1901 Napier Borough Council election

1901 Napier Borough Council election

24 April 1901
Turnout	2,477
Mayoral election
Candidate John McVay Samuel Carnell Party Independent Progressive Liberal Popular vote 1,252 1,204 Percentage 50.55% 48.61%
Mayor before election George Swan Conservative Elected mayor John McVay Independent
Council election
All 12 at-large seats on the Napier Borough Council
Affiliation Seats Change   Electors 5   Progressive Liberal / Electors 3   Independents 2   Progressive Liberal 1   Conservative 1

The 1901 Napier Borough Council election was a local election held on 24 April in the Borough of Napier of New Zealand, as part of that year's nation-wide local elections. Voters elected the mayor of Napier for a one-year term and 12 city councillors for a two-year term. In person voting and the first-past-the-post voting system were used.

This election was the first held following the changes made to local governance and elections under the Municipal Corporations Act 1900. The previously existing wards in the borough were abolished and instead councillors were elected at-large.^[1] The borough had had 9 councillors but now 12 were to be elected.^[2]

Incumbent mayor George Swan did not run for re-election as mayor,^[3] but did run for council.

At a meeting on the 27 March, the Napier Progressive Liberal Association adopted a platform which they submitted to candidates for consideration.^[4]

The policies supported by the group included the "municipalisation" of borough lighting, that contacts for street lighting made with the Gas Company be for annual terms only, the improvement of the sewer outlet, the abolition of the Public Works Committee, the holding of weekly council meetings, the reorganisation of council staff on a "more economical" basis, that borough officials should not accept other employment, that all employees, regardless of if they're salaried or otherwise, be on "equal-footing" with regards to holiday wages, the introduction of a minimum wage in contracts for labour, and that all council employees be paid no less than 8 shillings a day.^[4]

The Napier Municipal Reform Association released a platform advocating for several policies including the reduction of costs spent on council staff, the reorganisation of the staff, the paying of a fixed monthly salary to the mayor, the municipal control of street lighting, that all council business be done in the open before the press, that details of committee meetings be given to the press, the abolition of log-rolling in "special" parts of the borough, the appointment of an executive to help the mayor, and that no expense be incurred unless agreed by council in open meeting.^[1]

The Napier Electors' Association said they would support independent candidates for election. The association declared that they were "free from all political bias". They supported an inquiry by a "competent" sanitary engineer with regards to the borough's water infrastructure, and the establishment of a public library and baths.^[5] They supported the formation and leveling of outlying streets and the purchase of the gas works; if this could not be done they would support only annual lighting contracts. They supported an inquiry on the cost of introducing electric lighting and into equitable pay of borough staff.^[5] They supported collaboration with other local bodies to establish light railways to open up trade.^[5]

John McVay was an incumbent borough councillor, having held the position for 17 years. He had been the chair of the public works, water works, road, and finance committees over that time, amongst others.^[5] McVay wrote in the Hawke's Bay Herald that he had helped bring the various amenities of the city to a state of "execellence", whilst noting that the rates in the borough were lower than elsewhere in the country.^[5] He wrote that he supported the construction of public baths in the borough and that a concrete storm water channel would need to be constructed following the reclamation of the "Whare-o-maranui" reserve.^[5] He wrote that he supported a public library being constructed but objected the plans that had been previously suggested before the council.^[5]

Samuel Carnell had served briefly in parliament as a Liberal MP for the Napier electorate.^[3] The Waipawa Mail derided his term as an MP as a "wretched failure".^[3]

Incumbent borough councillor Frederick George Smith stood for re-election, having already been on the council for 15 years.^[6]

The association endorsed mayoral candidate Samuel Carnell and 12 candidates who supported their platform.^[7]

The association endorsed 12 candidates who supported their platform.^[a][5]

John McVay narrowly defeated Samuel Carnell by 48 votes.^[8]

12 borough councillors were elected.^[8] All incumbent councilors were returned except Laws and Robjohns.^[10]