COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA LEGISLATIVE ELECTION OF 23 OCTOBER 1937 ==================================================================== HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ==================================================================== VOTING BY DIVISION ==================================================================== VICTORIA ==================================================================== BALACLAVA, Vic ==================================================================== Suburban Melbourne: Brighton, Caulfield, Elsternwick, St Kilda -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 two-party majority: UAP over ALP 22.9 Effect of 1937 redistribution: 01.1 shift to UAP New notional majority: UAP over ALP 24.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 66,639 +09.1 Votes cast: 64,282 96.5 +01.5 Informal votes: 1,321 02.1 -01.0 Formal votes: 62,961 97.9 +01.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- John Atkinson 12,613 20.0 Phillip Nash ALP 13,746 21.8 -02.0 Hon Thomas WHITE * UAP 36,602 58.1 -13.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 62,961 17.1 e 06.9 to ALP -------------------------------------------------------------------- Atkinson stood "to give expression to his opposition to pre- selection by parties" (The Argus, 30 September 1937). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Walter White (1888-1957): Elected 1929 By, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1937 Minister for Trade and Customs to 8 November 1938 -------------------------------------------------------------------- White resigned in protest at being excluded from an inner policy- making group of Cabinet. -------------------------------------------------------------------- BALLAARAT, Vic ==================================================================== Central Victoria: Ballarat, Castlemaine, Daylesford, Warrenheip -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 two-party majority: UAP over ALP 03.9 Effect of 1937 redistribution: 01.0 shift to ALP New notional majority: UAP over ALP 02.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 50,928 +20.8 Votes cast: 49,437 97.1 -00.1 Informal votes: 467 00.9 -00.7 Formal votes: 48,970 99.1 +00.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- Reginald POLLARD ALP 24,784 50.6 +05.7 Stanley Walker + UAP 24,186 49.4 +16.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 48,970 00.6 03.5 to ALP -------------------------------------------------------------------- Reginald Thomas Pollard (1894-1981): Elected 1937 Born: 31 October 1894, Castlemaine, Victoria. Career: Educated state schools. Farmworker, fitter and turner. Military Service 1915-18. Soldier settler at Woodend. State politics: Vic MLA for Dalhousie 1924-27, Bulla and Dalhousie 1927-32. Assistant Minister for Agriculture 1929-32. -------------------------------------------------------------------- BATMAN, Vic ==================================================================== Suburban Melbourne: Fitzroy North, Northcote, Preston, Westgarth -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 two-party majority: ALP over UAP 06.1 Effect of 1937 redistribution: 01.3 shift to UAP New notional majority: ALP over UAP 04.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 60,380 -14.2 Votes cast: 58,489 96.9 +00.9 Informal votes: 1,037 01.8 -00.9 Formal votes: 57,452 98.2 +00.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hon Frank BRENNAN * ALP 36,439 63.4 +08.6 Albert Peters UAP 21,013 36.6 -08.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 57,452 13.4 08.6 to ALP -------------------------------------------------------------------- Frank Brennan (1880-1950): Elected 1911 By, 1913, 1914, 1917, 1919, 1922, 1925, 1928, 1929. Defeated 1931. Elected 1934, 1937 -------------------------------------------------------------------- BENDIGO, Vic ==================================================================== Central Victoria: Bendigo, Eaglehawk, Echuca, Rochester -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 two-party majority: UAP over ALP 01.6 Effect of 1937 redistribution: 05.6 shift to UAP New notional majority: UAP over ALP 07.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 50,435 +12.6 Votes cast: 48,403 96.0 +00.9 Informal votes: 740 01.5 +00.3 Formal votes: 47,663 98.5 -00.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- Ernest Duus ALP 18,834 39.5 -00.5 Walter Pearce + UAP 13,748 28.8 -06.4 George Rankin CP 15,081 31.6 +07.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 47,663 06.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------- The 1937 redistribution added much of the abolished seat of Echuca to Bendigo, greatly increasing the Country Party's strength. