The 26th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the New Zealand Parliament. It was elected at the 1938 general election in October of that year.

1938 general election

The 1938 general election was held on Friday, 14 October in the Māori electorates and on Saturday, 15 October in the general electorates, respectively. A total of 80 MPs were elected; 48 represented North Island electorates, 28 represented South Island electorates, and the remaining four represented Māori electorates. 995,173 voters were enrolled and the official turnout at the election was 92.9%.

Sessions The 26th Parliament sat for an unusual five sessions by omitting the 1941 general election, and was prorogued on 30 August 1943. A 1941 act extended the life of parliament to 1 November 1942, and a 1942 act allowed extension to "one year from the termination of the present war", although a general election was held in .

Session Opened Adjourned first 27 June 1939 6 October 1939 second 30 May 1940 6 December 1940 third 12 March 1941 17 October 1941 fourth 11 December 1941 12 December 1942 fifth 24 February 1943 26 August 1943

Ministries The Labour Party had been in power since December 1935, and Michael Joseph Savage led the Savage Ministry. The opposition had consisted of the United Party and the Reform Party, which merged in 1936 during the term of the 25th Parliament to form the National Party. The First Labour Government was confirmed at the 1938 general election with an increased majority, and the Savage Ministry remained until Savage's death on 27 March 1940.

Savage was succeeded as prime minister by Peter Fraser, who formed the Fraser Ministry on 1 April 1940. The first Fraser Ministry resigned on 30 April 1940 and was reappointed, with some portfolios adjusted. The second Fraser Ministry remained in power until its defeat by the National Party at the .

A War Cabinet was formed on 16 July 1940, which held the responsibility for all decisions relating to New Zealand's involvement in World War II. The War Cabinet was dissolved on 21 August 1945. For some months in 1942, a War Administration was in place. Formed on 30 June and dissolved on 2 October, the War Administration had responsibility for all war matters, with the War Cabinet as its executive body.

Party standings

Start of Parliament

PartyLeader(s)Seats at startLabour PartyMichael Joseph Savage53National PartyAdam Hamilton25Independents2

End of Parliament PartyLeader(s)Seats at startLabour PartyPeter Fraser50National PartySidney Holland25Democratic LabourJohn A. Lee2Independents3

Initial composition of the 26th Parliament

The following table shows the initial composition of the 26th Parliament:

Changes There were a number of changes during the term of the 26th Parliament.

By-elections Electorate and by-election Date Incumbent Cause Winner

Party affiliation changes Name Year Seat From ToJohn A. Lee1940Grey Lynn Bill BarnardNapierGordon Coates1942Kaipara Bert KyleRiccarton

Legislative Council Composition of the Legislative Council at 23 June 1939: PartySeats at startLabour Party16National Party7Independents or Unclear8 List of members of the Legislative Council at 23 June 1939: NamePartyStartEndNotesJohn Alexander National22 June 193421 June 1941Appointed by the United-Reform Coalition.John Archer Labour22 September 193726 April 1949Tom Bloodworth Labour22 June 193431 December 1950Mark Briggs Labour9 March 19368 March 1950Tom Brindle Labour9 March 19368 March 1950Archibald Burns National22 June 193421 June 1941Appointed by the United-Reform Coalition.Walter CarncrossUnclear18 March 190330 June 1940Appointed as a Liberal. Late reappointed by the Reform Government in 1924, the United Government in 1931 and the First Labour Government in 1938.Carey Carrington National17 June 192616 June 1940Appointed by the Reform Government in 1926.Michael Connelly Labour9 March 19368 March 1950James Cotter Labour9 March 193630 April 1947Eliot DavisUnclear22 June 193431 December 1950Appointed by the United-Reform Coalition and reappointed by Labour.Thomas Francis Doyle Labour9 March 19368 March 1950Mark Fagan Labour11 June 193031 December 1947Appointed by the United Government in 1930. Reappointed by the United-Reform Government in 1935 and by Labour in 1944. Served as a Minister without portfolio in the first Labour Government. Also served as Speaker of the Legislative Council between 18 July 1939 to 31 December 1947.James Goodall Labour9 March 193622 September 1942Josiah Hanan National17 June 192631 December 1950Was a Liberal. Appointed by the Council in 1926 by the Reform Government. Reappointed by Labour in 1940 and 1947.William Hayward National22 June 193421 June 1941Appointed by the United-Reform CoalitionGeorge Robert Hunter Labour9 March 193623 October 1949Bernard Martin Labour9 March 19368 March 1950William McIntyre National2 September 192126 October 1949Appointed by Reform in 1921. Reappointed by Labour in 1942 and 1949.James McLeodUnclear22 June 193431 March 1944Appointed by the United-Reform Coalition and reappointed by LabourRangi Mawhete Labour9 March 19368 March 1950Tom O’Byrne Labour22 June 193431 December 1950Appointed by the United-Reform Coalition. Reappointed by Labour in 1941 and 1948Francis Edward O’Flynn Labour22 September 193719 June 1942William PerryUnclear22 June 293431 December 1950Appointed by the United-Reform Coalition. Reappointed by Labour in 1941 and 1948Heaton RhodesUnclear22 June 193421 June 1941Appointed by the United-Reform Coalition. Previously served as a member between 28 October 1925 - 27 October 1932Benjamin Robbins Labour9 March 19368 March 1950Charles Statham Independent9 March 19365 March 1946Former Reform MP for Dunedin Central. Did not take part in active politics while serving as a member of the CouncilJonathan TrevethickUnclear11 June 193017 October 1939Appointed by the United Government in 1930. Reappointed by Labour in 1937. Vincent WardUnclear22 June 19349 February 1946Appointed by the United-Reform Government in 1934. Reappointed by Labour in 1941.Fred Waite National22 June 193431 December 1950Former Reform MP for Clutha. Appointed by the United-Reform Coalition and reappointed by Labour twice.David Wilson Labour22 September 193721 September 1944 Leader of the Council between 17 September 1939 and 26 September 1944. Served as a Minister of the Crown for: State Fire Insurance (1940-1944), Immigration (1940-1944), Broadcasting (1941-1944) and Civil Defence (1942-1944). Also served between 17 June 1947 and 31 December 1950.

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