COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA LEGISLATIVE ELECTION OF 23 OCTOBER 1937 ==================================================================== THE SENATE ==================================================================== NEW SOUTH WALES (Four senators to be elected) ==================================================================== Enrolled voters: 1,596,342 +04.2 Votes cast: 1,542,829 96.6 +00.8 Informal votes: 136,841 08.9 -04.3 Formal votes: 1,405,988 91.1 +04.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Candidate Party Votes % -------------------------------------------------------------------- Stanley Amour ALP 672,566 47.8 Group A John Armstrong ALP 16,103 01.1 Thomas Arthur ALP 9,570 00.7 William Ashley ALP 13,489 01.0 James Arkins * UAP 613,849 43.7 Group B Hon David Hall UAP 13,585 01.0 Charles Hardy * CP 31,665 02.3 Basil Helmore UAP 16,515 01.2 Peter Pollack 18,646 01.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. New South Wales elected four Senators because of the death of Lionel Courtenay, a long-term Senator, in 1934. The fourth Senator elected filled the remainder of Courtenay's term. 2. Hall was Labor MHR for Nepean 1906-12. 3. The order of groups on the ballot paper was determined at this time by assigning numerical values to the initials of candidates' surnames. By selecting four candidates with surnames beginning with A the ALP was assured of first place and thus of the "donkey vote" – thought to be worth 50,000 votes in NSW (Daily Telegraph, 15 January 1937). These four Senators were known for the rest of their careers as "The Four As" (Illawarra Mercury, 3 September 1937). -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1st vacancy, 2nd count: Arthur's 9,570 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- Amour 2,034 21.3 674,600 48.0 Armstrong 4,013 41.9 20,116 01.4 Ashley 2,141 22.4 15,630 01.1 Arkins * 549 05.7 614,398 43.7 Hall 445 04.6 14,030 01.0 Hardy * 147 01.5 31,812 02.3 Helmore 148 01.5 16,663 01.2 Pollack 93 01.0 18,739 01.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 9,570 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1st vacancy, 3rd count: Hall's 14,030 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- Amour 532 03.8 675,132 48.0 Armstrong 253 01.8 20,369 01.4 Ashley 253 01.8 15,883 01.1 Arkins * 4,806 34.3 619,204 44.0 Hardy * 7,251 51.7 39,063 02.8 Helmore 706 05.0 17,369 01.2 Pollack 229 01.6 18,968 01.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 14,030 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1st vacancy, 4th count: Ashley's 15,883 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- Amour 2,909 18.3 678,041 48.2 Armstrong 9,231 58.1 29,600 02.1 Arkins * 2,806 17.7 622,010 44.2 Hardy * 544 03.4 39,607 02.8 Helmore 193 01.2 17,572 01.2 Pollack 200 01.3 19,168 01.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 15,883 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1st vacancy, 5th count: Helmore's 17,572 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- Amour 976 05.6 679,017 48.3 Armstrong 579 03.3 30,179 02.1 Arkins * 4,338 24.7 626,348 44.5 Hardy * 9,960 56.7 49,567 03.5 Pollack 1,709 09.7 20,877 01.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 17,572 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1st vacancy, 6th count: Pollack's 20,877 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- Amour 5,092 24.4 684,109 48.7 Armstrong 1,108 05.3 31,287 02.2 Arkins * 2,949 14.1 629,297 44.8 Hardy * 11,728 56.2 61,295 04.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 20,877 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1st vacancy, 7th count: Armstrong's 31,287 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR 27,354 87.4 711,463 50.6 ELECTED 1 Arkins * 2,628 08.4 631,925 44.9 Hardy * 1,305 04.2 62,600 04.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 31,287 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2nd vacancy: Amour's 672,566 second preferences distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR E ELECTED 1 Armstrong 662,829 98.6 678,932 48.3 Arthur 5,381 00.8 14,951 01.1 Ashley 1,806 00.3 15,295 01.1 Arkins * 1,148 00.2 614,997 43.7 Hall 577 00.1 14,162 01.0 Hardy * 324 00.0 31,989 02.3 Helmore 215 00.0 16,730 01.2 Pollack 286 00.0 18,932 01.