Samuel Paull Andrews

Samuel Paull Andrews (1836 – 18 October 1916) was a 19th-century politician in Christchurch, New Zealand. Originally from the Isle of Wight, he was the first working class man to become a Member of Parliament in his chosen country.

Andrews was born at Wootton Bridge on the Isle of Wight. He learned the trade of a plasterer. He emigrated to Victoria in Australia in 1854 and spent ten years there, initially gold mining.

He came to Auckland in 1864 on a plastering contract for the Union Bank of Australia. He then worked on other plastering contracts in Nelson and Dunedin before settling in Christchurch.

Andrews first tried to get elected to the Canterbury Provincial Council in 1867, but he narrowly missed out. He was the first working class candidate. He was elected to the 6th provincial council on 29 July 1872, narrowly defeating John Cracroft Wilson and his victory was celebrated by carrying him through the streets. He was the first working-class man to be elected onto the Canterbury Provincial Council. He was re-elected in 1874, gaining two more votes than Henry Tancred, who was also elected. Andrews served until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.

Andrews first stood for Parliament in the 1875 general election in the three member City of Christchurch electorate. The working men's vote was split by Jerningham Wakefield, and Andrews came fourth, trailing Edward Stevens, Edward Richardson and William Sefton Moorhouse.

Andrews contested the next 1879 general election. This time, he proved successful, coming second equal with Edward Stevens, just behind George Grey and only 23 votes ahead of Edward Richardson. He was the first working class person to be elected to Parliament in New Zealand. He represented Christchurch until the end of the term in 1881.

The City of Christchurch electorate was abolished in 1881, and Andrews stood in the Christchurch North electorate against Henry Thomson, who gained 577 votes against 466 votes for Andrews; Thomson was thus returned.

When William White resigned from the Sydenham electorate in March 1886 on medical advice, Andrews had one last attempt of regaining entry to Parliament. Richard Molesworth Taylor successfully contested the subsequent by-election on 12 May, gaining 438 votes against John Lee Scott (418), Andrews (230) and S. G. Jolly (2).