1887_New_Zealand_general_election

1887 New Zealand general election

General election in New Zealand

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]

Quick Facts All 95 seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives 48 seats were needed for a majority, Turnout ...

1887 New Zealand general election

← 1884

7 (Māori) & 26 (general) September 1887

1890 →

← outgoing members

elected members →

All 95 seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives
48 seats were needed for a majority

Turnout

67.1%

	First party	Second party

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	20	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

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

Main article: 1887–1891 Atkinson 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]

More information Electorate incumbent, Elected member defeated candidates ...

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

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]
McRobie 1989, p. 51.
[5]
McRobie 1989, pp. 50–53.
[6]
"Summary of the Results". No. 6868. The 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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
[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]
"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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