Newtown was a parliamentary

electorate Electorate may refer to: * The people who are eligible to vote in an election, especially their number e.g. the term ''size of (the) electorate'' * The dominion of a Prince-elector in the Holy Roman Empire until 1806 * An electoral district An ...

in Wellington, New Zealand from 1902 to 1908.

Population centres

The Representation Act 1900 had increased the membership of the House of Representatives from general electorates 70 to 76, and this was implemented through the 1902 electoral redistribution. In 1902, changes to the country quota affected the three-member electorates in the four main centres. The tolerance between electorates was increased to ±1,250 so that the Representation Commissions (since 1896, there had been separate commissions for the North and

South Island The South Island, also officially named , is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand in surface area, the other being the smaller but more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman ...

s) could take greater account of communities of interest. These changes proved very disruptive to existing boundaries, and six electorates were established for the first time, including Newtown, and two electorates that previously existed were re-established. The electorate was based on the inner city suburb of Newtown.

History

The electorate was represented by one Member of Parliament,

William Henry Peter Barber William Henry Peter Barber (10 September 1857 – 15 January 1943) was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for Newtown in Wellington. Early life and family Born in Wellington in 1857, Barber was educated at St Peter's School. He began work in ...

. The 1902 election was contested by Barber, Thomas William Hislop, Charles Luke, William Chapple and William George Tustin. They received 1385, 1357, 1100, 1017, and 159 votes, respectively. John Crewes had initially also contested the election, but he withdrew his nomination before polling day. The 1905 election was contested by Barber, Thomas William Hislop, William Chapple and

Alfred Hindmarsh Alfred Humphrey Hindmarsh (18 April 1860 – 13 November 1918) was a New Zealand politician, lawyer and unionist. He died in the 1918 influenza epidemic. He served as the first leader of the modern New Zealand Labour Party. Early life Hindmars ...

. They received 3231, 2018, 1795, and 383 votes, respectively.

Members of Parliament

Newtown was represented by one Member of Parliament, William Barber. Key

1905 election

References

Bibliography

* * * {{Historic electorates of New Zealand , state=collapsed Historical electorates of New Zealand Politics of the Wellington Region 1902 establishments in New Zealand 1908 disestablishments in New Zealand