# 19th New Zealand Parliament

The 19th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the New Zealand Parliament. It opened on 24 June 1915, following the 1914 election. It was dissolved on 27 November 1919 in preparation for 1919 election.

## Sessions

The 19th Parliament opened on 24 June 1915, following the 1914 general election. It sat for six sessions (with two sessions in 1918), and was dissolved on 27 November 1919.
| Session | Opened | Ended | Prorogued |
| first | 24 June 1915 | 12 October 1915 | 15 October 1915 |
| second | 9 May 1916 | 8 August 1916 | 9 August 1916 |
| third | 28 June 1917 | 1 November 1917 | 2 November 1917 |
| fourth | 9 April 1918 | 15 April 1918 | 17 April 1918 |
| fifth | 24 October 1918 | 9 December 1918 | 12 December 1918 |
| sixth | 28 August 1919 | 5 November 1919 | 7 November 1919 |

## Historical context

The 19th Parliament was the second term of the Reform Party government, which had been elected in the 1911 election. William Massey, the leader of the Reform Party, remained Prime Minister. The Liberal Party, led by former Prime Minister Joseph Ward, was technically the main opposition party, although for the majority of the term, the Liberals were part of a war-time coalition with Reform. Two small left-wing parties, the Social Democratic Party and the loosely grouped remnants of the United Labour Party, also held seats, and there was one left-wing independent (John Payne). During the 19th Parliament, the Social Democrats and most of the United Labour Party merged to form the modern Labour Party.

## Party standings

There were 616,043 electors on the European roll, with 521,525 (84.66%) voting, including 5,618 informal votes. Turnout including Maori voters was 540,075. The following table shows votes at and party strengths immediately after the 1914 election:

### 1914–1916

| Party | Leader(s) | Seats at start |
| Reform Party | William Massey | 40 |
| Liberal Party | Joseph Ward | 34 |
| United Labour Party | Alfred Hindmarsh | 3 |
| Social Democrat Party | James McCombs | 2 |
| Independents | Independents | 1 |

### 1916–1919

| Party | Leader(s) | Seats at end |
| Reform Party | William Massey | 39 |
| Liberal Party | Joseph Ward | 34 |
| Labour Party | Alfred Hindmarsh, then Harry Holland | 5 |
| Independents | Independents | 2 |

