1947 Westland by-election

The 1947 Westland by-election was a by-election held during the 28th New Zealand Parliament in the South Island electorate of Westland. The by-election occurred following the death of MP James O'Brien and was won by Jim Kent.

1947 Westland by-election

3 December 1947
Turnout	12,886 (90.35%)
Candidate Jim Kent Jack Lockington Party Labour National Popular vote 7,427 5,405 Percentage 57.88% 42.12%
Member before election James O'Brien Labour Elected Member Jim Kent Labour

Background

James O'Brien, who was first elected to represent Westland for the Labour Party in 1922 and had been Westland's MP continuously since 1928, died on 28 September 1947. This triggered the Westland by-election, which occurred on 3 December 1947. Jim Kent was the candidate for the Labour Party, and Jack Lockington was the candidate for the National Party. Kent obtained 57.9% of the votes and was successful.[1]

Previous election

1946 general election: Westland[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	James O'Brien	9,097	67.50
	National	E Frank Chivers[2][3]	4,381	32.50
Majority			4,716	34.99
Informal votes			57
Registered electors			14,330
Turnout			13,535	94.45

Results

The following table gives the election results:

1947 Westland by-election[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Jim Kent	7,427	57.88
	National	Jack Lockington	5,405	42.12
Majority			2,022	15.76
Informal votes			54
Registered electors			14,262
Turnout			12,886	90.35
	Labour hold		Swing

See also

• List of New Zealand by-elections

Notes

1. Norton 1988, p. 391.
2. "General Election". Auckland Star. LXXIV (203). 27 August 1943. p. 4. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
3. "Chivers, E Frank, DSM, MID". Torpedo Bay Navy Museum. Retrieved 3 November 2014.

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)