1915 Willoughby state by-election

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A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Willoughby on 16 September 1915 following the death of Edward Larkin (Labor) who was killed in action at Gallipoli. [1]

Contents

Dates

DateEvent
25 April 1915Edward Larkin died. [1]
26 August 1915 Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. [2]
2 September 1915Nominations
18 September 1915Polling day
25 September 1915Second Round polling day
30 September 1915Return of writ

Candidates

The Liberal Reform Party chose not to nominate a candidate and Charles Wade, the Leader of the Opposition, encouraged Liberals not to vote in the election, stating "it would be almost indecent to launch a fierce party contest over the grave of a man who had given his life on behalf of all parties." [3] [4] Opposition to the Labor candidate was a source of controversy between Wade and the Premier, William Holman. [5]

Result

1915 Willoughby by-election
Saturday 18 September [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labor John Chambers1,75342.4-0.2
Independent Democrat John Haynes 1,65940.1
Independent Liberal John Wilson2696.5
Independent Labor Thomas Redgrave2325.6
Independent Edward Clark 2165.2+3.0
Australian DemocratMichael Roland40.1
Total formal votes4,13398.0-1.0
Informal votes842.0+1.0
Turnout 4,21733.9-37.7

A second ballot was necessary because no candidate had won an absolute majority.

1915 Willoughby by-election - Second Round
Saturday 25 September [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Democrat John Haynes 3,49156.8
Labor John Chambers2,66043.3-8.3
Total formal votes6,15199.1-0.5
Informal votes560.9+0.5
Turnout 6,20749.8-25.8
Independent Democrat gain from Labor Swing N/A

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Cunneen, Chris. "Larkin, Edward Rennix (Ted) (1880–1915)". Australian Dictionary of Biography . Melbourne University Press. ISSN   1833-7538 . Retrieved 22 May 2019 via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  2. "Writ of election: Willoughby". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales . No. 157. 26 August 1915. p. 5405. Retrieved 31 March 2021 via Trove.
  3. "NSW by-elections". The Australian Worker . 9 September 1915. p. 13. Retrieved 31 March 2021 via Trove.
  4. "Willoughby. Mr Wade on the party truce". The Sydney Morning Herald . 22 September 1915. p. 10. Retrieved 31 March 2021 via Trove.
  5. "Willoughby election". The Maitland Daily Mercury . 27 September 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 31 March 2021 via Trove.
  6. 1 2 3 "Willoughby nominations". The Daily Telegraph . 3 September 1915. p. 8. Retrieved 31 March 2021 via Trove.
  7. "Willoughby fight". The Daily Telegraph . 2 September 1915. p. 4. Retrieved 31 March 2021 via Trove.
  8. 1 2 Green, Antony. "1915 Willoughby by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 31 March 2021.