1936 New Zealand National Party leadership election

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1936 New Zealand National Party leadership election

The National Party formed in May 1936 from the remnants of the Reform and United parties, who had governed together since 1931. After the party’s defeat in the 1935 election, George Forbes had led the parliamentary National Party and agreed to step down as leader on 31 October 1936.

A leadership ballot followed, with two candidates: Adam Hamilton, a Reform MP and former minister, and Charles Wilkinson, the MP for Egmont. The caucus vote was close: Hamilton won 13 votes to Wilkinson’s 12, about 52% to 48%. The result was shaped by tensions between party leaders Gordon Coates and Forbes, with Coates pushing for a Reform MP to lead the new party.

Hamilton became leader on 31 October 1936, succeeding Forbes. The decision contributed to the resignation of Sir George Wilson, the party president. Wilkinson remained an MP until his retirement in 1943.