# Masterton (New Zealand electorate)

Masterton was a New Zealand electorate from 1887 to 1946, focused on the town of Masterton and the surrounding area.

## Population centres

In the 1887 electoral redistribution, although the Representation Commission was required through the Representation Act 1887 to maintain existing electorates "as far as possible", rapid population growth in the North Island required the transfer of three seats from the South Island to the north. Ten new electorates were created, including Masterton, and one former electorate was recreated.
The Masterton electorate's boundaries were roughly based on those of the Wairarapa North electorate that it replaced, although it was not an exact match. The electorate ran from the Tararua Ranges down to the sea, with its northern boundary just north of Eketahuna and its southern boundary just south of the largest Wairarapa town of Masterton.
The 1890 election saw the electorate gain Pahiatua and Woodville, but lose territory on the coast south of Castlepoint. At the 1893 elections, it lost Woodville, and in the 1896 election, it lost Pahiatua. In the 1911 election, it lost Castlepoint, leaving it almost landlocked.

## History

The electorate of Masterton was created for the 1887 general election. It was represented by five Members of Parliament.
The electorate was abolished in 1946; the town of Masterton itself was moved to the Wairarapa electorate, while the rest was moved to the Pahiatua electorate.

### Election results

Key
Independent Liberal Reform Labour National
| Election | Winner |
| 1887 election | George Beetham |
| 1890 election | Alexander Hogg |
| 1893 election | Alexander Hogg |
| 1896 election | Alexander Hogg |
| 1899 election | Alexander Hogg |
| 1902 election | Alexander Hogg |
| 1905 election | Alexander Hogg |
| 1908 election | Alexander Hogg |
| 1911 election | George Sykes |
| 1914 election | George Sykes |
| 1919 election | George Sykes |
| 1922 election | George Sykes |
| 1925 election | George Sykes |
| 1928 election | George Sykes |
| 1931 election | George Sykes |
| 1935 election | John Robertson |
| 1938 election | John Robertson |
| 1943 election | Garnet Mackley |
| (Electorate abolished in 1946; see Wairarapa) |||

## Election results
### 1943 election

1943 general election: Masterton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Garnet Mackley | 5,061 | 47.88 | |
| | Labour | John Robertson | 4,567 | 43.21 | −7.28 |
| | Democratic Labour | Donald Alexander Thompson | 581 | 5.49 | |
| | Independent | Justin McCarthy Power | 285 | 2.69 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 75 | 0.70 | −0.08 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 494 | 4.67 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,569 | 91.94 | −2.39 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,495 | | |

### 1938 election

1938 general election: Masterton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Robertson | 5,385 | 50.49 | +13.03 |
| | National | Jack Irving | 5,195 | 48.71 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 84 | 0.78 | +0.48 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 190 | 1.78 | −1.66 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,664 | 94.33 | +1.66 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,304 | | |

### 1935 election

1935 general election: Masterton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Robertson | 3,532 | 37.46 | |
| | Reform | George Sykes | 3,207 | 34.01 | −23.29 |
| | Democrat | Thomas Hislop | 2,688 | 28.51 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 29 | 0.30 | −0.37 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 325 | 3.44 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,427 | 92.67 | +7.88 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,172 | | |

### 1931 election

1931 general election: Masterton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Reform | George Sykes | 4,660 | 57.30 |
| | Labour | Peter Butler | 2,709 | 33.31 |
| | Independent | Arthur Henry Vile | 764 | 9.39 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 55 | 0.67 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,951 | 23.99 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,188 | 84.79 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,657 | |

### 1928 election

1928 general election: Masterton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Reform | George Sykes | 4,207 | 48.62 | −6.63 |
| | United | William Thompson | 2,969 | 34.31 | |
| | Labour | Ben Roberts | 1,477 | 17.07 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 72 | 0.83 | −0.23 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,238 | 14.31 | +2.75 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,725 | 89.92 | −1.90 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,703 | | |

### 1925 election

1925 general election: Masterton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Reform | George Sykes | 4,403 | 55.25 |
| | Liberal | Jack Andrews | 3,481 | 43.68 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 85 | 1.06 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 922 | 11.56 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,969 | 91.82 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,678 | |

### 1899 election

1899 general election: Masterton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Alexander Hogg | 2,591 | 64.92 |
| | Conservative | Charles Edwin Cockburn-Hood | 1,400 | 35.08 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,191 | 29.84 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,991 | 77.17 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,172 | |

### 1893 election

1893 general election: Masterton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alexander Hogg | 2,282 | 60.63 | +9.80 |
| | Conservative | Joseph Harkness | 1,054 | 28.00 | |
| | Liberal | William Wilson McCardle | 428 | 11.37 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,228 | 32.62 | +31.78 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,764 | 69.59 | +9.88 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,409 | | |

### 1890 election

1890 general election: Masterton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Alexander Hogg | 1,069 | 50.43 |
| | Conservative | George Beetham | 1,051 | 49.57 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18 | 0.84 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,120 | 49.71 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,264 | |