- New Zealand general election, 1855
-
1855 general election 1853 ←
members26 October – 28 December 1855 → 1860–61
membersAll 37 seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives First party Leader Henry Sewell Party Independent Leader's seat Town of Christchurch Last election 37 seats Seats won 37 Seat change Popular vote N/A Percentage N/A Swing N/A
Prime Minister before election
Office Established
Prime Minister-designate
The 1855 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 2nd term. It was the second national election ever held in New Zealand, and the first one which elected a Parliament that had full authority to govern the colony.
Contents
Background
The first New Zealand elections had been held after the passage of the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The 1st Parliament did not have the ability to appoint the executive branch (Cabinet) of the New Zealand government, however, and a major dispute arose between Parliament and the Governor. In the 2nd Parliament, Parliament gained the powers it sought — for this reason, some see the 1855 elections, not the 1853 elections, as the beginning of New Zealand democracy.
At the time of the 1855 elections, there were no political parties in New Zealand. As such, all candidates were independents. Governments were formed based on loose coalitions, with prospective Prime Ministers needing to seek support from enough individual MPs to command a majority. This means that nobody could truly be said to have "won" an election — a government usually rose or fell based on its ability to make deals with MPs, not on election results.
The election
In the 1855 elections, voting occurred on a different day for each individual seat. The first seat was elected on 26 October, and the final seat was elected on 28 December. An estimated 9,891 people were eligible to vote, although records are poor for some areas. The number of electoral districts was 24, with some districts electing multiple MPs. The total number of seats was 37.[1] Some parts of the colony were not part of any district, and did not have representation in Parliament.[2]
Results
Member Electorate Province MP's term Election date Thomas Beckham City of Auckland Auckland First 27 October[3] Dillon Bell Hutt Wellington First 16 November[3] Dingley Brittin Christchurch Country Canterbury First 20 December[4] Walter Brodie Auckland Suburbs Auckland First 27 October[4] Charles Brown Grey and Bell New Plymouth First 8 November[4] John Campbell City of Auckland Auckland First 27 October[5] John Cargill Dunedin Country Otago Second 11 December[5] William Cargill Dunedin Country Otago First 11 December[5] Hugh Carleton Bay of Islands Auckland Second 24 November[5] Charles Clifford City of Wellington Wellington Second 13 November[6] John Cuff Akaroa Canterbury First 28 December[7] William Daldy City of Auckland Auckland First 27 October[7] Alfred Domett Town of Nelson Nelson First 12 November[8] Alfred East Omata New Plymouth First 10 November[8] Charles Elliott Waimea Nelson First 19 November[8] Isaac Featherston City of Wellington Wellington Second 13 November[9] James FitzGerald Town of Lyttelton Canterbury Second 21 December[10] William Fitzherbert City of Wellington Wellington First 13 November[10] William Fox Wanganui and Rangitikei Wellington First 27 November[11] Robert Graham Southern Division Auckland First 26 October[12] Joseph Greenwood Pensioner Settlements Auckland Second 27 October[12] John Hall Christchurch Country Canterbury First 20 December[13] Thomas Henderson Northern Division Auckland First 27 October[14] Walter Lee Northern Division Auckland Second 27 October[15] Alfred Ludlam Hutt Wellington Second 16 November[15] James Macandrew Town of Dunedin Otago Second 11 December[16] Frederick Merriman Auckland Suburbs Auckland Second 27 October[17] Charles Parker Motueka and Massacre Bay Nelson First 8 November[18] William Richmond Town of New Plymouth New Plymouth First 5 November[19] Henry Sewell Town of Christchurch Canterbury Second 18 December[20] John Smith Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay Wellington First 26 November[21] Edward Stafford Town of Nelson Nelson First 12 November[22] Charles Taylor Southern Division Auckland Second 26 October[23] William Travers Waimea Nelson Second 6 November[24] Dudley Ward Wellington Country Wellington First 15 November[25] William Wells Wairau Nelson First 19 November[26] John Williamson Pensioner Settlements Auckland First 27 October[27] Notes
- ^ "General elections 1853-2005 - dates & turnout". Elections New Zealand. http://www.elections.org.nz/elections/resultsdata/elections-dates-turnout.html. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
- ^ Wilson 1984.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 95.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 97.
- ^ a b c d Scholefield 1950, p. 99.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 100.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 102.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 104.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 105.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 106.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 107.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 109.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 111.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 113.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 120.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 121.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 126.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 131.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 136.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 138.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 139.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 140.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 143.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 144.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 146.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 147.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 148.
References
- Scholefield, Guy Hardy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840-1949. Wellington: Govt. Printer.
- Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840-1984 (4 ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
Elections and referendums in New Zealand
General elections 1853 · 1855 · 1860–61 · 1866 · 1868 (Māori) · 1871 · 1875–76 · 1879 · 1881 · 1884 · 1887 · 1890 · 1893 · 1896 · 1899 · 1902 · 1905 · 1908 · 1911 · 1914 · 1919 · 1922 · 1925 · 1928 · 1931 · 1935 · 1938 · 1943 · 1946 · 1949 · 1951 · 1954 · 1957 · 1960 · 1963 · 1966 · 1969 · 1972 · 1975 · 1978 · 1981 · 1984 · 1987 · 1990 · 1993 · 1996 · 1999 · 2002 · 2005 · 2008 · 2011Local elections Referendums Alcohol licensing, 1896–1987 · Gambling, 1949 · Military training, 1949 · Sale of Liquor, 1949 · Parliamentary term, 1967 · Sale of Liquor, 1967 · Parliamentary term, 1990 · Voting method, 1992 · Voting method, 1993 · Firefighters, 1995 · Pensions, 1997 · Justice, 1999 · MP reduction, 1999 · Smacking, 2009 · Voting method, 2011Categories:- New Zealand general elections
- 1855 elections
- 1855 in New Zealand
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