1906 Cootamundra state by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Cootamundra on 28 July 1906 because of the resignation of William Holman (Labor). John Norton blamed Holman for a series of articles in The Worker commenting on Norton's unnatural silence over the land scandals involving Paddy Crick and William Willis.[1][2] Norton made a personal attack on Holman in parliament, challenging him to resign and both would contest Holman's seat of Cootamundra.[1][3]

The Surry Hills by-election was held the previous week. John Norton was a candidate, however he was defeated and withdrew from the contest for Cootamundra.[4] H. V. Evatt argues that the most likely explanation for Norton's attack was to remove Labour's best debater at a critical time.[3][5]

Dates
DateEvent
5 July 1906 William Holman resigned.[6]
6 July 1906 Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.[7]
17 July 1906 Nominations
28 July 1906 Polling day
14 August 1906 Return of writ

Result
1906 Cootamundra by-election
Saturday 28 July [3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor William Holman (re-elected) 2,296 57.8 0.0
Farmers and Settlers John Fitzpatrick 1,663 41.9
Independent John Norton 13 0.3
Total formal votes 3,972 98.2 -1.0
Informal votes 72 1.8 +1.0
Turnout 4,044 58.5 [lower-alpha 1] -6.0
Labor hold Swing

See also

Notes
  1. Estimate based on an electoral roll of 6,916 at the 1904 election.[8]

References
  1. Cannon, Michael. "Norton, John (1858-1916)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  2. "The silence of John Norton". The Worker. 11 January 1906. p. 4. Retrieved 4 April 2021 – via Trove.
    "Stand up, John Norton". The Worker. 22 February 1906. p. 4. Retrieved 4 April 2021 – via Trove.
    "John Norton goes a-scabbing". The Worker. 17 March 1910. p. 12. Retrieved 4 April 2021 – via Trove.
  3. Green, Antony. "1906 Cootamundra by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  4. "The Cootamundra election". Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser. 24 July 1906. p. 2. Retrieved 4 April 2021 – via Trove.
  5. Evatt, H. V. (1954). Australian Labour Leader: The Story of W.A. Holman and the Labour Movement. Angus and Robertson. pp. 131–144. ISBN 0207140413.
  6. "Mr William Arthur Holman (1871–1934)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  7. "Writ of election: Cootamundra". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 189. 6 July 1906. p. 3896. Retrieved 4 April 2021 – via Trove.
  8. Green, Antony. "1904 Cootamundra". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
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