## Members
### Initial MPs

76 general and 4 Māori electorates existed for the 19th Parliament.
The following are the results of the 1914 general election:
Key
Liberal  Reform  United Labour  Social Democrat  Independent Labour  Independent
Electorate results for the 1914 New Zealand general election :
| Electorate | Incumbent | Winner | Winner | Majority | Runner up |
| General electorates ||||||||
| Ashburton | William Nosworthy | William Nosworthy | William Nosworthy | 157 | William Maslin |
| Auckland Central | Albert Glover | Albert Glover | Albert Glover | 2,302 | Michael Joseph Savage |
| Auckland East | Arthur Myers | Arthur Myers | Arthur Myers | 2,507 | Arthur Holmes |
| Auckland West | James Bradney | | Charles Poole | 1,411 | James Bradney |
| Awarua | Joseph Ward | Joseph Ward | Joseph Ward | 1,226 | John Hamilton |
| Avon | George Russell | George Russell | George Russell | 1,073 | Dan Sullivan |
| Bay of Islands | Vernon Reed | Vernon Reed | Vernon Reed | 108 | Peter Buck |
| Bay of Plenty | William MacDonald | William MacDonald | William MacDonald | 965 | Kenneth Williams |
| Bruce | James Allen | James Allen | James Allen | 693 | Charles Smith |
| Buller | James Colvin | James Colvin | James Colvin | 2,195 | George Powell |
| Chalmers | Edward Clark | | James Dickson | 686 | William Mason |
| Christchurch East | Thomas Davey | | Henry Thacker | 1,890 | Hiram Hunter |
| Christchurch North | Leonard Isitt | Leonard Isitt | Leonard Isitt | 1,217 | Henry Toogood |
| Christchurch South | Harry Ell | Harry Ell | Harry Ell | 2,333 | Gains Whiting |
| Clutha | Alexander Malcolm | Alexander Malcolm | Alexander Malcolm | 1,009 | John Jenkinson |
| Dunedin Central | Charles Statham | Charles Statham | Charles Statham | 12 | Jim Munro |
| Dunedin North | George Thomson | | Andrew Walker | 322 | George Thomson |
| Dunedin South | Thomas Sidey | Thomas Sidey | Thomas Sidey | 2,697 | Thomas Dalton |
| Dunedin West | John A. Millar | | William Downie Stewart | 345 | John Johnson |
| Eden | John Bollard | | James Parr | 2,456 | William Tuck |
| Egmont | Charles Wilkinson | Charles Wilkinson | Charles Wilkinson | 894 | David Astbury |
| Ellesmere | Heaton Rhodes | Heaton Rhodes | Heaton Rhodes | 273 | James Free |
| Franklin | William Massey | William Massey | William Massey | 2,928 | Arthur Glass |
| Gisborne | James Carroll | James Carroll | James Carroll | 1,249 | Harry de Lautour |
| Grey | Paddy Webb | Paddy Webb | Paddy Webb | 980 | Henry Michel |
| Grey Lynn | John Payne | John Payne | John Payne | 89 | Murdoch McLean |
| Hawke's Bay | Hugh Campbell | | Robert McNab | 40 | Hugh Campbell |
| Hurunui | George Forbes | George Forbes | George Forbes | 1,486 | William Banks |
| Hutt | Thomas Wilford | Thomas Wilford | Thomas Wilford | 943 | Albert Samuel |
| Invercargill | Josiah Hanan | Josiah Hanan | Josiah Hanan | 1,590 | John Lillicrap |
| Kaiapoi | David Buddo | David Buddo | David Buddo | 1,181 | David Jones |
| Kaipara | Gordon Coates | Gordon Coates | Gordon Coates | 1,118 | Richard Hoe |
| Lyttelton | James McCombs | James McCombs | James McCombs | 1,598 | Malcolm Miller |
| Manukau | Frederic Lang | Frederic Lang | Frederic Lang | 1,224 | John McLarin |
| Marsden | Francis Mander | Francis Mander | Francis Mander | 940 | Edmund Purdie |
| Masterton | George Sykes | George Sykes | George Sykes | 193 | Alexander Hogg |
| Mataura | George Anderson | George Anderson | George Anderson | 174 | William Mehaffey |
| Motueka | Roderick McKenzie | | Richard Hudson | 602 | Roderick McKenzie |
