Wellington North by-election, 1918

← 1914 general

12 February 1918 (1918-02-12)

1919 general →

The Wellington North seat in the House of Representatives.
Election by simple majority using first-past-the-post voting.

Turnout

7,128


Candidate	John Luke	Harry Holland	Alfred Brandon
Party	Reform	Labour	Liberal
Popular vote	2,986	2,566	816

Member before election

Alexander Herdman
Reform

Elected Member

John Luke
Reform

Alexander Herdman
Reform

John Luke
Reform

The Wellington North by-election of 1918 was a by-election held in the Wellington North electorate during the 19th New Zealand Parliament, on 12 February 1918. It was caused by the resignation of incumbent MP Alexander Herdman of the Reform Party, who was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court, and was won by John Luke with a majority of 420.

Then current Mayor of Wellington John Luke was selected as the Reform Party's candidate.

Under the terms of the coalition agreement between Reform and the Liberal's a condition was made not to oppose each other in by-elections for deceased or retiring MP's from their own parties. However, the Liberal Party were not completely satisfied with Luke being the Government's candidate and two Liberal candidates emerged to contest. Former Mayor of Wellington Alfred Brandon chose to contest the seat and another, Angus Polson chose to likewise contest as an Independent Liberal.

The Labour Party chose Harry Holland, editor of the Maoriland Worker, as their candidate who had contested the seat in 1914 for the Social Democratic Party coming third. Holland was contemplating leaving New Zealand at the time and returning to Sydney though his candidacy persuaded him to stay. Holland reveled in the personal attacks made on him which was exactly the type of recognition he craved.

Peter Fraser became Holland's campaign organiser where he demonstrated great strategic skill. Holland stood on the grounds of opposing conscription, inflation and wartime 'special privilege'. Fraser encouraged Holland to directly challenge Prime Minister William Massey and Minister of Defence James Allen over the treatment of conscientious objectors in Europe which resulted in replies from both. As a result, Holland became a household name in Wellington.

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