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2nd count: Pearce's 13,748 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- Duus 1,729 12.6 20,563 43.1 RANKIN 12,019 87.4 27,100 56.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 13,748 47,663 06.9 00.3 to ALP -------------------------------------------------------------------- The Country Party majority over the ALP is compared with the UAP majority over the ALP in 1934. -------------------------------------------------------------------- George James Rankin (1887-1957): Elected 1937 Born: 1 May 1887, Rochester, Victoria. Career: Educated state schools. Farmer near Rochester. Military Service 1909-31. -------------------------------------------------------------------- BOURKE, Vic ==================================================================== Suburban Melbourne: Blyth, Brunswick, Coburg, Edward -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 two-party majority: ALP over UAP 15.6 e Effect of 1937 redistribution: 00.7 shift to UAP New notional majority: ALP over UAP 14.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 60,393 -06.5 Votes cast: 58,415 96.7 +01.1 Informal votes: 1,460 02.5 -01.3 Formal votes: 56,955 97.5 +01.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- Maurice BLACKBURN * ALP 38,793 68.1 +08.4 Richard Griffiths UAP 18,162 31.9 -02.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 56,955 18.1 03.2 to ALP -------------------------------------------------------------------- Maurice McCrae Blackburn (1880-1944): Elected 1934, 1937 -------------------------------------------------------------------- CORANGAMITE, Vic ==================================================================== South-western Victoria: Ararat, Camperdown, Colac, Maryborough -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 two-party majority: UAP over ALP 05.7 Effect of 1937 redistribution: 03.9 shift to UAP New notional majority: UAP over ALP 09.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 50,108 +09.3 Votes cast: 48,378 96.5 +01.5 Informal votes: 494 01.0 -02.9 Formal votes: 47,884 99.0 +02.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- Arthur Haywood ALP 22,096 46.1 +09.3 Geoffrey STREET * UAP 25,788 53.9 +13.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 47,884 03.9 05.7 to ALP -------------------------------------------------------------------- Geoffrey Austin Street (1894-1940): Elected 1934, 1937 Minister for Defence 7 November 1938 to 13 November 1939 Minister for the Army 13 November 1939 to 13 August 1940 Died 13 August 1940 (no By-election held) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Street was one of three Cabinet ministers killed in a plane crash at Canberra on 13 August 1940. -------------------------------------------------------------------- CORIO, Vic ==================================================================== South-western Victoria: Essendon North, Geelong, Newtown, Sunshine -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 two-party majority: UAP over ALP 08.8 e Effect of 1937 redistribution: 0.5 shift to ALP New notional majority: UAP over ALP 08.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 53,471 -05.4 Votes cast: 51,716 96.7 +03.2 Informal votes: 701 01.4 -00.5 Formal votes: 51,015 98.6 +00.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- Leo Carmody ALP 22,170 43.5 +04.1 Hon Richard CASEY * UAP 28,845 56.5 -01.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 51,015 06.5 01.8 to ALP -------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Gardiner Casey (1890-1976): Elected 1931, 1934, 1937 Treasurer to 26 April 1939 Minister in charge of Development and Scientific and Industrial Research 29 November 1937 to 7 November 1938 Minister for Supply and Development 26 April 1939 to 26 January 1940 Resigned seat 30 January 1940 (see By-elections) Later career: Australian Minister to the United States 1940-41. British minister to the Middle East and member of the British war cabinet 1941-44. Governor of Bengal 1944-46. Federal President of the Liberal party 1947-49. See La Trobe 1949. -------------------------------------------------------------------- DEAKIN, Vic ==================================================================== North-east of Melbourne: Box Hill, Croydon, Ivanhoe, Mitcham -------------------------------------------------------------------- New seat: 1934 notional two-party majority: UAP over ALP 16.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 54,156 Votes cast: 51,865 95.8 Informal votes: 911 01.8 Formal votes: 50,954 98.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- William HUTCHINSON * UAP 30,442 59.7 +05.5 Paul Jones ALP 20,512 40.3 +09.