The Tauranga by-election of 1923 was a

by-election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, a bye-election in Ireland, a bypoll in India, or a Zimni election (Urdu: ضمنی انتخاب, supplementary election) in Pakistan, is an election used to f ...

during the 21st New Zealand Parliament in the electorate. The seat became vacant due to the death of the sitting Member,

William Herries Sir William Herbert Herries (19 April 1859 – 22 February 1923) was an English-born New Zealand politician. Biography Herries was born in London, the son of Herbert Crompton Herries, a barrister, and his wife, Leonora Emma Wickham. His g ...

. The election was held on 28 March 1923 and won by Charles MacMillan, who defeated the former prime minister

Joseph Ward Sir Joseph George Ward, 1st Baronet, (26 April 1856 – 8 July 1930) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 17th prime minister of New Zealand from 1906 to 1912 and from 1928 to 1930. He was a dominant figure in the Liberal and Unit ...

Background

Two candidates contested the seat. The first was Charles MacMillan, a former

Mayor of Tauranga The Mayor of Tauranga is the head of the municipal government of Tauranga, New Zealand, and presides over the Tauranga City Council. There is currently no Mayor of Tauranga. On 9 February 2021, a Crown Commission appointed by the Minister of L ...

(1915–1917. MacMillan represented the Reform Party and was put forward by the party to succeed Herries. The other candidate was Sir

, a former Liberal party Prime Minister. The Labour Party took a keen interest in the by-election. Leader

Harry Holland Henry Edmund Holland (10 June 1868 – 8 October 1933) was an Australian-born newspaper owner, politician and unionist who relocated to New Zealand. He was the second leader of the New Zealand Labour Party. Early life Holland was born at G ...

was fearful that Ward's return to Parliament might result in a revival of the Liberals, delaying Labour's rise as the main left-wing party. As a result, he sought to stand a candidate to

split Split(s) or The Split may refer to: Places * Split, Croatia, the largest coastal city in Croatia * Split Island, Canada, an island in the Hudson Bay * Split Island, Falkland Islands * Split Island, Fiji, better known as Hạfliua Arts, entertai ...

the anti-Reform vote. He was overruled however, by the party executive citing the lack of any established branches within the electorate and the possibility of a poor showing by the candidate damaging party morale and credibility.

Result

MacMillan won the by-election; Ward's defeat was humiliating to him. MacMillan remained as Tauranga's representative until his defeat at the . Ward was thought to be a spent force, but he was returned to Parliament again in the , and then went on to become Prime Minister again in 1928. He retired in 1930, and died soon after.

Notes

References

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Tauranga By-Election, 1923 Tauranga 1923 1923 elections in New Zealand Politics of the Bay of Plenty Region Tauranga