| Napier | Vigor Brown | Vigor Brown | Vigor Brown | 2,215 | George William Venables |
| Nelson | Harry Atmore | | Thomas Field | 90 | Harry Atmore |
| Oamaru | Ernest Lee | Ernest Lee | Ernest Lee | 338 | John MacPherson |
| Ohinemuri | Hugh Poland | Hugh Poland | Hugh Poland | 100 | Joseph Clark |
| Oroua | David Guthrie | David Guthrie | David Guthrie | 1,119 | John Morrison |
| Otago Central | Robert Scott | Robert Scott | Robert Scott | 999 | William Bodkin |
| Otaki | John Robertson | | William Field | 640 | John Robertson |
| Pahiatua | James Escott | James Escott | James Escott | 683 | John Mathews |
| Palmerston | David Buick | David Buick | David Buick | 1,109 | Jim Thorn |
| Parnell | James Dickson | James Dickson | James Dickson | 1,172 | Jeremiah Sullivan |
| Patea | George Pearce | George Pearce | George Pearce | 118 | William Morrison |
| Raglan | Richard Bollard | Richard Bollard | Richard Bollard | 1,448 | William Thompson |
| Rangitikei | Edward Newman | Edward Newman | Edward Newman | 903 | Robert Hornblow |
| Riccarton | George Witty | George Witty | George Witty | 1,215 | Bertram Bunn |
| Selwyn | William Dickie | William Dickie | William Dickie | 1,227 | George Sheat |
| Stratford | John Hine | John Hine | John Hine | 637 | William Hawkins |
| Taranaki | Henry Okey | Henry Okey | Henry Okey | 201 | Daniel Hughes |
| Taumarunui | Charles Wilson | | William Jennings | 205 | Charles Wilson |
| Tauranga | William Herries | William Herries | William Herries | 1,992 | Ralph Stewart |
| Temuka | Thomas Buxton | | Charles Talbot | 407 | Charles Kerr |
| Thames | Thomas Rhodes | Thomas Rhodes | Thomas Rhodes | 515 | Edmund Taylor |
| Timaru | James Craigie | James Craigie | James Craigie | 1,110 | Francis Smith |
| Waikato | Alexander Young | Alexander Young | Alexander Young | 2,193 | Alexander Scholes |
| Waimarino | Robert Smith | Robert Smith | Robert Smith | 1,995 | Hugh Speed |
| Waipawa | George Hunter | George Hunter | George Hunter | 138 | Albert Jull |
| Wairarapa | Walther Buchanan | | J. T. Marryat Hornsby | 60 | Walter Buchanan |
| Wairau | Richard McCallum | Richard McCallum | Richard McCallum | 369 | John Duncan |
| Waitaki | Francis Smith | | John Anstey | 156 | Norton Francis |
| Waitemata | Alexander Harris | Alexander Harris | Alexander Harris | 1,013 | Henry Cromwell Tewsley |
| Wanganui | Bill Veitch | Bill Veitch | Bill Veitch | 852 | Frederick Pirani |
| Wakatipu | William Fraser | William Fraser | William Fraser | 897 | Joseph Stephens |
| Wallace | John Thomson | John Thomson | John Thomson | 881 | Alexander Rodger |
| Wellington Central | Francis Fisher | | Robert Fletcher | 2,329 | Francis Fisher |
| Wellington East | Alfred Newman | Alfred Newman | Alfred Newman | 48 | David McLaren |
| Wellington North | Alexander Herdman | Alexander Herdman | Alexander Herdman | 2,655 | William Turnbull |
| Wellington South | Alfred Hindmarsh | Alfred Hindmarsh | Alfred Hindmarsh | 1,215 | John Luke |
| Wellington Suburbs and Country | William Bell | | Robert Wright | 1,002 | Frank Moore |
| Westland | Tom Seddon | Tom Seddon | Tom Seddon | 826 | Arthur Paape |
| Māori electorates ||||||||
| Eastern Maori | Sir Āpirana Ngata | Sir Āpirana Ngata | Sir Āpirana Ngata | 2,825 | Hetekia Pere |
| Northern Maori | Te Rangi Hīroa | | Taurekareka Henare | 176 | Hemi te Paa |
| Southern Maori | Taare Parata | Taare Parata | Taare Parata | 238 | Teone Matapura Erihana |
| Western Maori | Māui Pōmare | | Māui Pōmare | 2,107 | Hema te Ao |

