Grey Lynn (New Zealand electorate)

Grey Lynn is a former New Zealand parliamentary electorate, in the city of Auckland. It existed from 1902 to 1978, and was represented by nine Members of Parliament.

Population centres
The Representation Act 1900 had increased the membership of the House of Representatives from general electorates 70 to 76, and this was implemented through the 1902 electoral redistribution. In 1902, changes to the country quota affected the three-member electorates in the four main centres. The tolerance between electorates was increased to ±1,250 so that the Representation Commissions (since 1896, there had been separate commissions for the North and South Islands) could take greater account of communities of interest. These changes proved very disruptive to existing boundaries, and six electorates were established for the first time, including Grey Lynn, and two electorates that previously existed were re-established.

During this electorate's existence, it was centred on the suburb of Grey Lynn. In the, the electorate was classed as a mix of rural and urban (with a two to one ratio), and comprised areas just west of the central part of Auckland. In the 1907 electoral redistribution, the electorate was classed as fully urban, and the country quota thus no longer applied.

History
The electorate existed from 1902 to 1978. George Fowlds of the Liberal Party was the electorate's first representative. He served for three terms as was beaten in the by the independent left-wing politician John Payne.

In 1919 Ellen Melville was one of three women who stood at short notice when women were able to stand as candidates for election to parliament. She stood on behalf of the Reform Party and came second in Grey Lynn.

Grey Lynn was held from the by Labour's Fred Bartram until he was defeated in  by John Fletcher of the United Party. During 1930, Fletcher became an Independent. There was disagreement in the Labour Party regarding the nomination for the, with John A. Lee chosen over their previous representative Fred Bartram, resulting in the latter to stand as an Independent. Four candidates stood in total, with Lee defeating the incumbent.

Members of Parliament
The electorate was represented by nine Members of Parliament.

Key

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