auckland East – were merged into the multi-member City of Auckland electorate. In 1903 the Parliament passed the City Single Electorates Act, abolishing multi-member electorates from the end of the 15th Parliament in 1905.

The three inner-city Auckland electorates were recreated in 1905, with Auckland West first comprising the suburbs of Ponsonby, Herne Bay, Newton and parts of Grey Lynn; and from 1908 to 1946 covering Ponsonby and Herne Bay.

History

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The City of Auckland West electorate was created for the election held on 11 January 1861[1] and it lasted to 1890.[1] During this period, City of Auckland West was a two-member electorate.[2]

At the first election in 1861, Josiah Firth[3] and John Williamson[4] were elected.[5] Firth resigned on 30 April 1862,[1] and was succeeded by James Williamson (no relation to John Williamson) in the 1862 by-election.[6]

In the December 1875 election, Sir George Grey and Patrick Dignan were the only candidates in the two-member electorate and were thus declared elected.[7] In January 1876, Grey also contested and won a seat in the Thames electorate.[8] A protest against Grey's election was lodged with the returning officer the following day, stating that Grey had not been eligible to stand for election in Thames, as he had already been elected in Auckland West. This petition was filed to the House of Representatives at the end of January.[9] On 8 July, the report of the committee inquiring into Sir George Grey's election for the Thames was read to the House. It was found that his election to the Thames electorate was in accordance with the law, but that he had to make a decision for which electorate he would sit.[10] On 15 July 1876, Grey announced that he would represent Thames, and he moved that a by-election be held in Auckland West for the seat that he would vacate there.[11]

The 25 July 1876 by-election caused by Grey's retirement was won by Benjamin Tonks, who resigned in 1877.[12]

The electorate was then represented by James Wallis 1877–81, William John Hurst 1879–81 and David Goldie 1887–90.

The "Auckland West" electorate was created in 1905, and lasted to 1946. It was held for 1905–11 & 1914–19 by Charles Poole, 1911–14 by James Bradney, and from 1919 until he died in 1940 by revered Labour prime minister Michael Joseph Savage. The next holder Peter Carr 1940–46 also died while holding the seat.

Members of Parliament

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Key

  Independent   Liberal   Reform   Labour

multi-member electorate

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From 1861 to 1881, City of Auckland West was a two-member electorate.

Election Winners
1861 election John Williamson Josiah Firth
1862 by-election James Williamson
1866 election
1867 by-election Patrick Dignan[13][14]
1871 election Thomas Gillies
1871 by-election John Williamson
1875 (1st) by-election George Grey
1875 (2nd) by-election Patrick Dignan (2nd period)
1875 election
1876 by-election Benjamin Tonks
1877 by-election James Wallis
1879 by-election David Goldie
1879 election William John Hurst
(Electorate converted to single member in 1881)

single member electorate

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Election Winner
1881 election Joseph Dargaville
1884 election
1887 election David Goldie (2nd period)
(Electorate abolished 1890–1905, see City of Auckland)
1905 election Charles Poole
1908 election
1911 election James Bradney
1914 election Charles Poole (2nd period)
1919 election Michael Joseph Savage
1922 election
1925 election
1928 election
1931 election
1935 election
1938 election
1940 by-election Peter Carr
1943 election
(electorate abolished 1946; see Mount Albert)

Election results

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1943 election

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1943 general election: Auckland West[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Carr 9,269 61.71 −1.53
National John W. Kealy 3,867 25.74
Democratic Labour Pat Curran 1,447 9.63
People's Movement Howard Moncrieff Bagnall 232 1.54
Informal votes 203 1.35 +0.65
Majority 5,402 35.97 +3.14
Turnout 15,018 72.68 +12.65
Registered electors

1940 by-election

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1940 Auckland West by-election[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Carr 6,151 63.24
Independent Wilfred Fortune 2,958 30.41
Communist Gordon Watson 375 3.86
Independent Socialist Lawrence Pickles 132 1.36
Liberal Joseph Kennedy 15 0.15
Independent Enoch Naden 8 0.08
Informal votes 68 0.70 +0.05
Majority 3,193 32.83
Turnout 8,136 60.03 −29.73
Registered electors 16,170
Labour hold Swing

