POLITICAL RECORD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 246, 15 September 1936, Page 9

POLITICAL RECORD.

THE MANUKAU SEAT.

ONLY FIVE MEMBERS,

One of the most interesting Parliamentary histories of all the New Zealand electorates is possessed by Manukau, the seat which recently became vacant through the resignation of Mr W. J. Jordon on his assumption of tho duties of High Commissioner in London. First created a separate electoral district in 1860, when it was known as the Town of Onehunga, it sent its first representative to the General Assembly of 1861 and has had only five different representatives over a period of 75 years and 23 general elections (says the Auckland Herald). Two of these five members have held the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives and one has been raised to the status oi High Commissioner—a record which is not equalled by any other electorate. The five members and their parties have been :—Sir Maurice O’liorke (Liberal), 1861-1890, 1893-1902; Mr W. F. Buckland (Conservative). 18901893); Mr M. M. Kirkbride (Reform), 1902-1906; Sir Frederic Lang (Reform), 1906-1922: and Mr W. J. Jordan (Labour), 1922-1936. VOTING STRENGTH.

Sir Maurice O’Rorke was elected in January, 1861, after an exciting contest with a nominee of the Stratford Ministry, winning by 48 votes to 47—a total of 95 votes cast. This is in decided contrast to the 12,479 votes recorded at the last election, when Mr Jordan’s majority in a triangular contest was over 5000. Sir Maurice held the seat for 39 years, with one absence of three years, being’ defeated in 1890 by Mr Buckland, who had pre-

viously had one term, in Parliament for Franklin North. Returned again in 1893, Sir Maurice held the seat until he was beaten by Mr Kirkbride in 1902. His services for the Manukau constituency were particularly distinguished, for, in 'addition to his duties as Speaker, he did much excellent work for New Zealand in education. As Speaker, Sir Maurice was generally considered to be the greatest the New Zealand Parliament has known. Ho succeeded Sir William Fitzherbert to this office and held it all the remaining years he was in Parliament—over 21 years. After he was returned in 1893 he was elected Speaker in a contest with Sir William Steward, who had acted in that capacity for the three years Sir Maurice was out of Parliament. It was while he was a member that the Town of Onehunga electorate was changed in name, first to Oneunga, and then to that borne at present, the latest change being made by the Representation Committee of the House after the dissolution of 1879. Sir Maurice became the first member for the Manukau electorate as such in 1881. A BURLESQUE BILL. | Mr Auckland, who many years later : was Mayor of Cambridge, was chiefly known for the amusement he created in 1892 with his Washerwomen and Manglers Bill, a burlesque on the industrial legislation of the Ballanee Government. Mr Kirkbride held the seat from 1902 until the recess of I 1906, dying on Novemlier 4 of that j year. At the by-election thus caused, I Sir Frederic Lang was returned in the Massey interests. He rose to be Chairman of Committees in 1912 and in , 1913 was elected Speaker on the-death of Sir Arthur Guinness, member for | Grey. j Sir Frederic Lang represented | Manukau for 16 years and when the ! time came for the election of 1922 this seat was regarded as one of the safest the Government had. His de- j feat by Mr Jordan was one of the major sensations of the election. From 1922 Mr Jordan held the confidence of the electorate against all opponents.