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 50,954 09.7 06.7 to ALP -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Hutchinson was member for Indi 1931-37. 2. Jones was member for Indi 1928-31. -------------------------------------------------------------------- William Joseph Hutchinson (1904-67): Elected 1931, 1934, 1937 -------------------------------------------------------------------- FAWKNER, Vic ==================================================================== Suburban Melbourne: Armadale, Malvern, Prahran, South Yarra -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 two-party majority: UAP over ALP 19.4 e 1935 by-election two-party majority: UAP over ALP 09.9 Effect of 1937 redistribution: 01.5 shift to UAP New notional majority: UAP over ALP 20.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 66,058 Votes cast: 61,944 93.8 Informal votes: 1,602 02.6 Formal votes: 60,342 97.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- William Bottomley 9,941 16.5 William Doran ALP 17,124 28.4 +02.7 Harold HOLT * UAP 33,277 55.1 -12.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 60,342 12.4 e 08.5 to ALP -------------------------------------------------------------------- Harold Edward Holt (1908-67): Elected 1935 By, 1937 -------------------------------------------------------------------- FLINDERS, Vic ==================================================================== South of Melbourne: Dandenong, Ferntree Gully, Frankston, Mentone -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 two-party majority: UAP over ALP 19.4 e Effect of 1937 redistribution: 01.9 shift to UAP New notional majority: UAP over ALP 21.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 54,696 Votes cast: 52,805 96.5 Informal votes: 1,709 03.2 Formal votes: 51,096 96.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- Alexander Amess DSC 6,884 13.5 James FAIRBAIRN * UAP 27,085 53.0 -07.9 Ralph Gibson CPA 4,630 09.1 +02.1 Reginald Skeat CP 12,497 24.5 +15.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 51,096 11.7 e -------------------------------------------------------------------- James Valentine Fairbairn (1897-1940): Elected 1933 By, 1934, 1937 Minister for Civil Aviation 26 April 1939 to 13 August 1940 Vice-President of the Executive Council 26 April 1939 to 13 August 1940 Minister for Air 13 November 1939 to 13 August 1940 Died 13 August 1940 (no By-election held) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Fairbairn was one of three Cabinet ministers killed in a plane crash at Canberra on 13 August 1940. -------------------------------------------------------------------- GIPPSLAND, Vic ==================================================================== Eastern Victoria: Morwell, Trafalgar, Wonthaggi, Yallourn -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 majority: Country Party over Independent 19.3 Effect of 1937 redistribution: cannot be calculated -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 50,214 -02.9 Votes cast: 48,317 96.2 +01.4 Informal votes: 765 01.6 -00.1 Formal votes: 47,552 98.4 +00.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- James McKenna ALP 18,483 38.9 Hon Thomas PATERSON * CP 29,069 61.1 -08.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 47,552 11.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Paterson (1882-1952): Elected 1922, 1925, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1937 Minister for the Interior to 29 November 1937 Deputy Leader of the Country Party to 13 September 1939 -------------------------------------------------------------------- HENTY, Vic ==================================================================== Suburban Melbourne: Bentleigh, East Malvern, Oakleigh, Sandringham -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 two-party majority: UAP over ALP 19.3 e Effect of 1937 redistribution: 03.1 shift to ALP New notional majority: UAP over ALP 16.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 63,413 -25.7 Votes cast: 60,995 96.2 +01.6 Informal votes: 1,450 02.4 -00.7 Formal votes: 59,545 97.6 +00.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hon Sir Henry GULLETT * UAP 31,574 53.0 -03.5 Rupert Hornabrook 8,647 14.5 Sydney Walker ALP 19,324 32.5 +08.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 59,545 10.3 e 05.9 to ALP -------------------------------------------------------------------- Henry Somer Gullett (1878-1940): Elected 1925, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1937 Minister for Information 12 September 1939 to 14 March 1940 Vice-President of the Executive Council 14 March 1940 to 13 August 1940 Minister in charge of Scientific and Industrial Research 14 March 1940 to 13 August 1940 Died 13 August 1940 (no By-election held) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Gullett was one of three Cabinet ministers killed in a plane crash at Canberra on 13 August 1940. -------------------------------------------------------------------- INDI, Vic ==================================================================== North-east Victoria: Benalla, Kyabram, Shepparton, Wangaratta -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 two-party majority: UAP over ALP 06.3 Effect of 1937 redistribution: 06.6 shift to Country Party New notional majority: Country Party over ALP 12.