1908 Sturt state by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Sturt on 13 November 1908. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Arthur Griffith (Labor).[1]

Background

There was an industrial dispute at Broken Hill and the Inspector-General of Police, Edmund Fosbery, had dispatched additional police to the city. In Parliament Griffith asked the Chief Secretary, William Wood various questions including "whether it was a fact that a 'trainload' of police had been sent to Broken Hill". He then moved for the matter to be discussed by the House as a matter of urgency, however this was rejected by the House. Later Griffith again sought to have the matter discussed by the House and the Speaker, William McCourt, ruled it out of order, without hearing argument. Griffith then said "it was unfortunate to be in a minority, and that the Speaker did not give fair play to the Opposition." He was then "named" by the Speaker and on refusing to withdraw the remarks was found guilty of contempt of parliament and suspended until he withdrew the remark. Griffith chose to resign rather than withdraw the remarks.[2]

Dates
DateEvent
3 November 1908 Resignation of Arthur Griffith.[2]
4 November 1908 Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.[3]
13 November 1908 Nominations
21 November 1908 Polling day
1 December 1908 Return of writ

Results
1908 Sturt by-election
Friday 13 November [4][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor Arthur Griffith (re-elected) unopposed
Labor hold  

Arthur Griffith (Labor) was suspended by the Speaker and chose to resign rather than withdraw his remarks.[4]

See also

References
  1. Nairn, Bede (1983). "Griffith, Arthur Hill (1861–1946)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  2. "Storm in parliament: the Speaker flouted, Mr Griffith named and suspended, resignation handed in". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 November 1908. p. 11. Retrieved 5 November 2019 – via Trove.
  3. "Writ of election: Sturt". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 127. 4 November 1908. p. 5875. Retrieved 5 November 2019 – via Trove.
  4. Green, Antony. "1908 Sturt by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  5. ""Goading Griffith" Sydney "Truth" on the gaging the member for Sturt". Barrier Daily Truth. 25 November 1908. p. 4. Retrieved 5 November 2019 – via Trove.
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