Mount Ida (New Zealand electorate)

Mount Ida is a former parliamentary electorate in the Otago region of New Zealand, from 1871 to 1893, and then from 1902 to 1908.

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, and two electorates that previously existed were re-established, including Mount Ida.^[1]

Mount Ida was a rural electorate in Central Otago. It is based on Naseby and uses its prior name. In the 1905 election, polling booths were in Naseby, Livingstone, Waipiata, Island Cliff, Duntroon, Rough Ridge, Gimmerburn, Kurow, Lauder Railway, Cambrian's, Omarama, Tokarahi, Georgetown, Wedderburn, Upper Kyeburn, Blackstone Hill, St Bathans, Maerewhenua, Ophir, Ida Valley, Ranfurly, Wharekuri, Ngapara, and Hāwea Flat.^[2]

History

The electorate was first formed for the 1871 election.^[3] David Mervyn was the first representative. He served until the end of the parliamentary term in 1875.^[4] Mervyn was succeeded by Cecil de Lautour, who won the 1876 election and served until 1884.^[5] The next representative was Scobie Mackenzie, who was elected in 1884 and served three terms until 1893.^[5]

The electorate was abolished in 1893 and re-established in 1902.^[3] Between 1893 and 1902 most of the seat was in the Waihemo electorate, with some in the Tuapeka or Wakatipu electorates.

Alexander Herdman was the representative for the term starting with the 1902 election.^[6] Herdman was succeeded by John Andrew MacPherson in the 1905 election and served until the abolition of the electorate in 1908.^[7]

Members of Parliament

The electorate was represented by five Members of Parliament:

Key

Independent Conservative Liberal

Election	Winner
1871 election		David Mervyn
1876 election		Cecil de Lautour
1879 election
1881 election
1884 election		Scobie Mackenzie
1887 election
1890 election
(Electorate abolished 1893–1902)
1902 election		Alexander Herdman
1905 election		John MacPherson
(Electorate abolished 1908)

Election results

1890 election

1890 general election: Mount Ida^[8]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Scobie Mackenzie	819	53.42
	Liberal	Vincent Pyke	714	46.58
Majority			105	6.84
Turnout			1,533	70.06
Registered electors			2,188

Notes

^ McRobie 1989, pp. 67f.
^ "The General Election, 1905". Wellington: Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives. 1907. p. 14. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
^ ^a ^b Scholefield 1950, p. 160.
^ Scholefield 1950, p. 126.
^ ^a ^b Scholefield 1950, p. 103.
^ Scholefield 1950, p. 113.
^ Scholefield 1950, p. 124.
^ "The General Election, 1890". National Library. 1891. Retrieved 25 February 2012.

References

McRobie, Alan (1989). Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books. ISBN 0-477-01384-8.
Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.