1938 election

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1938 general election: Auckland West[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael Joseph Savage 11,591 75.88 +2.95
National John W. Kealy 3,584 23.46
Informal votes 100 0.65 −0.46
Majority 8,007 52.41 −0.20
Turnout 15,275 89.76 +1.20
Registered electors 17,017

1935 election

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1935 general election: Auckland West[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael Joseph Savage 8,567 72.93 +10.00
United Ernest David Stallworthy 2,387 20.32
Democrat Joseph Alexander Govan 792 6.74
Informal votes 131 1.11 +0.50
Majority 6,180 52.61 +8.49
Turnout 11,746 88.56 +8.78
Registered electors 13,263

1931 election

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1931 general election: Auckland West[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael Joseph Savage 6,442 62.93 +15.92
United Hugh Ross Mackenzie 1,925 18.80
Reform John Allum 1,870 18.27
Informal votes 63 0.61 −0.23
Majority 4,517 44.12 +32.36
Turnout 10,300 79.78 −6.47
Registered electors 12,911

1928 election

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1928 general election: Auckland West[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael Joseph Savage 5,361 47.01 −5.18
United Richard Speirs 4,020 35.25
Reform Frank Adeane 2,021 17.72
Informal votes 97 0.84 −0.27
Majority 1,341 11.76 +7.38
Turnout 11,499 86.25 −3.30
Registered electors 13,331

1925 election

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1925 general election: Auckland West[21][22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael Joseph Savage 5,677 52.19 −3.23
Reform Samuel Oldfield 5,201 47.81
Informal votes 122 1.11 −0.39
Majority 476 4.38 −8.66
Turnout 11,000 89.55 −2.53
Registered electors 12,283

1922 election

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1922 general election: Auckland West[23][24][25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael Joseph Savage 5,649 55.42 +11.18
Reform John Farrell 4,345 42.63
Informal votes 153 1.50 +0.59
Majority 1,304 13.04 +7.16
Turnout 10,192 92.08 +6.61
Registered electors 11,068

1919 election

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1919 general election: Auckland West[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael Joseph Savage 4,008 44.24
Reform Charles Frederick Bennett 3,475 38.35
Liberal Andrew Entrican 1,493 16.48
Informal votes 83 0.91 −0.10
Majority 533 5.88
Turnout 9,059 85.47 +2.17
Registered electors 10,599

1914 election

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1914 general election: Auckland West[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Poole 4,827 58.55 +16.77
Reform James Bradney 3,416 41.44 −15.31
Informal votes 84 1.01 −0.45
Majority 1,411 17.11
Turnout 8,243 83.30 +2.38
Registered electors 9,895

1911 election

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1911 general election: Auckland West[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform James Bradney 4,273 56.75
Liberal Charles Poole 3,146 41.78 −17.97
Informal votes 110 1.46 −0.10
Majority 1,127 14.96
Turnout 7,529 85.68 +6.42
Registered electors 8,787

1908 election

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1908 general election: Auckland West[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Poole 4,126 59.75 +20.05
Independent Liberal Robert Thompson 2,671 38.68
Informal votes 108 1.56 +0.56
Majority 1,455 21.07 +15.75
Turnout 6,905 79.26 −6.90
Registered electors 8,711

1905 election

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1905 general election: Auckland West[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Poole 2,534 39.70
Conservative James Parr 2,194 34.37
Liberal–Labour Thomas Taylor Masefield 1,590 24.91
Informal votes 64 1.00
Majority 340 5.32
Turnout 6,382 86.16
Registered electors 7,407

1879 by-election

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1879 City of Auckland West by-election[31][32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Goldie 776 74.83
Independent Patrick Dignan 261 25.17
Turnout 1037
Majority 515 49.66

1877 by-election

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1877 City of Auckland West by-election[33][34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent James Wallis 470 63.69
Independent Robert Graham 268 36.31
Turnout 738
Majority 202 36.31

