1961 Hurunui by-election explained
| Election Name: | 1961 Hurunui by-election |
| Country: | New Zealand |
| Flag Year: | 1961 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1960 New Zealand general election |
| Previous Year: | 1960 |
| Next Election: | 1963 New Zealand general election |
| Next Year: | 1963 |
| Turnout: | 12,557 (74.13%) |
| Candidate1: | Lorrie Pickering |
| Party1: | New Zealand National Party |
| Popular Vote1: | 6,644 |
| Percentage1: | 52.91 |
| Candidate2: | Arthur Adcock |
| Party2: | New Zealand Labour Party |
| Popular Vote2: | 4,760 |
| Percentage2: | 37.91 |
| Member |
| Before Election: | William Gillespie |
| Before Party: | New Zealand National Party |
| After Election: | Lorrie Pickering |
| After Party: | New Zealand National Party |
The Hurunui by-election 1961 was a by-election held in the electorate in North Canterbury during the term of the 33rd New Zealand Parliament, on 10 June 1961.
The by-election was caused by the death of incumbent MP William Gillespie of the National Party on 23 April 1961.
Candidates
- LabourThe Labour Party selected Arthur Alexander Adcock as its candidate. Adcock, a railway worker, was secretary of the local Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants branch and a member of the Waimairi County Council. He had contested the seat in 1960 against Gillespie.[1]
- NationalThere were several names put forward as potential nominees for the National Party candidacy:[2] [3]
- Frederick Ashe, a farmer in Flaxton and Okuku, former member of the Eyre County Council who had contested the National nomination for in 1938
- William Murray Dailey, a farmer at Oxford and chairman of the Oxford County Council
- J. A. G. Fulton, a farmer at Loburn and former chairman of the Sefton and districts branch of Federated Farmers
- Clutha N. McKenzie, a farmer at Motunau and chairman of Waipara County Council (grandson of Sir Thomas Mackenzie)
- Lorrie Pickering, a farmer at Motunau and radio broadcaster who was National's candidate for in 1960
- Derek Quigley, a farmer at Waipara who was National's candidate for in 1960
- W. W. Wood, a land agent and bookshop proprietor at Rangiora who was a committee member of the Rangiora National Party
Ultimately Pickering was chosen to contest the seat.[4]
- Social CreditThe Social Credit Party selected Malcolm Jack Clark, an engineer from Waikari, as its candidate for the seat.[5]
Results
The following table gives the election results:
The by-election was won by Lorrie Pickering.
References
- Book: Norton, Clifford . New Zealand parliamentary election results, 1946–1987 . 1988 . Victoria University of Wellington Department of Political Science . Wellington . 0-475-11200-8.
- Book: Wilson, James Oakley . New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 . 4th . First published in 1913 . 1985 . V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer . Wellington . 154283103.
Notes and References
- News: Hurunui Seat – Labour Party Candidate . . 12 May 1961 . 12 . 29511 . C .
- News: Seven National Nominees For Hurunui . . 13 May 1961 . 13 . 29513 . C .
- News: Hurunui Seat – Farmers Seek Nomination . . 28 April 1961 . 14 . 29499 . C .
- News: Hurunui Seat – Mr Pickering To Stand . . 17 May 1961 . 14 . 29515 . C .
- News: Nominations For Hurunui Seat . . 20 May 1961 . 12 . 29518 . C .