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 52,549 +14.1 Votes cast: 50,837 96.7 +02.0 Informal votes: 699 01.4 -00.6 Formal votes: 50,138 98.6 +00.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- William Hartshorne ALP 19,478 38.8 +03.3 John McEWEN * CP 30,660 61.2 +13.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 50,138 11.2 01.7 to ALP -------------------------------------------------------------------- McEwen was member for Echuca 1934-37. -------------------------------------------------------------------- John McEwen (1900-80): Elected 1934, 1937 Minister for the Interior 29 November 1937 to 26 April 1939 Minister for External Affairs from 14 March 1940 -------------------------------------------------------------------- KOOYONG, Vic ==================================================================== Suburban Melbourne: Camberwell, Deepdene, Glen Iris, Kew -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 two-party majority: UAP over ALP 20.8 e Effect of 1937 redistribution: 01.5 shift to UAP New notional majority: UAP over ALP 22.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 65,977 -10.0 Votes cast: 63,104 95.6 +00.3 Informal votes: 1,326 02.1 -00.7 Formal votes: 61,778 97.9 +00.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Brennan ALP 15,247 24.7 +06.6 Leslie Hollins 14,841 24.0 Rt Hon Robert MENZIES * UAP 31,690 51.3 -11.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 61,778 07.3 e 15.0 to ALP -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Brennan was Vic MLC for Monash 1952-58. He was not related to Hon Frank Brennan MP or Senator Hon Thomas Brennan (The Herald, 22 October 1937). 2. Hollins was Vic MLA for Hawthorn 1940-45. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Gordon Menzies (1894-1978): Elected 1934, 1937 Attorney-General to 20 March 1939 Minister for Industry to 20 March 1939 Prime Minister from 26 April 1939 Treasurer 26 April 1939 to 14 March 1940 Minister for Defence Co-ordination from 13 November 1939 Minister for Trade and Customs 23 February 1940 to 14 March 1940 Minister for Information from 14 March 1940 Minister for Munitions from 11 June 1940 Deputy Leader of the United Australia Party to 20 March 1939 Leader of the United Australia Party from 26 April 1939 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Menzies resigned from the Lyons Cabinet and as Deputy Leader of the UAP in March 1939 in protest at the government's decision not to proceed with a system of national health insurance, a matter on which he had given personal pledges. Following Lyons's death on 7 April, he was elected Leader of the UAP. Following Page's refusal to serve under him, he formed a minority UAP ministry. In March 1940 he formed a new coalition ministry with the new Country Party leader, Cameron. -------------------------------------------------------------------- MARIBYRNONG, Vic ==================================================================== Suburban Melbourne: Ascot Vale, Essendon, Footscray, Moonee Ponds -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 two-party majority: ALP over UAP 06.7 e Effect of 1937 redistribution: no change -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 62,355 +04.7 Votes cast: 60,989 97.8 +01.2 Informal votes: 1,376 02.3 -01.8 Formal votes: 59,613 97.7 +01.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- Arthur DRAKEFORD * ALP 37,111 62.3 +12.5 Malcolm Fenton UAP 20,799 34.9 -06.1 Edward Turner 1,703 02.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 59,613 13.7 e 06.0 to ALP -------------------------------------------------------------------- Arthur Samuel Drakeford (1881-1957): Elected 1934, 1937 -------------------------------------------------------------------- MELBOURNE, Vic ==================================================================== Inner Melbourne: Carlton, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Newmarket -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 two-party majority: ALP over UAP 09.4 Effect of 1937 redistribution: no change -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 61,090 +04.