1876 by-election

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1876 City of Auckland West by-election[35][36][37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Benjamin Tonks 656 92.79
Independent Henry Warner Farnall 232 33.57
Independent Singleton Rochford 13 1.84
Majority 618 87.41
Informal votes 12
Turnout 719

April 1875 by-election

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April 1875 City of Auckland West by-election[38][39][40][41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Patrick Dignan 565 59.41
Independent Joseph Dargaville 386 40.59
Turnout 951
Majority 179 18.82

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 106.
  2. ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 154.
  3. ^ Waterson, D. B. "Firth, Josiah Clifton 1826 – 1897". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  4. ^ Waterson, D. B. "Williamson, John 1815 – 1875". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  5. ^ Scholefield 1950, pp. 106, 148.
  6. ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 148.
  7. ^ "(By Telegraph). Auckland. Dec. 22". Vol. XXIII, no. 1159. North Otago Times. 23 December 1875. p. 2. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
  8. ^ "THE ELECTIONS". Vol. XXXII, no. 5708. Daily Southern Cross. 8 January 1876. p. 3. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  9. ^ "The Thames election : petition against sir George Grey's election". Vol. XXXII, no. 5724. Daily Southern Cross. 1 February 1876. p. 3. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  10. ^ "New Zealand Parliament". Vol. XXIV, no. 2427. Taranaki Herald. 12 July 1876. p. 3. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  11. ^ "Parliamentary". Vol. IV, no. 401. Bay of Plenty Times. 15 July 1876. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  12. ^ "CITY WEST ELECTION". Vol. XXXII, no. 5238. Daily Southern Cross. 26 July 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  13. ^ Laracy, Hugh. "Dignan, Patrick 1813/1814? – 1894". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  14. ^ Cyclopedia Company Limited (1902). "Mr. Patrick Dignan". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Auckland Provincial District. Christchurch. Retrieved 28 June 2010.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  15. ^ "The General Election, 1943". National Library. 1944. pp. 1–12. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  16. ^ "Declaration of Results". Auckland Star. Vol. LXXI, no. 125. 28 May 1940. p. 3. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  17. ^ "The General Election, 1938". National Library. 1939. pp. 1–6. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  18. ^ The New Zealand Official Year-Book. Government Printer. 1936. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  19. ^ The General Election, 1931. Government Printer. 1932. p. 1. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  20. ^ Skinner, W. A. G. (1929). The General Election, 1928. Government Printer. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  21. ^ The General Election, 1925. Government Printer. 1926. p. 2. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  22. ^ "General Election". The Evening Post. Vol. CX, no. 30. 4 August 1925. p. 6. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  23. ^ The New Zealand Official Year-Book. Government Printer. 1924. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  24. ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 83f.
  25. ^ Hislop 1923, pp. 1–6.
  26. ^ Hislop, J. (1921). The General Election, 1919. National Library. pp. 1–6. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  27. ^ Hislop, J. (1915). The General Election, 1914. National Library. pp. 1–33. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  28. ^ "The General Election, 1911". National Library. 1912. pp. 1–14. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  29. ^ "The General Election, 1908". National Library. 1909. pp. 1–34. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  30. ^ The General Election, 1905. p. 3. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  31. ^ "Auckland City West Election". Press. Vol. XXXI, no. 4243. 5 March 1869. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  32. ^ "City West Election". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. XVI, no. 5397. 5 March 1879. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  33. ^ "City West Election". West Coast Times. 3 May 1877.
  34. ^ "Untitled". New Zealand Times. 3 May 1877.
  35. ^ "Daily Southern Cross". Daily Southern Cross. 26 July 1876.
  36. ^ "Untitled". Thames Advertiser. 31 July 1876.
  37. ^ "City West Election". Auckland Star. 28 July 1876.
  38. ^ "Auckland". The Evening Post. 15 April 1875.
  39. ^ "Election for City West". Daily Southern Cross. 15 April 1875.
  40. ^ "City West Election". Auckland Star. 14 April 1875.
  41. ^ "Telegrams". Press. 15 April 1875.

References

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  • Hislop, J. (1923). The General Election, 1922. Government Printer. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  • McRobie, Alan (1989). Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books. ISBN 0-477-01384-8.
  • Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.