1929 Wellington mayoral election

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1929 Wellington City mayoral election
Flag of New Zealand.svg
  1927 1 May 1929 1931  
Turnout23,884 (51.55%)
  George Alexander Troup (1863-1941) by Stanley Polkinghorne Andrew (c.1879-1964) in 1927.jpg Walter Nash (young adult).jpg
Candidate George Troup Walter Nash
Party Civic League Labour
Popular vote14,5289,142
Percentage60.8238.27

Mayor before election

George Troup

Elected mayor

George Troup

The 1929 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1929, elections were held for the Mayor of Wellington plus other local government positions including fifteen councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

Contents

George Troup, the incumbent Mayor, was re-elected to office as Mayor of Wellington, defeating Walter Nash who was his sole opponent.

Background

The Civic League campaign featured support for the Kelburn viaduct project, imposing user pays charges for some city services (such as admittance to the Wellington Zoo) and limiting rates increases. [1] Troup defended his record as mayor. While welcoming scrutiny he stated that much criticisms of the council had been unjust. He stated financial loans had been successful and led to the completion of many public works. Troup downplayed the city's role in dealing with unemployment stating the main responsibility lay with the government. [2] The Labour Party campaigned on increasing the sealing of footpath and streets and the city actively providing relief work to the unemployed. [3] Nash criticised the new rating system on unimproved value. He stated that additional rates collected in the suburbs had resulted in no improvement in suburban infrastructure, with the money instead spent in the central city. He called for the council to immediately reduce electricity prices by one penny per unit, claiming the electricity department would still make a profit. He also said the council should carry its own fire and accident insurance. [4]

Mayoralty results

1929 Wellington mayoral election [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Civic League George Troup 14,528 60.82 +6.37
Labour Walter Nash 9,14238.27
Informal votes2140.89
Majority 5,38622.55+13.64
Turnout 23,88451.55−3.31

Councillor results

1929 Wellington City Council election [6] [7] [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Civic League Thomas Hislop 12,338 52.22 +1.99
Civic League William Gaudin 11,447 48.45 −1.36
Civic League Robert Wright 11,395 48.23
Civic League William Bennett 11,300 47.82 −1.78
Civic League Charlton Morpeth 10,682 45.21 +13.13
Labour Charles Chapman 10,681 45.20
Civic League Martin Luckie 10,645 45.05 −2.54
Civic League Frank Meadowcroft 10,634 45.00 +0.89
Civic League Thomas Forsyth 10,498 44.43
Civic League Herbert Huggins 10,205 43.19 −3.08
Civic League Benjamin Burn 9,946 42.09 1.46
Labour Robert McKeen 9,870 41.77 −2.87
Civic League William Hildreth 9,870 41.77
Labour Bob Semple 9,329 39.48 −9.29
Civic League George Mitchell 9,082 38.44 −11.18
Independent Henry Bennett8,73236.95−11.75
Civic League Alexander Blake8,05734.10
Independent John Burns7,40531.34−15.62
Independent Richard McVilly 7,24830.67−14.52
Civic League Edward Thornton7,17330.36
Civic League Frederick Boyd7,09430.02
Labour John Read 7,08629.99
Labour Tom Brindle 7,01729.70−1.53
Labour William Atkinson6,94229.38
Labour Walter Bromley6,81628.84−2.78
Labour Andrew Parlane6,42127.17−3.96
Labour Jim Thorn 6,30526.68
Labour Peter Butler 6,19626.22
Labour Adam Black6,12525.92
Labour Michael Walsh6,19126.20
Labour John Tucker6,08925.77
Labour Henry Lees5,21222.06
Labour George Whippy5,16221.84
Independent William Duncan5,11421.64
Independent Matthew Thew3,18913.49

References

  1. "Municipal Elections - Civic League Candidates at Roseneath". The Dominion . Vol. 22, no. 167. 11 April 1929. p. 12.
  2. "Review by the Mayor". The Dominion . Vol. 22, no. 168. 12 April 1929. p. 10.
  3. "Campaign Progress - A Labour Meeting". The Evening Post . Vol. CVII, no. 85. 13 April 1929. p. 7.
  4. "Rating Questions". The Dominion . Vol. 22, no. 168. 12 April 1929. p. 10.
  5. "Election Notices". The Dominion . Vol. 22, no. 191. 10 May 1929. p. 2.
  6. "Labour Nominees". The Evening Post . Vol. CVII, no. 100. 2 May 1929. p. 14. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  7. "City Council". The Evening Post . Vol. CVII, no. 81. 9 April 1929. p. 10.
  8. "The Nominations". The Evening Post . Vol. CVII, no. 90. 19 April 1929. p. 11.