1947 Avon by-election

The 1947 Avon by-election was a by-election held during the 28th New Zealand Parliament in the Christchurch electorate of Avon. The by-election occurred following the death of MP Dan Sullivan and was won by John Mathison.

1947 Avon by-election

28 May 1947
Turnout	13,035 (84.43%)
Candidate John Mathison Robert Alexander McDowell Party Labour National Popular vote 8,513 4,422 Percentage 65.31 33.92
Member before election Dan Sullivan Labour Elected Member John Mathison Labour

Background

Dan Sullivan, who was first elected to represent Avon for the Labour Party in 1919, died on 8 April 1947.[1] This triggered the Avon by-election, which occurred on 28 May 1947.[2]

John Mathison was the candidate for the Labour Party. He was selected over five other aspirants; Nurse A. Mackwell, A. J. Jones, Archie Grant, George Manning and Alan Williams.[3]

Robert Alexander McDowell was the candidate for the National Party and John Ramby Robertson was an independent candidate. Robertson was a member of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) but his nomination was refused endorsement by DLP leader John A. Lee.[4] Robertson had stood unsuccessfully as a DLP candidate for the Christchurch City Council in 1944.[5]

Mathison obtained 65.31% of the votes and was successful.[6]

Previous election

1946 general election: Avon[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Dan Sullivan	9,539	68.64
	National	Robert Alexander McDowell	4,359	31.36
Majority			5,180	37.27
Turnout			13,898	92.74

Results

The following table gives the election results:

1947 Avon by-election[6]

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

See also

• List of New Zealand by-elections
• 1887 Avon by-election

Notes

1. Watson, James (updated 22 June 2007). "Sullivan, Daniel Giles 1882 - 1947". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
2. Norton 1988, p. 3.
3. "Six Labour Nominees". LXXV (14355). Bay of Plenty Times. 3 May 1947. p. 3 – via Papers Past.
4. "Avon By-Election". LXXII (26109). Evening Star. 24 May 1947. p. 5 – via Papers Past.
5. "Christchurch City Council". The Press. LXXX (24278). 8 June 1944. p. 7. Retrieved 15 February 2020 – via Papers Past.
6. Norton 1988, p. 195.

References

• Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand parliamentary election results, 1946–1987. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington Department of Political Science. ISBN 0-475-11200-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)