Vernon Cracknell
| Vernon Cracknell | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 3rd Leader of Social Credit Party | |
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In office 1963–1970 |
|
| Deputy | John O'Brien |
| Preceded by | P.H. Matthews |
| Succeeded by | John O'Brien |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Hobson |
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In office 1966 – 1969 |
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| Preceded by | Logan Sloane |
| Succeeded by | Logan Sloane |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
30 May 1912 Auckland |
| Died | 4 June 1989 (aged 77) Kawakawa |
| Political party | Social Credit |
| Profession | Accountant |
Vernon Francis Cracknell (30 May 1912 – 4 June 1989) was a New Zealand politician. He served as the Social Credit Party's third leader (1963–1970).
Cracknell was born in Auckland on 30 May 1912. Initially he made his living working as an accountant. Later, he became involved in politics through the Social Credit Party, a group dedicated to the social credit theory of monetary reform.
In the 1960 elections and 1963 elections, Cracknell contested the seat of Hobson in Northland. He placed second on both occasions, pushing the Labour Party candidate into third place, more successful than any other Social Credit candidate. The area had previously been receptive to social credit theory – the Social Credit Party had placed second in the 1954 elections, and Harold Rushworth of the credit-influenced Country Party had held the Northland seat (then called Bay of Islands) for three terms, from 1928 to 1938.
In the 1966 election, Cracknell was finally successful, winning the seat with 48% of the vote. He narrowly defeated the incumbent MP, Logan Sloane of the National Party, who won 45% of the vote. Cracknell's victory was a surprise, as no candidate not aligned with either the Labour or National parties had been elected to Parliament since 1943.
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