1896 City of Christchurch by-election

William Pember Reeves was a lawyer and prominent journalist in Christchurch. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in the for the electorate, and transferred to the City of Christchurch electorate when it was recreated for the . Reeves was a cabinet minister in the Liberal Government, but had an uneasy relationship with the premier, Richard Seddon, and was blocked by Seddon from implementing labour reforms. Reeves was offered the position of Agent-General, which he accepted; this was an influential position and when the post became that of a high commissioner ten years later, the salary exceeded that of the prime minister. But nonetheless, Seddon was determined to remove Reeves from his cabinet, and this was a convenient way of achieving this. Rumours about Reeves' pending change of career started to circulate in early December 1895, but the official announcement was left until 6 January 1896, with Reeves leaving Lyttelton for Wellington later that evening, and from Wellington for London only four days later. The Governor, The Earl of Glasgow, received Reeves' resignation from the Christchurch electorate when he reached Lyttelton on 13 January. The local Christchurch newspaper, The Press, commented on Reeves' immediate departure after the official announcement in the following way: ==Candidates==

John Lee Scott John Lee Scott (1848–1913) was a prominent engineer and businessman, and ran Scott Bros. with his brother George. He had been on the Sydenham Borough Council, and in 1887 he was a member of Christchurch City Council. Scott stood in the 1886 Sydenham by-election and came second to Richard Molesworth Taylor. On the evening of 3 January, i.e. before the official announcement of Reeves' appointment had been made, he received a large deputation, and Scott informed them that he had already checked with his brother by telegram whether he would consent him leaving the business for parliamentary work. While the deputation was still with him, his brother's positive reply arrived and Scott thus consented to become a candidate. Scott was Seddon's preferred candidate for the Liberal Party, as he was also a prohibitionist and would thus draw votes from Tommy Taylor, whom Seddon tried to keep out of Parliament. Scott withdrew from the election on 14 January, as it had transpired that his brother and business partner had to be overseas for much of the year, and he had thus to remain in Christchurch to look after their commercial interests. The conservative The Press commented: Tommy Taylor Tommy Taylor (1862–1911) was the first candidate to officially announce his candidacy by advertisement on 7 January. Taylor had started training as a Methodist minister but discontinued when he was found to be "too unorthodox and argumentative". As a prohibitionist, he had a national profile, and he had great popular appeal. The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act, 1893 was seen as a cynical attempt by Richard Seddon's—himself a former publican—to appeal to the masses, and it turned Taylor into an opponent of Seddon. Taylor's political beliefs were otherwise in line with the Liberal Party. Charles Lewis Charles Lewis (1857–1927) announced his candidacy on 8 January by advertisement for the conservative opposition. Lewis was born in Christchurch and received his education in Christchurch and England. Upon his return, he was employed as a farmer until he inherited his father's farm in Halswell. He was a member of various local bodies, most importantly the Halswell Road Board. Lewis was practically unknown in the City of Christchurch electorate prior to the by-election. Richard Molesworth Taylor On the same day as Lewis (8 January), Richard Molesworth Taylor (1835–1919) confirmed his candidacy by advertisement in the interest of the Liberal Party, although he was not their official candidate. when he refused to align with Richard Seddon. ==Run up to the election==

The governor received Reeves' resignation from his ministerial posts and his electorate upon his arrival in Lyttelton on 13 January, but the following day, Scott resigned from the campaign. On 16 January, the Seddon Ministry gazetted Reeves' resignation from his ministerial posts, but not his resignation from the City of Christchurch electorate. On 23 January, Liberal Party organisers met and confirmed Richard Molesworth Taylor as the official government candidate. The following day, Reeves' resignation was finally gazetted. Polling was from 9am to 7pm, and 11 polling booths were provided throughout the central city, Waltham, Phillipstown, Richmond, Sydenham, Addington, Edgeware (then called Knightstown), and St Albans. Three ministers of the crown travelled from Wellington to Christchurch to support Richard Molesworth Taylor; The Press commented that this had never happened before. ==Results==

The election proceeded in an orderly manner, unlike many other Christchurch elections at the time. The contest was an open one; any of the three candidates was regarded as being able to win. Lewis won the election, and Tommy Taylor came second. The Press commented that this was a "crushing defeat" for the government, as Lewis was a member of the opposition, and Tommy Taylor was one of the "most uncompromising opponents of the Premier". Taylor was extremely popular and elected Mayor of Christchurch in April 1911. When he suddenly died only three months later aged 49, 50,000 people lined the streets for his funeral procession; the largest funeral that the city has ever seen. ==Notes==