1915 Willoughby state by-election

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]

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

  • John Chambers (Labor) was the selected Labor candidate and an official of the Tramway union.
  • Edward Clark (Independent) had represented Labor, Free Trade and Liberal Reform for St Leonards and Willoughby, before becoming an independent and member of the Single Tax League since 1907. He was also an alderman of the North Sydney Council.[6]
  • John Haynes (Independent Democrat) had been defeated for pre-selection as the Liberal Reform candidate for the 1913 election and the Liberal Reform party was accused of providing covert support for him.
  • Thomas Redgrave (Independent) was an alderman of Willoughby Council and was described by The Daily Telegraph as an independent labor.[6]
  • Michael Roland (Australian Democrat) was a baker from Newtown.[6]
  • John Wilson (Independent) was the general secretary of the Post and Telegraph officers association and was described by The Daily Telegraph as an independent liberal.[7]

Result
1915 Willoughby by-election
Saturday 18 September [8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor John Chambers 1,753 42.4 -0.2
Independent Democrat John Haynes 1,659 40.1
Independent Liberal John Wilson 269 6.5
Independent Labor Thomas Redgrave 232 5.6
Independent Edward Clark 216 5.2 +3.0
Australian Democrat Michael Roland 4 0.1
Total formal votes 4,133 98.0 -1.0
Informal votes 84 2.0 +1.0
Turnout 4,217 33.9 -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]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Democrat John Haynes 3,491 56.8
Labor John Chambers 2,660 43.3 -8.3
Total formal votes 6,151 99.1 -0.5
Informal votes 56 0.9 +0.5
Turnout 6,207 49.8 -25.8
Independent Democrat gain from Labor SwingN/A

See also

References
  1. Cunneen, Chris. "Larkin, Edward Rennix (Ted) (1880–1915)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  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. "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. Green, Antony. "1915 Willoughby by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
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