1963 Grey Lynn by-election

The Grey Lynn by-election 1963 was a by-election held in the Grey Lynn electorate in Auckland during the term of the 33rd New Zealand Parliament, on 18 May 1963.

1963 Grey Lynn by-election

18 May 1963 (1963-05-18)
Turnout	15,336 (41.48%)
Candidate Reginald Keeling Raymond John Presland Party Labour National Popular vote 4,172 1,791 Percentage 65.84 28.26
Member before election Fred Hackett Labour Elected Member Reginald Keeling Labour

The by-election was caused by the death of incumbent MP Fred Hackett of the Labour Party on 19 March 1963.[1] The by-election was won by Reginald Keeling, also of the Labour Party.[2]

Background

Fred Hackett had represented Grey Lynn since 1943 when he defeated John A. Lee. Hackett had been ill for some time and was admitted to Auckland Hospital on 25 July 1962 for an operation on his brain, which saved his life. Following the operation he gradually recovered and was discharged in early September. As a result of his health he intended to step down as Deputy Leader of the Opposition, however he did intend to stay in parliament and had already been re-selected to contest Grey Lynn at the upcoming 1963 election, but died on 19 March.[3]

Candidates

Communist Party

George Jackson contested the seat for the Communist Party of New Zealand (CPNZ). An orchardist by profession, he was Chairman of the CPNZ at the time.[4] He had unsuccessfully stood in Ponsonby in both 1957 and 1960.[5]

Labour Party

The Labour Party selected Reginald Keeling as their candidate. Keeling had previously been MP for Gisborne (1949–51; 1954–60).[2] At the time of the by-election, Keeling had already been selected to stand in the North Shore electorate and was only a stand in until the general election later in the year. Following Hackett's death Ponsonby MP Ritchie Macdonald won selection for Grey Lynn, following the abolition of his seat, and was to contest it in the subsequent general election.[6][7]

National Party

Raymond John Presland was chosen to contest the seat for the National Party. He had contested Auckland Central for National in 1960.[8] Several months earlier he had unsuccessfully sought the National nomination at another by-election in Otahuhu.[9]

Social Credit

William Alexander "Bill" Ross stood for the Social Credit Party. Previously he had contested the safe Labour seat of Ponsonby in the 1957 and 1960 elections.[5]

Campaign

The by-election was noted for its lack of interest from the public. The total of attendances to campaign meetings did not exceed 290 and most meetings were over in less than 90 minutes with only one or two questions from the floor. The overwhelming majority of attendees were either middle-aged or elderly. Only Keeling and Presland held meetings, the Communist and Social Credit parties did not even hold public meetings. Four cabinet ministers travelled to the electorate to campaign for Presland. Labour MPs from four neighboring electorates as well as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition Hugh Watt campaigned on behalf of Keeling. The campaign finished on the evening of 17 May with speeches from the Prime Minister Keith Holyoake and Leader of the Opposition Arnold Nordmeyer.[6]

Results

The following table gives the election results:

1963 Grey Lynn by-election[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Labour	Reginald Keeling	4,172	65.84
	National	Raymond John Presland	1,791	28.26
	Social Credit	Bill Ross	246	3.88
	Communist	George Jackson	128	2.02
Informal votes			24	0.38
Majority			2,381	37.57
Turnout			6,361	41.48	-44.66
Registered electors			15,336
	Labour hold		Swing

Aftermath

Keeling retained the seat for Labour in a low turnout poll.[7] Keeling did not stand for Grey Lynn at the 1963 general election, standing instead in North Shore where he was defeated. Ritchie Macdonald instead transferred to Grey Lynn following the abolition of his seat of Ponsonby.[11] Both Jackson and Ross contested Grey Lynn again in 1963.[10]

Notes

1. Wilson 1985, p. 202.
2. Wilson 1985, p. 209.
3. "Mr F. Hackett Dies After Illness". The New Zealand Herald. 20 March 1963. p. 1.
4. "Jackson, George, 1908–2000". Alexander Turnbull Library. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
5. Norton 1988, p. 320.
6. "By-Election on Saturday in Grey Lynn". The Evening Post. 16 May 1963. p. 12.
7. "Labour Holds Grey Lynn in Small Poll". The Evening Post. 20 May 1963. p. 12.
8. Norton 1988, pp. 193.
9. "Choice For Otahuhu Byelection - National Party Candidate". The New Zealand Herald. 21 February 1963. p. 1.
10. Norton 1988, p. 231.
11. Wilson 1985, p. 214.

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)
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)