1954 Leichhardt state by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Leichhardt on 9 July 1954 because of the death of Claude Matthews (Labor)[1] who committed suicide while still in office. He had been receiving treatment for a "nervous condition" for 18 months.[2]

Dates

Date Event
9 January 1954 Claude Matthews died.[1]
23 February 1954 Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.[3]
3 March 1954 Day of nomination
20 March 1954 Polling day
5 April 1954 Return of writ

Result

1954 Leichhardt by-election
Saturday 20 March [4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor Reg Coady 12,646 68.14
Independent John Blackmore 3,060 16.5
Independent William Dougherty 2,533 13.7
Independent William McCristal 320 1.7
Total formal votes 18,559 96.5
Informal votes 665 3.5
Turnout 19,224 79.4
Labor hold Swing
  • Preferences were not distributed.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "The Hon. Claude Hilton Matthews (1899–1954)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Former Minister's suicide". The Canberra Times. 26 January 1954. p. 1. Retrieved 14 October 2019 – via Trove.
  3. ^ "Writ of election: Leichhardt". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 29. 23 February 1954. p. 559. Retrieved 7 October 2020 – via Trove.
  4. ^ Green, Antony. "1954 Leichhardt by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 18 August 2020.