The Eden by-election of 1926 was a by-election for the Eden electorate during the 22nd New Zealand Parliament. The seat became vacant after the appointment of the sitting member, Christopher Parr of the Reform Party as High Commissioner to London. Parr resigned on 26 March.[1]
The by-election was held on 15 April 1926.[2] Three candidates contested the seat. Ellen Melville stood as an Independent Reform candidate, claiming interference by the party organiser Albert Davy prevented her being selected as the official candidate. The Reform Party vote was split allowing the Labour candidate, Rex Mason, to win.[2]
Harry Holland became Leader of the Opposition on 16 June 1926, as a result of the Eden by-election as Labour was now the second largest party in Parliament.
| Eden by-election, 1926 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Labour | Rex Mason | 4,589 | 41.54 | ||
| Reform | James Gunson | 4,163 | 37.68 | ||
| Independent Reform | Ellen Melville | 2,197 | 19.89 | ||
| Informal votes | 99 | 0.90 | |||
| Majority | 3,811 | 3.86 | |||
| Turnout | 11,048 | ||||
| Labour gain from Reform | Swing | ||||
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