Avon (New Zealand electorate)

Former electorate in Canterbury, New Zealand From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Avon is a former New Zealand parliamentary electorate. It was created for the 1861 general election and existed until 1996. It was represented by 13 Members of Parliament and was held by Independents, Liberal Party or Labour Party representatives.

Population centres

The electorate was in Christchurch, New Zealand, named after the Avon River. For the 1887 by-election, polling booths were in Riccarton and Papanui.[1] For the 1887 general election, polling booths were in Papanui, Bright's Road, Spreydon and New Brighton.[2] For the 1890 election, polling booths were in Papanui, Richmond, Belfast, Ohoka and Clarkville.[3]

History

The electorate was created in 1861, and existed continuously until 1996, when with MMP it was absorbed into the new Christchurch East electorate.

Alfred Richard Creyke stood in the 1861 general election (held on 1 February) in the Avon electorate for Parliament, whilst William Thomson stood in the same electorate for the Canterbury Provincial Council. Thomson proposed Creyke and vice versa; both were elected unopposed.[4] Creyke thus became the first representative.[5] Creyke resigned from Parliament on 21 April 1862.[6]

Creyke was succeeded by William Thomson, who was elected in the 11 June 1862 by-election and took his oath on 30 July 1862.[7] He retired on 27 January 1866.[8] Thomson was succeeded by Crosbie Ward, who won the 1866 election against Charles Wellington Bishop (brother of Edward Bishop).[9] Ward resigned in the following year.[10]

William Reeves won the resulting 1867 by-election by-election. He resigned in the following year.[11] William Rolleston represented the electorate from the resulting 1868 by-election (elected unopposed) to 1884.[12] In the 1879 general election, he was returned unopposed.[13] Rolleston did not stand in the Avon electorate in the 1884 election, but (successfully) contested Geraldine instead.[12]

Rolleston was succeeded by Leonard Harper in the Avon electorate.[14] Harper resigned on 3 May 1887,[14][15] and the resulting by-election was contested by Edwin Blake and William Dunlop, who received 255 and 252 votes, respectively.[1] The 1887 general election was contested by Edwin Blake and E. G. Wright.[16] Blake won the election by a good margin.[2] In the 1890 election, Edwin Blake and George Gatonby Stead received 774 and 587 votes, respectively.[3] At the end of the parliamentary term in 1893, Blake retired from politics.

William Tanner won the 1893 election. In the previous Parliament, he had represented the Heathcote electorate.[17] Tanner was initially an independent, but joined the Liberal Party for the 1905 election. In the 1908 election, he was beaten by George Russell in the second ballot (the voting system in place from 1908 until 1913).[18] In the 1911 election, four candidates contested the electorate, with Russell representing the liberal Ward Government, James McCombs standing as an Independent Liberal, J. O. Jamieson as an opposition candidate and W. R. Smith representing labour interests. Russell and McCombs polled 3,040 and 2,817 votes, respectively, and proceeded to the second ballot.[19] Russell won the second ballot with 3,854 to 3,583 votes.[20] Russell was defeated in the 1919 election by Labour's Dan Sullivan.[21] Sullivan was successful at the next eight subsequent elections. In the 1943 election, he was opposed by James Neil Clarke of the National Party, who a few years later became Deputy-Mayor of Christchurch.[22] Sullivan died in office on 8 April 1947.[21]

Sullivan's death caused the 1947 by-election by-election, which was won by John Mathison of the Labour Party.[23] He was a cabinet minister from 1957 to 1960 in the Second Labour Government and retired from Parliament in 1972.[24]

Mathison was succeeded by Mary Batchelor, who represented the electorate for five parliamentary terms.[25] Batchelor in turn was succeeded by Larry Sutherland, who won the 1987 election. He served the electorate until its abolition in 1996. He successfully contested the replacement electorate of Christchurch East in the 1996 election.[26]