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 672,566 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2nd vacancy, 2nd count: Hall's 14,162 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR E ELECTED 1 Armstrong 679 04.8 679,611 48.3 Arthur 256 01.8 15,207 01.1 Ashley 229 01.6 15,524 01.1 Arkins * 4,809 34.0 619,806 44.1 Hardy * 7,282 51.4 39,271 02.8 Helmore 680 04.8 17,410 01.2 Pollack 227 01.6 19,159 01.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 14,162 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2nd vacancy, 3rd count: Arthur's 15,207 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR E ELECTED 1 Armstrong 9,679 63.6 689,290 49.0 Ashley 3,359 22.1 18,883 01.3 Arkins * 1,186 07.8 620,992 44.2 Hardy * 552 03.6 39,823 02.8 Helmore 271 01.8 17,681 01.3 Pollack 160 01.1 19,319 01.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 15,207 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2nd vacancy, 4th count: Helmore's 17,681 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR E ELECTED 1 Armstrong 1,389 07.9 690,679 49.1 Ashley 279 01.6 19,162 01.4 Arkins * 4,322 24.4 625,314 44.5 Hardy * 9,984 56.5 49,807 03.5 Pollack 1,707 09.7 21,026 01.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 17,681 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2nd vacancy, 5th count: Ashley's 19,162 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR E ELECTED 1 ARMSTRONG 14,601 76.2 705,280 50.2 ELECTED 2 Arkins * 3,451 18.0 628,765 44.7 Hardy * 784 04.1 50,591 03.6 Pollack 326 01.7 21,352 01.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 19,162 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 3rd vacancy: Amour's 672,566 second preferences distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR E ELECTED 1 ARMSTRONG E 16,103 01.1 ELECTED 2 Arthur 663,955 98.7 673,525 47.9 Ashley 4,734 00.7 18,223 01.3 Arkins * 1,840 00.3 615,689 43.8 Hall 761 00.1 14,346 01.0 Hardy * 517 00.1 32,182 02.3 Helmore 329 00.0 16,844 01.2 Pollack 430 00.1 19,076 01.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 672,566 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 3rd vacancy: Armstrong's 16,103 second preferences distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR E ELECTED 1 ARMSTRONG E ELECTED 2 Arthur 11,288 70.1 684,813 48.7 Ashley 3,155 19.6 21,378 01.5 Arkins * 738 04.6 616,427 43.8 Hall 366 02.3 14,712 01.0 Hardy * 244 01.5 32,426 02.3 Helmore 141 00.9 16,985 01.2 Pollack 171 01.1 19,247 01.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 16,103 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 3rd vacancy, 2nd count: Hall's 14,712 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR E ELECTED 1 ARMSTRONG E ELECTED 2 Arthur 933 06.3 685,746 48.8 Ashley 337 02.3 21,715 01.5 Arkins * 4,921 33.4 621,348 44.2 Hardy * 7,520 51.1 39,946 02.8 Helmore 738 05.0 17,723 01.3 Pollack 263 01.8 19,510 01.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 14,712 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 3rd vacancy, 3rd count: Helmore's 17,723 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR E ELECTED 1 ARMSTRONG E ELECTED 2 Arthur 1,403 07.9 687,149 48.9 Ashley 308 01.7 22,023 01.6 Arkins * 4,309 24.3 625,657 44.5 Hardy * 9,993 56.4 49,939 03.6 Pollack 1,710 09.6 21,220 01.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 17,723 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 3rd vacancy, 4th count: Pollack's 21,220 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR E ELECTED 1 ARMSTRONG E ELECTED 2 Arthur 5,468 25.8 692,617 49.3 Ashley 938 04.4 22,961 01.6 Arkins * 3,286 15.5 628,943 44.7 Hardy * 11,528 54.3 61,467 04.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 21,220 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 3rd vacancy, 5th count: Ashley's 22,961 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR E ELECTED 1 ARMSTRONG E ELECTED 2 ARTHUR 18,393 80.1 711,010 50.6 ELECTED 3 Arkins * 3,433 15.0 632,376 45.0 Hardy * 1,135 04.9 62,602 04.