In 1944, election were held for the Mayor of Wellington plus other local government positions including fifteen city councillors.

The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

Three members of the Citizens' Association were nominated for the mayoralty:[1] Despite the open challenge to him Hislop (who had been mayor for 13 years) was again selected by a ballot of the Citizens' Electoral Committee.

This caused concern for the Citizens' Association of vote splitting and a repeat of the 1912 election where competing centre-right candidates allowed a Labour mayor to be elected.

Declining arbitration, Appleton got his wish after discussions when Hislop (albeit reluctantly) agreed to stand aside in the interests of unity.