The 1930 Invercargill by-election was a by-election during the 23rd New Zealand Parliament in the Southland electorate of Invercargill. The by-election occurred following the death of Sir Joseph Ward on 8 July 1930. The by-election, which was held on 13 August, was won by the late Prime Minister's second son, Vincent Ward against James Hargest.

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1930 Invercargill by-election

← 1928 general 13 August 1930 (1930-08-13) 1931 general →
Turnout	9,842 (79.50%)
Candidate Vincent Ward James Hargest Party United Reform Popular vote 5,194 4,623 Percentage 52.91 47.09
Member before election Sir Joseph Ward United Elected Member Vincent Ward United

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Sir Joseph Ward had suffered a defeat in the 1919 election, was ageing and often of poor health. It was generally expected that his political career was over. He attempted a comeback but suffered a humiliating defeat in the 1923 by-election in the Tauranga electorate. He managed to get re-elected in the Invercargill electorate in the 1925 election, when he had a "wafer-thin 159-vote victory" over James Hargest of the Reform Party.^[1]

Sir Joseph contested the 1928 election as the new leader of the United Party^[1] against the solicitor Stanley Morell Macalister (known as Morell Macalister), who stood for Reform.^[2][3] Soon after the 1928 election, Sir Joseph became Prime Minister for the second time. Under pressure from party colleagues, he resigned as Prime Minister due to ill health in May 1930. Sir Joseph died less than two months later on 8 July.^[1]

Over the last years, Vincent Ward had acted as a political assistant to his father.^[1] He was nominated by the United Party in the resulting by-election, which was held on 13 August.^[4] His selection was not supported by all, and some had preferred William Hinchey, a former Mayor of Bluff.^[5][6]

Ward Jr. was opposed by James Hargest, who had been narrowly beaten by Ward Sr. in the 1925 general election.^[7] Hargest was regarded as a capable candidate, and he dealt with being heckled in large meetings quite well.^[5] Hargest claimed that as a director of a North Island company, Ward as an absentee could not effectively represent the Invercargill electorate. Hargest also appealed to Labour voters that he worked as hard as they did. He defended himself against the view that it should be Ward's right to succeed his father.^[8]

Just before nominations closed, the independent candidate William Hinchey withdrew from the contest.^[9] The local Labour Party branch apparently had decided on the Rev John Archer, at the time the Mayor of Christchurch, as their first choice. Second choice was William Denham an Invercargill City Councillor (who was elected as Invercargill's MP in 1935). Then, Tom O'Byrne was considered as a candidate. It is unclear why the decision was made not to stand a candidate.^[10][11]

Election meetings were well attended. Hargest had over 2000 attendees at his last meeting in the town hall.^[12]

• List of New Zealand by-elections
• 1873 Invercargill by-election
• 1878 Invercargill by-election