North Dunedin by-election, 1953

North Dunedin by-election, 1953

12 December 1953 (1953-12-12)
Turnout	70.42
Ethel McMillan Candidate Ethel McMillan W. P. MacDougall Party Labour National Popular vote 6,424 3,944 Percentage 61.96 38.04
Member before election Robert Walls Labour Elected Member Ethel McMillan Labour

The 1953 North Dunedin by-election was a by-election held during the 30th New Zealand Parliament in the Dunedin electorate of North Dunedin. The by-election occurred following the death of MP Robert Walls and was won by Ethel McMillan.

Background

Robert Walls, who was first elected to represent Dunedin North (the electorate's previous and subsequent name) for the Labour Party in the 1945 by-election, died on 6 November 1953. This triggered the North Dunedin by-election, which was held on 12 December 1953. Ethel McMillan was the candidate for the Labour Party and W. P. MacDougall was the candidate for the National Party. McMillan obtained 61.96% of the votes and was successful.

McMillan became the first woman to represent Dunedin North and would represent the electorate until the 1975 election, when she was defeated against Richard Walls of the National Party.

Previous election

1951 general election: North Dunedin

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Robert Walls	6,929	51.13	−0.89
	National	Donald Cameron	6,622	48.87	+1.68
Majority			307	2.27	−2.56
Turnout			13,551	92.03	−3.04

Results

North Dunedin by-election, 1953

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Ethel McMillan	6,424	61.96
	National	W. P. MacDougall	3,944	38.04
Majority			2,480	23.92	+21.65
Turnout			10,368	70.41	−21.62

See also

• List of New Zealand by-elections
• Dunedin North by-election, 1922
• Dunedin North by-election, 1945