### By-elections during the 19th Parliament

There were a number of changes during the term of the 19th Parliament.
| Electorate and by-election | Electorate and by-election | Date | Incumbent | Cause | Winner |
| Dunedin Central | 1915 | 3 February | Charles Statham | Resignation | Charles Statham |
| Bay of Islands | 1915 | 8 June | Vernon Reed | Election declared void | William Stewart |
| Taumarunui | 1915 | 15 June | William Jennings | Election declared void | William Jennings |
| Pahiatua | 1916 | 17 August | James Escott | Death | Harold Smith |
| Hawke's Bay | 1917 | 8 March | Robert McNab | Death | John Findlay |
| Bay of Islands | 1917 | 17 March | William Stewart | Resignation | Vernon Reed |
| Grey | 1917 | 24 November | Paddy Webb | Resignation | Paddy Webb |
| Wellington North | 1918 | 12 February | Alexander Herdman | Resignation | John Luke |
| Southern Maori | 1918 | 21 February | Taare Parata | Death | Hopere Uru |
| Grey | 1918 | 29 May | Paddy Webb | Imprisonment | Harry Holland |
| Wellington Central | 1918 | 3 October | Robert Fletcher | Death | Peter Fraser |
| Taranaki | 1918 | 10 October | Henry Okey | Death | Sydney Smith |
| Palmerston | 1918 | 19 December | David Buick | Death | Jimmy Nash |
| Wellington South | 1918 | 19 December | Alfred Hindmarsh | Death | Bob Semple |

### Summary of changes
#### Party changes

* Thomas Rhodes, the Liberal Party MP for Thames, changed affiliation to the Reform Party in 1915.
* The Social Democratic Party and the loose United Labour Party grouping merged to form the modern Labour Party on 7 July 1916. One ULP member, Bill Veitch, rejected the merger, and carried on as an independent.

#### Deaths

* James Escott (Reform, Pahiatua) died on 28 July 1916.
** 1916 Pahiatua by-election – won by Harold Smith (Reform)
* Robert McNab (Liberal, Hawkes Bay) died on 3 February 1917.
** 1917 Hawkes Bay by-election – won by John Findlay (Liberal)
* Taare Parata (Liberal, Southern Maori) died on 8 January 1918.
** 1918 Southern Maori by-election – won by Hopere Uru (Independent)
* Robert Fletcher (Liberal, Wellington Central) died on 4 September 1918.
** 1918 Wellington Central by-election – won by Peter Fraser (Labour)
* Henry Okey (Reform, Taranaki) died on 13 September 1918
** 1918 Taranaki by-election – won by Sydney Smith (Independent aligned with Liberals)
* Alfred Hindmarsh (Labour, Wellington South) died on 13 November 1918.
** 1918 Wellington South by-election – won by Bob Semple (Labour)
* David Buick (Reform, Palmerston) died on 18 November 1918.
** 1918 Palmerston by-election – won by Jimmy Nash (Reform)
* James Colvin (Liberal, Buller) died on 29 October 1919.
** Seat remained vacant, as it was only two months until the general election.

#### Resignations

* William Stewart (Reform, Bay of Islands) resigned in March 1917. Stewart won the seat in a by-election when the victory of another Reform candidate, Vernon Reed, had been overturned, and Stewart's resignation opened the way for Reed to return via another by-election.
** 1915 Bay of Islands by-election – won by William Stewart (Reform)
** 1917 Bay of Islands by-election – won by Vernon Reed (Reform)
* Paddy Webb (Labour, Grey) resigned in November 1917. He then challenged the government to fight the resulting by-election on the issue of conscription, which Webb opposed. The government declined the challenge, and did not contest the by-election.
** 1917 Grey by-election – won by Paddy Webb (Labour)
* Alexander Herdman (Reform, Wellington North) resigned in February 1918. Herdman, as Attorney-General, had just appointed himself to a judicial position, and was resigning in order to take up this role.
** 1918 Wellington North by-election – won by John Luke (Reform)

#### Expulsions

* William Thomas Jennings (Liberal Party, Taumarunui) lost his seat in May 1915 when his election the previous year was declared void.
** 1915 Taumarunui by-election – won by William Thomas Jennings (Liberal)
* Vernon Reed (Reform, Bay of Islands) lost his seat in May 1915 when his election the previous year was declared void. (His successor later resigned, allowing Reed to reclaim the seat).
** 1915 Bay of Islands by-election – won by William Stewart (Reform)
* Paddy Webb (Labour, Grey) lost his seat in April 1918, having been jailed for refusing military service. (He had previously fought and won a by-election on the issue).
** 1918 Grey by-election – won by Harry Holland (Labour)