1929 Ashfield state by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Ashfield on 5 October 1929 because of the resignation of Milton Jarvie (Nationalist).[1]

Sir Colin Davidson, a Judge of the Supreme Court, was appointed to conduct a Royal Commission to investigate whether there were attempts at bribery with an application for a Campsie bus service.[2] On 7 June 1929 the Royal Commission reported its findings, including that Jarvie had attempted to bribe Albert Bruntnell who was the Chief Secretary.[3] Jarvie was charged with criminal offences, however on 1 July 1929 he was found not guilty.[4] Jarvie nonetheless resigned so that the electors of Ashfield could return him with an overwhelming majority.[5]

Dates edit

Date Event
7 June 1929 Royal Commission report given to Governor.[3]
1 July 1929 Jarvie found not guilty.[4]
17 September 1929 Jarvie resigned.[1]
19 September 1929 Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.[6]
24 September 1929 Nominations
5 October 1929 Polling day
18 October 1929 Return of writ

Result edit

1929 Ashfield by-election
Saturday 5 October [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor John Clancy 3,526 38.4 +12.5
Nationalist Milton Jarvie 3,484 38.0 -20.2
Independent Alexander Huie 1,692 18.5 +2.6
Nationalist Reginald Kirkwood 281 3.1 +3.1
Nationalist Albert Pikett 190 2.1 +2.1
Total formal votes 9,173 99.0 -0.2
Informal votes 95 1.0 +0.2
Turnout 9,268 71.9 -13.9
Two-party-preferred result
Nationalist Milton Jarvie (re-elected) 4,376 51.5
Labor John Clancy 4,128 48.5
Nationalist hold Swing N/A

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Mr Milton Livingstone Fredericks Jarvie (1891–1965)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  2. ^ "PER-88 Davidson, Colin George Watt". State Archives and Records. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Major Jarvie found guilty by Royal Commission: conspiracy to bribe". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 June 1929. p. 15. Retrieved 1 August 2020 – via Trove.
  4. ^ a b "Not guilty: Major Jarvie". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 July 1929. p. 11. Retrieved 1 August 2020 – via Trove.
  5. ^ "State parliament: Mr Jarvie resigns". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 28, 613. New South Wales, Australia. 18 September 1929. p. 14. Retrieved 1 August 2020 – via Trove.
  6. ^ "Writ of election: Ashfield". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 125. 19 September 1929. p. 3841. Retrieved 1 August 2020 – via Trove.
  7. ^ Green, Antony. "1929 Ashfield by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 August 2020.