David Buick Reform Jimmy Nash Reform The Palmerston by-election of 1918 was a by-election held in the Palmerston electorate during the 19th New Zealand Parliament, on 19 December 1918.

The by-election was won by the sitting Mayor of Palmerston North, Jimmy Nash with a majority of 315.

The contest was triggered by the death of incumbent MP David Buick of the Reform Party on 18 November 1918 during the influenza epidemic.

[1] Under the terms of the coalition agreement between Reform and the Liberal's a condition was made not to oppose each other in by-elections for deceased or retiring MP's from their own parties.

However, both contested the seat after failing to agree on a joint National Government nominee.