Westland by-election, 1947

← 1946 general 24 September 1947 (1947-09-24) 1949 general →
Turnout87.1%
 
Candidate James Kent J. C. Garland
Party Labour National
Popular vote 7,235 5,682
Percentage 56% 44%

Member before election

James O'Brien
Labour

Elected Member

James Kent
Labour

The 1947 Westland by-election was a by-election held during the 28th New Zealand Parliament in the South Island electorate of Westland. The by-election occurred following the death of MP James O'Brien and was won by James Kent.

SVG edit

 
Map of currently released, and confirmed states

Background edit

James O'Brien, who was first elected to represent Westland for the Labour Party in 1922 and had been Westland's MP continuously since 1928, died on 28 September 1947. This triggered the Westland by-election, which occurred on 3 December 1947. James Kent was the candidate for the Labour Party, and J. F. Lockington was the candidate for the National Party. Kent obtained 57.9% of the votes and was successful.[1]

Previous election edit

1946 general election: Westland[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James O'Brien 9,097 67.50
National E. F. Chivers 4,381 32.50
Majority 4,716 34.99
Informal votes 57
Registered electors 14,330
Turnout 13,535 94.45

Results edit

Westland by-election, 1947[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Kent 7,427 57.88
National J. F. Lockington 5,405 42.12
Majority 2,022 15.76
Informal votes 54
Registered electors 14,262
Turnout 12,886 90.35
Labour hold Swing

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c Clifford Norton. New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946-1987. Victoria University of Wellington, Dept. of Political Science. p. 391.

References edit

  • Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand parliamentary election results, 1946–1987. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington Department of Political Science. pp. 391, 408, 410. ISBN 0-475-11200-8. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)