British Columbia general election, 1924

The British Columbia general election of 1924 was the sixteenth general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on May 10, 1924, and held on June 20, 1924. The new legislature met for the first time on November 3, 1924.

The Liberal Party was re-elected to its third term in government, falling just short of a majority in the legislature even though it won less than a third of the popular vote. Two Independent Liberals were also elected. Premier John Oliver lost his own seat in Victoria City, but remained Premier until 1927.

The Conservative Party formed the official opposition, while two new parties, the Provincial Party and the Canadian Labour Party won three seats each, and a total of 35% of the vote.

Campaign

The Provincial Party, which nominated candidates only in 1924, was formed by a group of British Columbia Conservative Party dissidents known as the "Committee of 100", led and funded by the wealthy General Alexander McRae and political elements from the United Farmers of British Columbia. McRae claimed that the Liberal government of John Oliver and the previous administrations of Conservative Premier William John Bowser, then the opposition leader, were corrupt. Many of his allegations were related to the funding of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway plan to reach Prince George in the Northern interior of the province, which was not achieved until many years later. He claimed that there were kickbacks, patronage and various wrongdoings. His allegations were never proven. The election was bitterly fought with sensational allegations against all three leaders. McRae was not elected. Both Bowser and Oliver lost their seats but Oliver continued to lead his Liberal Party as Premier of a minority government after the election.[1]

Results

Party Party leader # of
candidates
Seats Popular vote
1920 Elected % Change # % % Change
  Liberal John Oliver 46 25 23 -8.0% 108,323 31.34% -6.55%
  Conservative William John Bowser 47 15 17 +13.3% 101,765 29.45% -1.75%
Provincial Alexander Duncan McRae 45 * 3 * 83,517 24.16% *
  Canadian Labour1   15 * 3 * 39,044 11.30% *
  Independent Liberal 5 - 2 - 3,549 1.03% +0.06%
Socialist2   2 - - - 4,364 1.26% -2.24%
  Independent 3 3 - -100.0% 2,520 0.73% -9.64%
  Independent Conservative ? - - - 2,046 0.59% +0.14%
Farmer–Labour   1 * - * 478 0.14% *
Total 168 47 48 +2.1% 345,608 100%  
Source: Elections BC

Notes:

* Party did not nominate candidates in the previous election.

1 Not the same as the Canadian Labour Party of B.C. which contested the 1906 and 1909 general elections. Organized in British Columbia in 1924.

2 Includes joint Socialist Party of Canada - Workers' Party of Canada candidate.

Results by riding

Results of British Columbia general election, 1924
Government Opposition
Member Riding
& party
Riding
& party
Member
     Herbert Frederick Kergin Atlin
Liberal
          Cowichan-Newcastle
Conservative
Cyril Francis Davie     
     Edward Dodsley Barrow Chilliwack
Liberal
          Cranbrook
Conservative
Noel Stirling Austin Arnold Wallinger     
     John Andrew Buckham Columbia
Liberal
          Creston
Conservative
Fred W. Lister     
     Alexander McDonald Paterson Delta
Liberal
          Dewdney
Conservative
John Alexander Catherwood     
     James Reginald Colley Kamloops
Liberal
          Esquimalt
Conservative
Robert Henry Pooley     
     Henry George Thomas Perry Fort George
Liberal
          Grand Forks-Greenwood
Conservative
John McKie     
     Charles Sidney Leary Kaslo-Slocan
Liberal
          The Islands
Conservative
Cyrus Wesley Peck     
     Albert Edward Munn Lillooet
Liberal
          Mackenzie
Conservative
Michael Manson     
     William Sloan Nanaimo           Rossland-Trail
Conservative
James Hargrave Schofield     
     Kenneth Campbell Nelson           Saanich
Conservative
Thomas George Coventry     
     Edwin James Rothwell New Westminster           Salmon Arm
Conservative
Rolf Wallgren Bruhn     
     John Melvin Bryan, Sr. North Vancouver
Liberal
          Similkameen
Conservative
William Alexander McKenzie     
     Alexander Malcolm Manson Omineca
Liberal
          South Okanagan
Conservative
James William Jones     
     Thomas Dufferin Pattullo Prince Rupert
Liberal
          Victoria City
Conservative
Reginald Hayward     
     William Henry Sutherland Revelstoke
Liberal
          Joshua Hinchcliffe     
     Horace Cooper Wrinch Skeena
Liberal
          Robert Allan Gus Lyons     
     Ian Alistair MacKenzie Vancouver City
Liberal
          Harold Despard Twigg     
     Christopher McRae           Cariboo
Provincial
David Alexander Stoddart     
     Victor Wentworth Odlum           Richmond-Point Grey
Provincial
George Alexander Walkem     
     Mary Ellen Smith           Vancouver City
Provincial
Andrew McCreight Creery     
     Charles Woodward           Alberni
Independent Liberal
Richard John Burde     
     John Duncan MacLean Yale
Liberal
          Comox
Independent Liberal
Paul Philips Harrison     
     Burnaby
Canadian Labour Party
Francis Aubrey Browne     
     Fernie
Canadian Labour Party
Thomas Aubert Uphill     
     South Vancouver
Canadian Labour Party
Robert Henry Neelands     
Source: Elections BC

See also

References

  1. ↑ Margaret A. Ormsby (1958). British Columbia: A History. MacMillan: Vancouver. p. 420.

Further reading

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