The 23rd New Zealand Parliament was a term of the New Zealand Parliament. It was elected at the 1928 general election in November of that year.
1928 general election
The 1928 general election was held on Tuesday, 13 November in the Māori electorates and on Wednesday, 14 November in the general electorates, respectively. A total of 80 MPs were elected; 47 represented North Island electorates, 29 represented South Island electorates, and the remaining four represented Māori electorates. 844,633 voters were enrolled and the official turnout at the election was 88.1%.
Electoral boundaries
Sessions The 23rd Parliament sat for five sessions (there were two sessions in 1931), and was prorogued on 12 November 1931.
Session Opened Adjourned first 4 December 1928 14 December 1928 second 27 June 1929 9 November 1929 third 26 June 1930 25 October 1930 fourth 11 March 1931 28 April 1931 fifth 25 June 1931 11 November 1931
Party standings Start of Parliament PartyLeader(s)Seats at startUnited PartySir Joseph Ward27Reform PartyGordon Coates27Labour PartyHarry Holland19Country PartyHarold Rushworth1Independents6
End of Parliament PartyLeader(s)Seats at endReform PartyGordon Coates27United PartyGeorge Forbes26Labour PartyHarry Holland20Country PartyHarold Rushworth1Independents6
Ministries The Coates Ministry led by Gordon Coates of the Reform Party had come to power in May 1925. The Reform Party lost the 1928 election, suffering a humiliating defeat, dropping from 55 seats in 1925 to 28 only three years later. Parliament was called shortly after the election, Coates lost a no confidence vote and resigned as Prime Minister.
Joseph Ward formed the second Ward Ministry on 10 December 1928 as leader of the United Party, a successor of the Liberal Party. Ward was an unwell man at this stage in life and suffered several heart attacks. In May 1930, he was pressured by his colleagues to resign as Prime Minister.
Ward was succeeded by George Forbes, again of the United Party. The Forbes Ministry was in place until September 1931. During the difficult times of the Great Depression, Forbes wanted to form a grand coalition with the Labour Party and the Reform Party. Labour refused, but Reform went into a coalition government with United from September 1931.
Members
Initial MPs
By-elections during 23rd Parliament There were a number of changes during the term of the 23rd Parliament.
Electorate and by-election Date Incumbent Cause Winner
Notes
References