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr William MALONEY * ALP Unopposed -------------------------------------------------------------------- William Robert Nuttal Maloney (1854-1940): Elected 1904 By, 1906, 1910, 1913, 1914, 1917, 1919, 1922, 1925, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1937 Maloney retired in 1940. Died 29 August 1940 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Maloney was member for Melbourne for 36 years without holding office, the longest period spent as a backbencher by any member of the House of Representatives. -------------------------------------------------------------------- MELBOURNE PORTS, Vic ==================================================================== Inner Melbourne: Albert Park, St Kilda West, South Melbourne, Williamstown -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 two-party majority: ALP over UAP 20.9 e Effect of 1937 redistribution: no change -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 61,417 +27.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hon Jack HOLLOWAY * ALP Unopposed -------------------------------------------------------------------- Edward James Holloway (1875-1967): Elected 1929, 1931, 1934, 1937 -------------------------------------------------------------------- WANNON, Vic ==================================================================== South-western Victoria: Hamilton, Horsham, Portland, Warrnambool -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 two-party majority: UAP over ALP 04.9 Effect of 1937 redistribution: 00.2 shift to UAP New notional majority: UAP over ALP 05.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 52,133 +12.3 Votes cast: 50,364 96.6 +01.1 Informal votes: 700 01.4 00.0 Formal votes: 49,664 98.6 00.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- Donald McLeod ALP 19,520 39.3 +06.9 Thomas Scholfield * UAP 18,526 37.3 +00.7 Robert Rankin CP 11,618 23.4 -06.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 49,664 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. For McLeod, see Wannon 1940. 2. Rankin was Vic MLC for Western 1940-52. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2nd count: Rankin's 11,618 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- McLeod 4,655 40.1 24,175 48.7 SCHOLFIELD 6,963 59.9 25,489 51.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 11,618 49,664 01.3 03.7 to ALP -------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Hallett Scholfield (1894-1964): Elected 1931, 1934, 1937 -------------------------------------------------------------------- WIMMERA, Vic ==================================================================== North-western Victoria: Kerang, Mildura, St Arnaud, Swan Hill -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 majority: Country Party over Independent 01.0 Effect of 1937 redistribution: cannot be calculated -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 49,008 -10.0 Votes cast: 47,116 96.1 +01.9 Informal votes: 541 01.1 -02.1 Formal votes: 46,575 98.9 +02.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hugh McClelland * CP 22,396 48.1 +14.8 Alex WILSON 24,179 51.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 46,575 01.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Wilson was an independent Country candidate. He was president of the Victorian Wheatgrowers' Association, which opposed Country Party support of the Lyons Government. He was McClelland's cousin. -------------------------------------------------------------------- > Hugh McClelland (1875-1958): Elected 1931, 1934. Defeated 1937 Died 14 December 1958 > Alexander Wilson (1880-1954): Elected 1937 Born: 7 June 1880, County Down, Ireland. Career: Educated Belfast. Migrated 1908. Farmer at Ultima, Victoria. Leader of Victorian wheatgrowers. -------------------------------------------------------------------- YARRA, Vic ==================================================================== Inner Melbourne: Clifton Hill, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Richmond -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1934 two-party majority: ALP over UAP 22.1 e Effect of 1937 redistribution: 10.5 shift to UAP New notional majority: ALP over UAP 11.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled voters: 63,142 +42.7 Votes cast: 59,773 94.7 +01.2 Informal votes: 1,393 02.3 -02.5 Formal votes: 58,380 97.7 +02.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % Swing -------------------------------------------------------------------- Douglas Knight UAP 20,999 36.0 +00.2 Rt Hon James SCULLIN * ALP 37,381 64.0 +09.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 58,380 14.0 02.4 to ALP -------------------------------------------------------------------- James Henry Scullin (1876-1953): Elected 1910. Defeated 1913. Elected 1922 By, 1922, 1925, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1937 --------------------------------------------------------------------