1891 Wellington colonial by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Wellington on 29 May 1891 because of the death of David Ferguson (Protectionist).[1]

Dates
DateEvent
5 May 1891 David Ferguson died.[1]
12 May 1891 Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.[2]
22 May 1891 Nominations
29 May 1891 Polling day
1 June 1891 Declaration of the poll.[3]
6 June 1891 The Legislative Assembly was dissolved, and writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with a general election.
11 June 1891 Return of writ
20 June 1891 Poll at Wellington

Candidates

Both O'Halloran and Riddel claimed to represent the Labour Party and engaged in a public dispute as to who had been chosen by the unions to represent the workers of Wellington.[11][12][13] Antony Green labeled O'Halloran as a Protectionist and Riddel as a Free Trader,[14] which reflects their positions on the fiscal issue, one of the issues which would divide the Labour Party following the 1891 election.

Result
1891 Wellington by-election
Friday 29 May [14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Protectionist Thomas York (elected) 292 31.0
Protectionist Thomas Quirk 285 30.2
Labor Michael O'Halloran 221 23.4
Labor Alexander Riddel 145 15.4
Total formal votes 943 100.0 +3.3
Informal votes 0 0.0 -3.3
Turnout 943 58.5 +1.9
Protectionist hold  

Aftermath

York did not get to take his seat as parliament was prorogued the day after the declaration of the poll,[3] and dissolved on 6 June for a general election. York, Quirk and O'Halloran each contested the election on 20 June, with similar results, York was elected with a slightly increased margin.[15]

See also

References
  1. "Mr David Alexander Ferguson (1844-1891)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  2. "Writ of election: Wellington". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 299. 12 May 1891. p. 3571. Retrieved 30 April 2021 – via Trove.
  3. "Wellington: declaration of the poll". The Australian Star. 2 June 1891. p. 6. Retrieved 1 May 2021 – via Trove.
  4. "Mr M C O'Halloran". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 June 1931. p. 10. Retrieved 1 May 2021 – via Trove.
  5. "A new party". The Daily Telegraph. 1 January 1891. p. 3. Retrieved 1 May 2021 – via Trove.
  6. "Obituary: Rev Alexander Riddel". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 December 1928. p. 14. Retrieved 1 May 2021 – via Trove.
  7. Green, Antony. "1889 Inverell". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  8. "Mr Thomas Quirk". Freeman's Journal. 17 December 1908. p. 32. Retrieved 1 May 2021 – via Trove.
  9. "Mr Thomas Henry York (1850-1910)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  10. "Mr T H York". The Daily Telegraph. 2 July 1891. p. 3. Retrieved 1 May 2021 – via Trove.
  11. "Sinking the fiscal issue". The Daily Telegraph. No. 3721. 2 June 1891. p. 3. Retrieved 1 May 2021 – via Trove.
  12. "Mr Riddel sneaks in a cheap electioneering address". The Daily Telegraph. 10 June 1891. p. 7. Retrieved 1 May 2021 – via Trove.
  13. "The Wellington election". The Daily Telegraph. 11 June 1891. p. 3. Retrieved 1 May 2021 – via Trove.
  14. Green, Antony. "1891 Wellington by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  15. Green, Antony. "1891 Wellington". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
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