Members of Parliament

Key

  Independent   Liberal–Labour   Liberal   Labour

More information Election, Winner ...
Election Winner
1861 election Alfred Richard Creyke
1862 by-election William Thomson
1866 election Crosbie Ward
1867 by-election William Reeves
1868 by-election William Rolleston
1871 election
1875 election
1879 election
1881 election
1884 election Leonard Harper
1887 by-election Edwin Blake
1887 election
1890 election
1893 election William Tanner
1896 election
1899 election
1902 election
1905 election
1908 election George Russell
1911 election
1914 election
1919 election Dan Sullivan
1922 election
1925 election
1928 election
1931 election
1935 election
1938 election
1943 election
1946 election
1947 by-election John Mathison
1949 election
1951 election
1954 election
1957 election
1960 election
1963 election
1966 election
1969 election
1972 election Mary Batchelor
1975 election
1978 election
1981 election
1984 election
1987 election Larry Sutherland
1990 election
1993 election
(Electorate abolished in 1996; see Christchurch East)
Close

Election results

1993 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1993 general election: Avon[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Larry Sutherland 9,835 50.68 +0.03
Alliance Marie Venning 4,192 21.60
National David Kearns 3,799 19.57
NZ First Celeste Ryall 906 4.66
Christian Heritage Bill Smith 396 2.04
Independent Dave Penney 110 0.56 −0.03
McGillicuddy Serious Kate Middleton 97 0.49
Natural Law David Lees 69 0.35
Majority 5,643 29.08 +6.05
Turnout 19,404 82.52 +1.67
Registered electors 23,514
Close

1990 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1990 general election: Avon[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Larry Sutherland 9,345 50.65 −13.29
National Wendy Rush 5,095 27.61 −1.43
NewLabour Val Quinn 2,170 11.76
Green Dan-mark Gibson 1,238 6.71
Democrats Sue Stevens 275 1.49 −7.70
Social Credit Kevin Earle 110 0.59
Independent Dave Penney 109 0.59
Independent Colin Mehlhopt 63 0.34
Independent Roger Keys 28 0.15
Communist League Eugen LePou 16 0.08
Majority 4,250 23.03 −11.86
Turnout 18,449 80.85 −1.62
Registered electors 22,818
Close

1987 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1987 general election: Avon[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Larry Sutherland 11,585 63.94
National Wendy Rush 5,263 29.04
Democrats Sue Stevens 1,065 9.19
Wizard Party Ian David Costello 205 1.76
Majority 6,322 34.89
Turnout 18,118 82.47 −9.72
Registered electors 21,968
Close

1984 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1984 general election: Avon[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mary Batchelor 11,838 60.00 −0.42
National Andrew Cowie 4,067 20.61
NZ Party Robin Groufsky 2,701 13.69
Social Credit Bill Morgan 941 4.77
Values Denise Anker 180 0.91
Majority 7,771 39.39 −0.64
Turnout 19,727 92.19 +5.14
Registered electors 21,397
Close

1981 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1981 general election: Avon[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mary Batchelor 11,500 60.42 +4.35
National Colin McNicholl 3,880 20.38
Social Credit Peter Barrow 3,557 18.68 +6.05
Wizard Party Ian David Costello 95 0.49
Majority 7,620 40.03 −4.41
Turnout 19,032 87.05 +18.15
Registered electors 21,861
Close

1978 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1978 general election: Avon[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mary Batchelor 11,972 64.77 +5.35
National Tom George 3,757 20.32 −7.64
Social Credit Peter Barrow 2,335 12.63 +6.54
Values Robert Clarkson 399 2.15 −4.36
Socialist Action Lois McGregor 20 0.10
Majority 8,215 44.44 +12.99
Turnout 18,483 68.90 −10.78
Registered electors 26,824
Close

1975 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1975 general election: Avon[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mary Batchelor 10,395 59.42 −6.14
National Tom George 4,892 27.96
Values Robert Clarkson 1,140 6.51
Social Credit Peter Barrow 1,067 6.09 −1.76
Majority 5,503 31.45 −8.19
Turnout 17,494 79.68 −6.45
Registered electors 21,954
Close

1972 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1972 general election: Avon[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mary Batchelor 10,013 65.56
National Gordon Thomas 3,958 25.91
Social Credit Peter Barrow 1,200 7.85 −0.79
New Democratic Rona Thelning 101 0.66
Majority 6,055 39.64
Turnout 15,272 86.13 −0.13
Registered electors 17,730
Close

