19 Facts About Vernon Cracknell

Vernon Francis Cracknell was a New Zealand politician.

Vernon Cracknell served as the Social Credit Party's third leader.

Vernon Cracknell established his own accountancy firm in Kerikeri in 1951.

Vernon Cracknell made his entry into politics in local government in 1950 when he was elected a member of the Bay of Islands Harbour Board and became the board's chairman in 1953.

Vernon Cracknell placed second, pushing the Labour Party candidate into third place, and won more votes than any other Social Credit candidate.

The party was without a permanent leader and Vernon Cracknell became the main spokesperson for the party as its de facto leader.

Vernon Cracknell was elected the official leader of the party at the 1963 party conference.

Vernon Cracknell instigated a more centralised administrative structure and in 1964 the positions of party leader and deputy leader were made permanent to make the party more stable.

Vernon Cracknell's victory was a surprise, as no candidate not aligned with either the Labour or National parties had been elected to Parliament since 1943.

However, Vernon Cracknell found himself unsuited to Parliamentary debate and did not make any substantial impact.

Vernon Cracknell struggled to achieve an independent voice in Parliament, voting with Labour 22 times and with National 14 times in his first year.

Vernon Cracknell was not particularly skilled at dealing with the media and so received little attention, thus undoing Social Credit's foot in the door in terms of political ascendancy.

Vernon Cracknell was a good organiser and recognised for his honesty and respectability.

Vernon Cracknell had the indignity of having his maiden speech deferred.

Vernon Cracknell resigned the leadership without a delegate vote leaving O'Brien to gain the leadership, without winning it from him.

Thereafter, Vernon Cracknell had little involvement in politics, and did not attempt to regain his seat again.

However after O'Brien left the party and was replaced by Bruce Beetham as leader, Vernon Cracknell rejoined the party in 1975 and was made 'president emeritus' of the party and gave a speech at that years party conference which helped to calm the party and consolidate the membership around Beetham's leadership.

Vernon Cracknell returned to his accountancy practice in Kerikeri before retiring in 1985.

Vernon Cracknell's wife Shelagh Ralston Julius, who was a Squadron Leader in the WAAF during the second world war, died in 1993.