Christchurch Citizens' Association

Last updated

Christchurch Citizens' Association
Founded1911
Dissolved1989
Ideology Fiscal conservatism
Nonpartisanism
Localism
Political position Centre-right
ColoursBlue & White

The Christchurch Citizens' Association, was a centre-right leaning local body electoral ticket in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was formed in 1911 by the local chamber of commerce. Its main ambitions were to continue to control the Christchurch City Council, reduce local spending and deny left-leaning Labour Party candidates being elected.

Contents

History

The Citizens' Association was founded in 1911 at a meeting at the chamber of commerce. The meeting was chaired by Dryden Hall, a son of a former premier, Sir John Hall, and set about selecting candidates for the upcoming municipal elections. [1] It followed newspaper editorials bemoaning the activities of Labour candidates "...to capture a majority of the seats, so as to run the government of the city on Socialistic lines." [2] At the 1911 election the Association achieved its aim of preventing a Labour majority, it also saw a considerable Labour advance with five Labour councillors elected and Labour's supported mayoral candidate, Tommy Taylor, successful. [3]

In a study of the Citizens' Association, David Hyslop found that Citizens' candidates were mostly professional and business people with its candidates largely drawn from among middle-aged, well-to-do, professional businessmen. [4] The Citizens' Association claimed to possess an "anti-party" ideology with a desire to 'keep politics out of local government' as an attack line against Labour. Critics of this stance pointed out that Citizens' Association was a disguise for National Party supporters to camouflage their party members involvement in local government. [5] Many National Party members and parliamentary candidates were active in the Citizens' Association such as Ron Guthrey, Helen Garrett, John Burn and Morgan Fahey. [6]

In early 1989 with impending local-body amalgamations looming, the Citizens Association joined with the Waimairi Independence Team to create the new United Citizens Association in March 1989 headed by Christchurch mayor Sir Hamish Hay and Chair of the Waimairi District Council Margaret Murray. [7] [8] A deal was made for a ticket of Hay for the mayoralty and Murray to be deputy but the deal came under strain by July 1989. It ultimately caused a split with Murray standing for mayor herself claiming the deal for her to be nominated for the deputy mayoralty was reneged. [9] [10] Murray launched her own rival ticket, Christchurch Action, in August 1989. [11] Soon after Hay, withdrew from the election citing ill-health. [12] Doctor Morgan Fahey was chosen to replace him to contest the mayoralty and lead the ticket. [13]

Citations

  1. ↑ "A Citizens' Association Formed". The Press . Vol. LXVII, no. 14022. 20 April 1911. p. 7.
  2. ↑ "Apathy of Christchurch Citizens". The Press . Vol. LXVII, no. 14011. 6 April 1911. p. 6.
  3. ↑ Clark 1981, p. 13.
  4. ↑ Hyslop 1973, p. 11.
  5. ↑ Clark 1981, pp. 95–6.
  6. ↑ Clark 1981, p. 32.
  7. ↑ Forrester, Kay (18 March 1989). "Citizens to bow out to new team". The Press . p. 37.
  8. ↑ Forrester, Kay (22 March 1989). "Political pair confirmed". The Press . p. 7.
  9. ↑ Forrester, Kay (10 July 1989). "Cracks appear in Citizens' alliance". The Press . p. 1.
  10. ↑ Forrester, Kay (11 July 1989). "Murray in fight for mayoralty". The Press . p. 1.
  11. ↑ Forrester, Kay (14 August 1989). "Murray highlights Goals link". The Press . p. 1.
  12. ↑ Forrester, Kay (22 August 1989). "Hay quits race, citing health". The Press . p. 1.
  13. ↑ Forrester, Kay (25 August 1989). "Fahey Citizens' mayoral choice". The Press . p. 1.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vicki Buck</span> Mayor of Christchurch

Vicki Susan Buck is a New Zealand politician. She was Mayor of Christchurch for nine years from 1989 to 1998. She retired after three terms, having been very popular. She made a political comeback, standing in the 2013 local elections in the Riccarton-Wigram ward as councillor for Christchurch City Council, being returned with the highest number of votes across all city wards. She subsequently accepted the role of deputy mayor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Beanland</span> New Zealand mayor (1866–1943)

John Walton Beanland was a building contractor and Mayor of Christchurch from 1936 to 1938.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Joseph Dougall</span> New Zealand politician

John Joseph Dougall was Mayor of Christchurch in 1911–1912. He was a solicitor by profession. In his later life, the Navy League was his main interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1936 Christchurch mayoral by-election</span>

The Christchurch mayoral by-election in 1936 was triggered by the resignation of the incumbent, Dan Sullivan, who had been appointed cabinet minister after the Labour Party winning the general election in November 1935. The election was won by John Beanland of the Citizens' Association, who narrowly beat the Labour candidate.

