1929 Wellington City mayoral election

The 1929 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1929, elections were held for the Mayor of Wellington plus other local government positions including fifteen councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

1929 Wellington City mayoral election

← 1927 1 May 1929 1931 →
Turnout23,884 (51.55%)
 
Candidate George Troup Walter Nash
Party Civic League Labour
Popular vote 14,528 9,142
Percentage 60.82 38.27

Mayor before election

George Troup

Elected mayor

George Troup

George Troup, the incumbent Mayor, was re-elected to office as Mayor of Wellington, defeating Walter Nash who was his sole opponent.

Background

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The Civic League campaign featured support for the Kelburn viaduct project, imposing user pays charges for some city services (such as admittance to the Wellington Zoo) and limiting rates increases.[1] Troup defended his record as mayor. While welcoming scrutiny he stated that much criticisms of the council had been unjust. He stated financial loans had been successful and led to the completion of many public works. Troup downplayed the city's role in dealing with unemployment stating the main responsibility lay with the government.[2] The Labour Party campaigned on increasing the sealing of footpath and streets and the city actively providing relief work to the unemployed.[3] Nash criticised the new rating system on unimproved value. He stated that additional rates collected in the suburbs had resulted in no improvement in suburban infrastructure, with the money instead spent in the central city. He called for the council to immediately reduce electricity prices by one penny per unit, claiming the electricity department would still make a profit. He also said the council should carry its own fire and accident insurance.[4]

Mayoralty results

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1929 Wellington mayoral election[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Civic League George Troup 14,528 60.82 +6.37
Labour Walter Nash 9,142 38.27
Informal votes 214 0.89
Majority 5,386 22.55 +13.64
Turnout 23,884 51.55 −3.31

Councillor results

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1929 Wellington City Council election[6][7][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Civic League Thomas Hislop 12,338 52.22 +1.99
Civic League William Gaudin 11,447 48.45 −1.36
Civic League Robert Wright 11,395 48.23
Civic League William Bennett 11,300 47.82 −1.78
Civic League Charlton Morpeth 10,682 45.21 +13.13
Labour Charles Chapman 10,681 45.20
Civic League Martin Luckie 10,645 45.05 −2.54
Civic League Frank Meadowcroft 10,634 45.00 +0.89
Civic League Thomas Forsyth 10,498 44.43
Civic League Herbert Huggins 10,205 43.19 −3.08
Civic League Benjamin Burn 9,946 42.09 1.46
Labour Robert McKeen 9,870 41.77 −2.87
Civic League William Hildreth 9,870 41.77
Labour Bob Semple 9,329 39.48 −9.29
Civic League George Mitchell 9,082 38.44 −11.18
Independent Henry Bennett 8,732 36.95 −11.75
Civic League Alexander Blake 8,057 34.10
Independent John Burns 7,405 31.34 −15.62
Independent Richard McVilly 7,248 30.67 −14.52
Civic League Edward Thornton 7,173 30.36
Civic League Frederick Boyd 7,094 30.02
Labour John Read 7,086 29.99
Labour Tom Brindle 7,017 29.70 −1.53
Labour William Atkinson 6,942 29.38
Labour Walter Bromley 6,816 28.84 −2.78
Labour Andrew Parlane 6,421 27.17 −3.96
Labour Jim Thorn 6,305 26.68
Labour Peter Butler 6,196 26.22
Labour Adam Black 6,125 25.92
Labour Michael Walsh 6,191 26.20
Labour John Tucker 6,089 25.77
Labour Henry Lees 5,212 22.06
Labour George Whippy 5,162 21.84
Independent William Duncan 5,114 21.64
Independent Matthew Thew 3,189 13.49

References

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  1. ^ "Municipal Elections - Civic League Candidates at Roseneath". The Dominion. Vol. 22, no. 167. 11 April 1929. p. 12.
  2. ^ "Review by the Mayor". The Dominion. Vol. 22, no. 168. 12 April 1929. p. 10.
  3. ^ "Campaign Progress - A Labour Meeting". The Evening Post. Vol. CVII, no. 85. 13 April 1929. p. 7.
  4. ^ "Rating Questions". The Dominion. Vol. 22, no. 168. 12 April 1929. p. 10.
  5. ^ "Election Notices". The Dominion. Vol. 22, no. 191. 10 May 1929. p. 2.
  6. ^ "Labour Nominees". The Evening Post. Vol. CVII, no. 100. 2 May 1929. p. 14. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  7. ^ "City Council". The Evening Post. Vol. CVII, no. 81. 9 April 1929. p. 10.
  8. ^ "The Nominations". The Evening Post. Vol. CVII, no. 90. 19 April 1929. p. 11.
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