1915 Clarence state by-election

1915 Clarence state by-election

←  1913 14 August 1915 1917  →
Electoral district of Clarence in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Registered	9,768 [a]
Turnout	53.15% ( 8.40) [a]
First party Second party   F&S Candidate William Zuill George Morrison Party Ind. Liberal Farmers and Settlers Popular vote 2,904 2,212 Percentage 56.69% 43.18% Swing 56.69 43.18
MP before election John McFarlane Liberal Reform Elected MP William Zuill Independent Liberal

The 1915 Clarence state by-election was held on 14 August 1915 to elect the member for Clarence in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, following the death of Liberal Reform Party MP John McFarlane. ^{[1] [2]}

The seat was expected to be retained for Liberal Reform by its candidate, Thomas Henry, but he withdrew during the campaign because he held an office of profit under the Crown. ^{[3] [4]} William Zuill, who ran as an Independent Liberal, won the seat with 56.7% of the vote, defeating Farmers and Settlers candidate George Morrison. ^{[5] [6]}

Key events

• 9 July 1915 − John McFarlane dies ^{[7] [8]}
• 22 July 1915 − Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
• 29 July 1915 − Candidate nominations ^{[9] [10]}
• 4 August 1915 − Thomas Henry withdraws as candidate ^{[11] [12]}
• 14 August 1915 − Polling day (8am to 7pm) ^{[13] [14]}
• 26 August 1915 − Return of writ ^{[15] [16]}

Candidates

Party		Candidate	Background
	Independent Liberal [b]	William Zuill	Auctioneer [21] [22]
	Farmers and Settlers	George Morrison	Farmer [21]
	Liberal Reform	Thomas Henry	Medical practitioner [21]

Three other candidates mentioned in newspaper reports − Hugh McKinnon, W. R. Baker (unaligned) and T. M. Lobban (Liberal-affiliated) − withdrew prior to the close of candidate nominations and did not appear on the ballot. ^{[23] [24]}

Farmers and Settlers

At the time of the by-election, the Farmers and Settlers Association was in the process of establishing the Progressive Party. ^[25] George Morrison attempted to receive an official endorsement from the Association, but it chose not to support any candidate. ^[26] He was still recognised as a Farmers and Settlers candidate and publicly advertised himself as "the farmers' candidate", but was not endorsed by the Progressive Party (although some sources did label him as a Progressive candidate). ^{[21] [27] [28]}

Labor

The Labor Party, which had 27.8% of the vote in Clarence at the 1913 state election, did not contest the seat, although it publicly expressed interest in nominating a candidate. ^{[23] [29]}

Results

1915 Clarence state by-election ^{[30] [31]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent Liberal	William Zuill	2,904	56.69	+56.69
	Farmers and Settlers	George Morrison	2,212	43.18	+43.18
	Liberal Reform	Thomas Henry (withdrawn)	7	0.14	−72.06
Total formal votes			5,123	98.67	+2.11
Informal votes			69	1.33	−2.11
Turnout			5,192	53.15 [a]	−8.40
	Independent Liberal gain from Liberal Reform		Swing	N/A

See also

• Electoral results for the district of Clarence
• List of New South Wales state by-elections

Notes

1. Estimate based on a roll of 9,768 at the 1913 election. ^[32]
2. Although he was a member of the Farmers and Settlers Association, William Zuill contested the election as an Independent Liberal. ^{[17] [18] [19] [20]}

References

1. "Clarence By-Election". Australian Town and Country Journal. 18 August 1915. p. 45. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
2. "Clarence By -Election". Macleay Argus. 20 August 1915. p. 10. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
3. "ELECTION NOTES". Daily Examiner. 28 July 1915. p. 4. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
4. "DR. HENRY WITHDRAWS". Casino and Kyogle Courier and North Coast Advertiser. 7 August 1915. p. 5. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
5. "THE CLARENCE BY-ELECTION". The Richmond River Express and Casino Kyogle Advertiser. 17 August 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
6. "CLARENCE BY-ELECTION". Daily Post. 17 August 1915. p. 6. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
7. "DEATH OF MR. JOHN McFARLANE". Daily Examiner. 10 July 1915. p. 4. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
8. "John McFarlane". Immigration Place. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
9. "CLARENCE BY-ELECTION". Sydney Morning Herald. 23 July 1915. p. 12. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
10. "THE NOMINATIONS". Northern Star. 30 July 1915. p. 4. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
11. "DR. HENRY WITHDRAWS". Northern Star. 5 August 1915. p. 4. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
12. "CLARENCE BY-ELECTION". The Brisbane Courier. 5 August 1915. p. 6. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
13. "THE CLARENCE BY-ELECTION". The Grafton Argus and Clarence River General Advertiser. 9 August 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
14. "The Clarence By-Election". The Grafton Argus and Clarence River General Advertiser. 13 August 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
15. "WRIT OF ELECTION". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 22 July 1915. p. 4303. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
16. "CLARENCE BY-ELECTION". The Daily Telegraph. 23 July 1915. p. 9. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
17. "MR. W. A. ZUILL". Daily Examiner. 19 July 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 27 January 2025. Mr. W. A. Zuill announces in this morning's issue his determination to contest the Clarence as an Independent Liberal.
18. "CLARENCE BY-ELECTION". Sydney Morning Herald. 6 August 1915. Retrieved 27 January 2025. Mr. W. A. Zuill, one of the candidates for the Clarence, announces himself as an Independent Liberal.
19. "FARMER'S SEAT". The Daily Telegraph. 11 August 1915. p. 7. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
20. "Mr William Arthur ZUILL (1867 - 1942)". Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 27 January 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2025. Stood as an Independent Liberal; later joined the Nationalist Party.
21. "CLARENCE BY-ELECTION". The Corowa Free Press. 3 August 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 27 January 2025. Nominations as follows were received on Thursday for the Clarence by-election: − Thomas James Henry, Medical Practitioner; George Morrison, farmer, Goodwood Island; William Arthur Zuill auctioneer, Grafton. Dr. Henry is the Liberal nominee, and the other candidates are members of the local farmers' and settlers' associations; The Progressive party has not officially endorsed a candidate.
22. "MR. ZUILL A CANDIDATE". The Grafton Argus and Clarence River General Advertiser. 19 July 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
23. "CANDIDATES ANNOUNCED". Northern Star. 19 July 1915. p. 5. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
24. "THE CLARENCE BY-ELECTION". The Farmer and Settler. 27 July 1915. p. 4. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
25. "FARMERS' PROGRESSIVE PARTY". Barrier Miner. 16 July 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
26. "THE MAN FOR THE CLARENCE". The Grafton Argus and Clarence River General Advertiser. 6 August 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
27. "SEVERAL CANDIDATES ANNOUNCED". The Brisbane Courier. 19 July 1915. p. 6. Retrieved 27 January 2025. Mr. G. Morrison, of Chatsworth, who belongs to the Progressive Party, as outlined at Farmers and Settlers' Conference last week
28. "DR. HENRY'S CANDIDATURE". Daily Examiner. 26 July 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 27 January 2025. The District Council of the Farmers and Settlers' Association held a meeting at Maclean on Saturday. The proceedings were held in camera, but we understand it was decided to support Mr. Morrison's candidature, and that he be strongly urged to go to the poll.
29. "THREE CANDIDATES". The Maitland Weekly Mercury. 7 August 1915. p. 5. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
30. Green, Antony. "Clarence - By-election 1913". Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
31. "THE CLARENCE BY-ELECTION". Northern Star. 17 August 1915. p. 4. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
32. Green, Antony. "Clarence - 1913". Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2025.