The Wellington Citizens' Association, was a right-leaning local body electoral ticket in Wellington, New Zealand. It was formed in 1911 by merging the selection process of council candidates of several civic interest groups and business lobby groups. Its main ambitions were to continue to control the Wellington City Council, reduce local spending and deny left-leaning Labour Party candidates being elected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1959 Wellington City mayoral election</span> New Zealand mayoral election

The 1959 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1959, elections were held for the Mayor of Wellington plus other local government positions including fifteen city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 Christchurch mayoral election</span> New Zealand mayoral election

The 1980 Christchurch mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1980, election were held for the Mayor of Christchurch plus other local government positions. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

The 1959 Christchurch mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1959, election were held for the Mayor of Christchurch plus other local government positions. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971 Christchurch mayoral election</span> New Zealand mayoral election

The 1971 Christchurch mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1971, elections were held for the Mayor of Christchurch plus other local government positions. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method. The incumbent, Ron Guthrey of the Citizens' ticket, was defeated by the Labour Party candidate Neville Pickering.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1974 Christchurch mayoral election</span> New Zealand mayoral election

The 1974 Christchurch mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1974, election were held for the Mayor of Christchurch plus other local government positions. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method. A significant change was the introduction of a ward system, with city councillors elected in five wards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1977 Christchurch mayoral election</span> New Zealand mayoral election

The 1977 Christchurch mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1977, election were held for the Mayor of Christchurch plus other local government positions. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1983 Christchurch mayoral election</span> New Zealand mayoral election

The 1983 Christchurch mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1983, election were held for the Mayor of Christchurch plus other local government positions. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1986 Christchurch mayoral election</span> New Zealand mayoral election

The 1986 Christchurch mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1986, election were held for the Mayor of Christchurch plus other local government positions. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1989 Christchurch mayoral election</span> New Zealand mayoral election

The 1989 Christchurch mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1989, election were held for the Mayor of Christchurch plus other local government positions. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post voting method.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1938 Christchurch mayoral election</span>

The 1938 Christchurch City mayoral election was held on 11 May. The incumbent, John Beanland of the Citizens' Association, failed to get the nomination by his party and the surgeon Dr. John Guthrie was nominated instead. The Labour Party nominated Robert Macfarlane. Both the Labour and conservative candidate had been members of Christchurch City Council for some years. Macfarlane narrowly won the mayoralty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1941 Christchurch mayoral election</span>

The 1941 Christchurch City mayoral election was held on 17 May. The incumbent, Robert Macfarlane of the Labour Party, did not stand for re-election as he wanted to serve in WWII. Four candidates stood and Ernest Andrews of the conservative Citizens' Association was successful. Andrews was installed on 28 May 1941.

Peter Jensen Reid Skellerup was a New Zealand industrialist and philanthropist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1944 Christchurch mayoral election</span>

The 1944 Christchurch City mayoral election was held on 27 May. The incumbent was Ernest Andrews of the conservative Citizens' Association. Andrews was challenged by his predecessor, Robert Macfarlane, of the Labour Party, who had returned from active war service. Andrews won by a large majority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1933 Christchurch mayoral election</span> New Zealand local election

The 1933 Christchurch mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1933, election were held for the Mayor of Christchurch plus 16 councillors and other local government positions.

The Lower Hutt Citizens' Association, was a right-leaning local body electoral ticket in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. It was formed in 1945 by merging the selection process of council candidates of several civic interest groups and business lobby groups. Its main ambitions were to continue to control the Lower Hutt City Council, reduce local spending and deny left-leaning Labour Party candidates election.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.