1969 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1969 general election: Avon[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Mathison 9,389 64.63 +5.83
National Alistair Ansell 3,789 26.08
Social Credit Peter Barrow 1,256 8.64 −7.66
Communist Jack Locke 92 0.63
Majority 5,600 38.55 +4.63
Turnout 14,526 86.26 +4.07
Registered electors 16,839
Close

1966 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1966 general election: Avon[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Mathison 9,069 58.80 −2.81
National Dick Dawson 3,837 24.88
Social Credit Peter Barrow 2,515 16.30
Majority 5,232 33.92 −0.74
Turnout 15,421 82.19 −3.42
Registered electors 18,761
Close

1963 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1963 general election: Avon[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Mathison 9,095 61.61 +4.67
National Stan Dodwell 3,978 26.94
Social Credit Henry Parker 1,544 10.45
Communist Ralph Blackcock 145 0.98
Majority 5,117 34.66 −7.02
Turnout 14,762 85.61 −1.97
Registered electors 17,242
Close

1960 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1960 general election: Avon[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Mathison 8,683 56.94 −10.55
National Lorrie Pickering 4,467 29.29
Social Credit George Maxwell Edmonds 1,973 12.93
Communist Frank McNulty 126 0.82
Majority 4,216 27.64 −14.61
Turnout 15,249 87.58 −4.08
Registered electors 17,411
Close

1957 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1957 general election: Avon[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Mathison 9,743 67.49 +9.17
National William Ernest Olds 3,643 25.23
Social Credit Charles E. Cullen 1,049 7.26
Majority 6,100 42.25 +5.76
Turnout 14,435 91.66 +1.61
Registered electors 15,748
Close

1954 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1954 general election: Avon[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Mathison 7,919 58.32 −5.02
National Arthur Norman Stone 2,964 21.83
Social Credit Frederick William Stevens 2,694 19.84
Majority 4,955 36.49 +9.82
Turnout 13,577 90.05 −1.87
Registered electors 15,076
Close

1951 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1951 general election: Avon[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Mathison 10,001 63.34 −1.80
National Douglas Warren Russell 5,789 36.66
Majority 4,212 26.67 −3.62
Turnout 15,790 88.18 −3.44
Registered electors 17,906
Close

1949 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1949 general election: Avon[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Mathison 9,877 65.14 −0.17
National George Nelson Kinzett 5,284 34.85
Majority 4,593 30.29 −1.09
Turnout 15,161 91.62 +7.19
Registered electors 16,547
Close

1947 by-election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1947 Avon by-election[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Mathison 8,513 65.31
National Robert Alexander McDowell 4,422 33.92 +2.56
Independent John Ramby Robertson 100 0.77
Majority 4,091 31.38 −5.89
Turnout 13,035 84.43 −9.31
Labour hold Swing −3.33
Close

Robertson was a member of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) but his nomination was refused endorsement by DLP leader John A. Lee.[32]

1946 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1946 general election: Avon[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dan Sullivan 9,539 68.64 +7.44
National Robert Alexander McDowell 4,359 31.36
Majority 5,180 37.27 +5.83
Turnout 13,898 92.74 +2.11
Registered electors 15,092
Close

1943 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1943 general election: Avon[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dan Sullivan 8,682 61.20
National Jim Clarke 4,222 29.76
Democratic Labour David John Upton 1,085 7.64
Informal votes 196 1.38
Majority 4,460 31.44
Turnout 14,185 90.63
Registered electors 15,650
Close

1935 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1935 general election: Avon[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dan Sullivan 8,955 71.11 +7.65
Independent Lancelot Charles Walker 3,545 28.15
Informal votes 93 0.73 +0.46
Majority 5,410 57.76
Turnout 12,593
Close

1931 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1931 general election: Avon[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dan Sullivan 7,166 63.46 +7.00
United Harben Robert Young 4,127 36.54
Majority 3,039 26.91 −7.13
Informal votes 31 0.27 −0.92
Turnout 11,324 84.82 −3.42
Registered electors 13,350
Close

1928 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1928 general election: Avon[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dan Sullivan 6,376 56.45 −1.70
United George Thomas Baker[37] 2,531 22.41
Reform Frederick Boulton Hughes[38] 2,387 21.14
Majority 3,845 34.04 +17.73
Informal votes 136 1.19 +0.22
Turnout 11,430 88.24 −3.35
Registered electors 12,953
Close

