The by-election occurred following the death of MP James W. Munro and was won by Robert Walls.

[1] This triggered the Dunedin North by-election, which was contested by Robert Walls for Labour, and Norman Jones for National.

[2] Walls represented Dunedin North until his death in 1953,[3] and the Labour Party would go on to hold the electorate until 1975.

He met the Opposition leaders Sidney Holland and Adam Hamilton; noting the divisions in his own caucus.

The government held the seat, and in a (non-broadcast) semi-secret session of the House on 2 August agreed to participate in a force against Japan "within the capacity of our remaining resources of manpower".