In 1902, changes to the country quota affected the three-member electorates in the four main centres.
In the 1902 election, the electorate was classed as a mix of rural and urban (with a two to one ratio), and comprised areas just west of the central part of Auckland.
[5] He served for three terms as was beaten in the 1911 election by the independent left-wing politician John Payne.
Grey Lynn was held from the 1919 election by Labour's Fred Bartram until he was defeated in 1928 by John Fletcher of the United Party.
[9] There was disagreement in the Labour Party regarding the nomination for the 1931 election, with John A. Lee chosen over their previous representative Fred Bartram, resulting in the latter to stand as an Independent.