1925 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1925 general election: Avon[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dan Sullivan 6,377 58.16 +13.65
Reform Walter Edmund Leadley[40] 4,588 41.84
Majority 1,789 16.32 −3.99
Informal votes 107 0.97 −0.24
Turnout 11,072 91.59 −0.17
Registered electors 12,088
Close

1922 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1922 general election: Avon[41][42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dan Sullivan 4,462 44.50 −13.52
Liberal George Russell 2,426 24.20 −15.33
Reform Albert Edward Loach 1,731 17.27
Independent Ann Elizabeth Herbert 1,407 14.03
Majority 2,036 20.31 +1.80
Informal votes 122 1.20 −1.05
Turnout 10,148 91.76 +9.95
Registered electors 11,059
Close

1919 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1919 general election: Avon[43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dan Sullivan 5,168 58.03 +27.70
Liberal George Russell 3,520 39.52 −3.46
Reform John Louis "Jack" Carl[44][45] 218 2.45
Majority 1,648 18.50 +5.84
Informal votes 205 2.25 +1.64
Turnout 9,111 81.81 −6.31
Registered electors 11,137
Close

1914 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1914 general election: Avon[46]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Russell 3,642 42.99 −8.83
Social Democrat Dan Sullivan[47] 2,569 30.32
Reform Henry Acland 2,261 26.69
Majority 1,073 12.67 +9.02
Informal votes 52 0.61 +0.42
Turnout 8,524 88.12 +3.30
Registered electors 9,673
Close

1911 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
Avon general election, 1911, first ballot[48][49]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Russell 3,040 39.39 +6.12
Independent Labour James McCombs 2,817 36.50
Conservative John Owen Jameson[50][51] 1,062 13.76
Labour William Robert Smith[52] 798 10.34 +7.01
Majority 223 2.89 +2.54
Informal votes 66 0.85
Registered electors 8,784
Turnout 7,783 88.60 +9.07
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Avon general election, 1911, second ballot[48]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Russell 3,854 51.82 −0.20
Labour James McCombs[53] 3,583 48.18
Majority 271 3.64 −4.59
Informal votes 14 0.19
Turnout 7,451 84.82 +8.63
Registered electors 8,784
Close

1908 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1908 general election: Avon, first ballot[54]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Russell 2,185 33.27
Liberal–Labour William Tanner 2,162 32.92
Conservative John Jamieson 1,322 20.13
Ind. Labour League Dan Sullivan 679 10.34
Liberal William Robert Smith 219 3.33
Majority 23 0.35
Turnout 6,567 79.53
Registered electors 8,257
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
1908 general election: Avon, second ballot[55]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Russell 3,416 52.02
Liberal–Labour William Tanner 2,875 43.78
Majority 541 8.24
Turnout 6,291 76.19
Registered electors 8,257
Close

1899 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1899 general election: Avon[56]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal–Labour William Tanner 2,074 51.85 +0.76
Conservative Arthur Rhodes 1,926 48.15
Majority 148 3.70 −11.34
Turnout 4,000 81.75 +10.92
Registered electors 4,893
Close

1896 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1896 general election: Avon[57]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal–Labour William Tanner 1,552 51.09 −2.80
Conservative George McIntyre 1,095 36.04 +2.63
Conservative George Swann 307 10.11
Independent Charles Burgess 84 2.76
Majority 457 15.04 −5.43
Turnout 3,038 70.83
Registered electors 4,289
Close

1893 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1893 general election: Avon[58][59]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal–Labour William Tanner 1,719 53.89
Independent George McIntyre 1,066 33.42
Conservative John Leaf Wilson 405 12.70
Majority 653 20.47 +6.81
Turnout 3,190 73.83 +19.13
Registered electors 4,321
Close

1890 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1890 general election: Avon[60]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Edwin Blake 774 59.44
Conservative George Stead 588 45.16
Majority 186 14.28
Turnout 1,302 54.70
Registered electors 2,380
Close

1866 election

More information Party, Candidate ...
1866 general election: Avon[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Crosbie Ward 265 58.76
Independent Charles Wellington Bishop 186 41.24
Majority 79 17.52
Turnout 451
Registered electors
Close

Notes

References

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