The 1953 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1953, elections were held for the Mayor of Wellington plus other local government positions including fifteen city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.
The mayoral contest was essentially a rematch from three years previously with incumbent mayor Robert Macalister opposed by councillor Frank Kitts of the Labour Party. A third candidate, Julius Hyde, stood as an independent campaigning on his opposition to the construction of an international airport in Wellington.
A major talking point in the lead up to the election was the potential of a clash with the 1953 Royal Tour.[1] There were proposals to postpone local elections until early 1954 over fears of reduced turnout due to a conflicted schedule. The proposals were considered by the Minister of Internal Affairs William Bodkin, who ultimately decided against it.[2]
1953, wellington, city, mayoral, election, part, zealand, local, elections, held, that, same, year, 1953, elections, were, held, mayor, wellington, plus, other, local, government, positions, including, fifteen, city, councillors, polling, conducted, using, sta. The 1953 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year In 1953 elections were held for the Mayor of Wellington plus other local government positions including fifteen city councillors The polling was conducted using the standard first past the post electoral method 1953 Wellington City mayoral election 1950 31 October 1953 1956 Turnout44 700 65 19 Candidate Robert Macalister Frank KittsParty Citizens LabourPopular vote 21 809 20 094Percentage 48 78 44 95Mayor before electionRobert Macalister Elected Mayor Robert Macalister Contents 1 Campaign 2 Mayoralty results 3 Councillor results 4 ReferencesCampaign editThe mayoral contest was essentially a rematch from three years previously with incumbent mayor Robert Macalister opposed by councillor Frank Kitts of the Labour Party A third candidate Julius Hyde stood as an independent campaigning on his opposition to the construction of an international airport in Wellington A major talking point in the lead up to the election was the potential of a clash with the 1953 Royal Tour 1 There were proposals to postpone local elections until early 1954 over fears of reduced turnout due to a conflicted schedule The proposals were considered by the Minister of Internal Affairs William Bodkin who ultimately decided against it 2 Mayoralty results edit1953 Wellington mayoral election 3 4 Party Candidate Votes Citizens Robert Macalister 21 809 48 78 3 24Labour Frank Kitts 20 094 44 95 1 85Independent Julius Hyde 2 410 5 39Informal votes 387 0 86 0 32Majority 1 715 3 83 1 37Turnout 44 700 65 19 33 44Councillor results edit1953 Wellington City Council election 3 5 Party Candidate Votes Labour Frank Kitts 23 041 51 54 4 93Citizens Ken Luke 22 993 51 43Citizens Stewart Hardy 21 323 47 70 4 81Citizens Bill Arcus 20 731 46 37Citizens Ernest Toop 20 446 45 74 0 77Citizens Bob Archibald 20 052 44 85Citizens Barry Barton Ginger 19 880 44 47Labour James Roberts 19 771 44 23 3 92Labour John Churchill 19 547 43 72 2 42Labour Jim Bateman 18 709 41 85 4 08Citizens Berkeley Dallard 18 608 41 62 1 88Citizens Harry Nankervis 18 089 40 46 2 41Citizens Denis McGrath 17 442 39 02 0 98Labour Jack Arthurs 17 200 38 47 1 38Labour Mervyn Castle 16 995 38 02 12 42Citizens Harry Daysh 16 950 37 91Labour George O Leary 16 643 37 23Citizens William Birtwhistle 16 386 36 65 4 99Labour Jim Collins 16 383 36 64Labour Ernie Langford 16 255 36 36Labour Hugh Kelleher 16 207 36 25Labour Frank O Flynn 16 192 36 22 0 69Labour James Hickey nb 1 15 917 35 60Independent Elizabeth Gilmer 15 848 35 45 18 19Citizens William Stevens 15 704 35 13 5 21Citizens Robert Burton 15 640 34 98Labour William Sadd 15 414 34 48 5 63Citizens Charles Treadwell 15 392 34 43 12 97Labour Ethel Harris 15 209 34 02 4 03Citizens Gilbert Lawrence 14 886 33 30Labour Edward Hodgkinson 14 865 33 25Independent Gilbert MacLean 13 267 29 68Independent William Bacon 8 249 18 45 0 66Independent James Duncan 7 941 17 76Independent Leslie Austin 6 612 14 79 0 05Independent George Joseph 6 519 14 58Independent Ernest Killick 5 336 11 93Communist Donald Austin 4 009 8 96Communist Connie Birchfield 2 299 5 14 0 02Communist William Hunter 2 005 4 48 0 43Communist Dorothy Stanton 1 791 4 00 0 34Communist Edward Harvey 1 700 3 80Communist Kenneth Stanton 1 504 3 54 0 33Communist Sydney Smith 1 369 3 06Communist Thomas Heptinstall 1 134 2 53Communist Ray Nunes 1 128 2 52 0 03Table footnotes Hickey had been co opted to the council in April 1953 from the Johnsonville Town BoardReferences edit Move to Postpone Next Municipal Elections The Evening Post 18 October 1952 Local Elections Date Fixed The Evening Post 28 January 1953 a b Coppin William Stanley 11 November 1953 Declaration of Election Results Report Wellington City Council Majority for Mr Macalister increased by 303 The Evening Post 12 November 1953 Details of Polling The Evening Post 2 November 1953 nbsp This New Zealand election related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1953 Wellington City mayoral election amp oldid 1167753550, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
