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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 (Labour). 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

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Date Event
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

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1906 Cootamundra by-election
Saturday 28 July [3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour 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 [a] −6.0
Labour hold Swing

See also

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Notes

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

References

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  1. ^ a b Cannon, Michael. "Norton, John (1858-1916)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. 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. ^ a b c 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.