1953 Christchurch mayoral election

The 1953 Christchurch mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1953, 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.

1953 Christchurch mayoral election

17 November 1953
Turnout40,930 (48.80%)
 
Candidate Robert Macfarlane James Hay
Party Labour Citizens'
Popular vote 21,316 19,419
Percentage 52.07 47.44

Mayor before election

Robert Macfarlane

Elected Mayor

Robert Macfarlane

Campaign

Sitting mayor Robert Macfarlane was re-elected with the largest majority he had won so far against city councillor James Hay. The Labour Party lost two seats on the Council but retained their majority, winning ten seats to the nine won by the Citizens' Association.

A major talking point in the lead up to the election was the potential of a clash with the 1953 Royal Tour.[1] There were proposals to postpone local elections until early 1954 over fears of reduced turnout due to a conflicted schedule. The proposals were considered by the Minister of Internal Affairs William Bodkin, who ultimately decided against it.[2]

Mayoralty results

The following table gives the election results:

1953 Christchurch mayoral election[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Macfarlane 21,316 52.07 +6.17
Citizens' James Hay 19,419 47.44
Informal votes 195 0.47 -0.62
Majority 1,897 4.63 +1.12
Turnout 40,930 48.80 +11.72

Council results

1953 Christchurch local election[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Manning 22,961 56.09 -0.61
Labour Terry McCombs 22,326 54.54 +2.84
Labour Mabel Howard 21,145 51.66 -0.52
Labour John Mathison 20,373 49.77 +1.05
Labour Teresa Green 20,278 49.54 -2.35
Labour Lyn Christie 19,548 47.75 -0.70
Citizens' Mary McLean 19,431 47.47 +0.05
Citizens' William Smith MacGibbon 19,344 47.26
Citizens' Ernest Alfred Andrews 19,198 46.90
Citizens' Leslie George Amos 18,784 45.89 -2.83
Citizens' Bill Glue 18,777 45.87 -0.51
Labour Charles Baldwin 18,636 45.53 +1.52
Labour Norman Reginald Forbes 18,253 44.59 +2.02
Citizens' Clyde Sheppard 17,836 43.57 -0.52
Labour John Edward Jones 17,692 43.22 +1.81
Citizens' Ron Guthrey 17,659 43.14 +0.11
Citizens' John Edward Tait 17,626 43.06 -1.05
Citizens' Frederick Cuthbert Penfold 17,417 42.55
Labour James Shankland Sr. 17,405 42.52 +1.18
Citizens' William James Cowles 17,132 41.85 +0.58
Citizens' Harold Smith 16,994 41.51 +2.37
Citizens' Frank Llewellyn Brandt 16,887 41.25 +0.47
Citizens' Reginald Gilbert Brown 16,801 41.04 -1.02
Citizens' Frederick Reuben Price 16,528 40.38
Labour Arthur John Smith 16,479 40.26 -3.99
Labour James Sturrock 16,479 40.26 -1.91
Labour James Shankland Jr. 16,475 40.25
Citizens' George Griffiths 16,466 40.22 -0.14
Labour Percy Malcolm Velvin 16,449 40.18 -2.20
Labour William Percy Warner 16,375 40.00 -3.14
Labour Robert Newman 16,351 39.94 -1.30
Citizens' Jack Leslie Laby 16,339 39.91 -0.74
Labour Roy Smith 16,093 39.31
Citizens' Rolfe Neville 15,995 39.07
Citizens' Avey Hudson Dale 15,870 38.77
Labour John Gordon Wilson Power 15,787 38.57 -1.44
Citizens' Arthur Norman Stone 15,229 37.20 -1.59
Citizens' John Morrison 14,991 36.62
Independent Charles Seymour Trillo 3,977 9.71
Communist Jack Locke 2,899 7.08
Communist Alec Ostler 2,190 5.35 +1.75

References

  1. "Move to Postpone Next Municipal Elections". The Evening Post. 18 October 1952.
  2. "Local Elections Date Fixed". The Evening Post. 28 January 1953.
  3. "Election of Mayor". The Press. 17 November 1953. p. 13.
  4. "Christchurch City Council". The Press. 17 November 1953. p. 13.
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