The 1908 New Zealand general election was held on Tuesday, 17 and 24 November and 1 December in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 2 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 17th session of the New Zealand Parliament. A total number of 537,003 (79.8%) voters turned out to vote.
Changes to the electoral law The Second Ballot Act 1908 provided for second or runoff ballots between the top two candidates where the top candidate did not get an absolute majority. The second ballot was held 7 days after the first ballot except in 10 large rural seats, where 14 days were allowed. In 1908, 22 second ballots were held on 24 November and 1 (Bay of Plenty) on 1 December. At the 1911 election, all 30 second ballots were held 7 days later. Two 1909 by-elections (in Rangitikei and Thames) also required second ballots.
The Second Ballot Act of 1908, which did not apply to the Maori electorates, was repealed in 1913.
Results Party totals The following table gives party strengths and vote distribution. Election results PartyCandidatesTotal votesPercentageSeats wonChange 108315,22058.750-8 53149,28627.826+10 1116,9743.11+1 52,5210.60±0 4550,4789.43-1
Votes summary
Electorate results The following are the results of the 1908 general election:
Key
|colspan=8 style="background-color:#FFDEAD" | General electorates
|colspan=8 style="background-color:#FFDEAD" | Māori electorates
Table footnotes:
Summary of changes A boundary redistribution resulted in the abolition of seven seats: Caversham, held by Thomas Sidey Courtenay, held by Charles Lewis Hawera, held by Charles E. Major Mount Ida, held by Jack MacPherson Newtown, held by William Barber Waiapu, held by James Carroll Waikouaiti, held by Thomas Mackenzie At the same time, seven new seats came into being: Dunedin West Gisborne Stratford Taumarunui Tauranga Wellington South Wellington Suburbs
Notes
References