Grey Lynn is a former New Zealand parliamentary
electorate, in the city of
Auckland. It existed from 1902 to 1978, and was represented by nine
Members of Parliament.
Population centres
The Representation Act 1900 had increased the membership of the
House of Representatives from general electorates 70 to 76, and this was implemented through the 1902 electoral redistribution. In 1902, changes to the
country quota affected the three-member electorates in the four main centres. The tolerance between electorates was increased to ±1,250 so that the
Representation Commissions (since 1896, there had been separate commissions for the
North and
South Islands) could take greater account of communities of interest. These changes proved very disruptive to existing boundaries, and six electorates were established for the first time, including Grey Lynn, and two electorates that previously existed were re-established.[1]
During this electorate's existence, it was centred on the suburb of
Grey Lynn. In the
1902 election, the electorate was classed as a mix of rural and urban (with a two to one ratio), and comprised areas just west of the central part of Auckland.[2] In the 1907 electoral redistribution, the electorate was classed as fully urban, and the
country quota thus no longer applied.[3]
In 1919
Ellen Melville was one of three women who stood at short notice when women were able to stand as candidates for election to parliament. She stood on behalf of the
Reform Party and came second in Grey Lynn.
Grey Lynn was held from the
1919 election by
Labour's
Fred Bartram until he was defeated in
1928 by
John Fletcher of the
United Party.[8] During 1930, Fletcher became an Independent.[9] There was disagreement in the Labour Party regarding the nomination for the
1931 election, with
John A. Lee chosen over their previous representative Fred Bartram, resulting in the latter to stand as an Independent.[10][11] Four candidates stood in total, with Lee defeating the incumbent.[12]
Members of Parliament
The electorate was represented by nine Members of Parliament.[4]
McRobie, Alan (1989). Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books.
ISBN0-477-01384-8.
Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand parliamentary election results, 1946–1987. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington Department of Political Science.
ISBN0-475-11200-8.
Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer.
OCLC154283103.