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 22,961 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 4th vacancy: Amour's 672,566 second preferences distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR E ELECTED 1 ARMSTRONG E 16,103 01.1 ELECTED 2 ARTHUR E 9,570 00.7 ELECTED 3 Ashley 665,220 98.9 678,709 48.3 Arkins * 4,094 00.6 617,943 44.0 Hall 1,169 00.2 14,754 01.0 Hardy * 728 00.1 32,393 02.3 Helmore 528 00.1 17,043 01.2 Pollack 827 00.1 19,473 01.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 672,566 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 4th vacancy: Armstrong's 16,103 second preferences distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR E ELECTED 1 ARMSTRONG E ELECTED 2 ARTHUR E 9,570 00.7 ELECTED 3 Ashley 13,097 81.3 691,806 49.2 Arkins * 1,630 10.1 619,573 44.1 Hall 606 03.8 15,360 01.1 Hardy * 332 02.1 32,725 02.3 Helmore 204 01.3 17,247 01.2 Pollack 234 01.5 19,707 01.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 16,103 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 4th vacancy: Arthur's 9,570 second preferences distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR E ELECTED 1 ARMSTRONG E ELECTED 2 ARTHUR E ELECTED 3 Ashley 7,256 75.8 699,062 49.7 Arkins * 1,102 11.5 620,675 44.1 Hall 614 06.4 15,974 01.1 Hardy * 239 02.5 32,964 02.3 Helmore 214 02.2 17,461 01.2 Pollack 145 01.5 19,852 01.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 9,570 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 4th vacancy, 2nd count: Hall's 15,974 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR E ELECTED 1 ARMSTRONG E ELECTED 2 ARTHUR E ELECTED 3 Ashley 1,240 07.8 700,302 49.8 Arkins * 5,338 33.4 626,013 44.5 Hardy * 8,161 51.1 41,125 02.9 Helmore 890 05.6 18,351 01.3 Pollack 345 02.2 20,197 01.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 15,974 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 4th vacancy, 3rd count: Helmore's 18,351 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR E ELECTED 1 ARMSTRONG E ELECTED 2 ARTHUR E ELECTED 3 Ashley 1,644 09.0 701,946 49.9 Arkins * 4,567 24.9 630,580 44.8 Hardy * 10,231 55.8 51,356 03.7 Pollack 1,909 10.4 22,106 01.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 18,351 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 4th vacancy, 4th count: Pollack's 22,106 votes distributed -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUR E ELECTED 1 ARMSTRONG E ELECTED 2 ARTHUR E ELECTED 3 ASHLEY 6,411 29.0 708,357 50.4 ELECTED 4 Arkins * 3,367 15.2 633,947 45.1 Hardy * 12,328 55.8 63,684 04.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------- > 22,106 ( 1,405,988 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Ashley's term began 23 October 1937. Amour's Armstrong's and Arthur's terms began 1 July 1938. Amour, Armstrong and Arthur elected for a term ending 30 June 1944. Ashley elected for a term ending 30 June 1941 remainder of Courtenay's term). Continuing senators (term to end 30 June 1941): Macartney ABBOTT (CP), Adam DEIN (UAP). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Arkins's term ended and Ashley's term began on 23 October 1937 because Arkins had been appointed to the remainder of Senator Thomas Courtenay's term in 1935. Since Courtenay's term was technically unexpired, Ashley was held to have replaced Arkins from the date of the election. -------------------------------------------------------------------- > Macartney Abbott (1877-1960): Elected 1934 > Stanley Kerrin Amour (1900-79): Elected 1937 Born: 2 April 1900, Hamilton, NSW Career: Educated Catholic schools. Insurance agent. Military Service 1915-17. > James Guy Dalley Arkins (1888-1980): Appointed 1935. Defeated 1937 Later career: NSW MLA for Dulwich Hill 1938-41 Died 2 August 1980 > John Ignatius Armstrong (1908-77): Elected 1937 Born: 6 July 1908, Sydney Career: Educated Catholic schools. Hotelier. Sydney City Council 1934-46. > Thomas Christopher Arthur (1884-1953): Elected 1937 Born: 1884, Forbes, NSW Career: Primary education. Miner. Official Miners Federation, organiser, Australian Workers Union. > William Patrick Ashley (1886-1958): Elected 1937 Born: 1886, Hay, NSW Career: Primary education. Military Service 1902. Tobacconist, Lithgow, NSW. Lithgow Council, mayor. > Adam Kemball Dein (1889-1969): Elected 1934 > Charles Hardy (1898-1941): Elected 1931. Defeated 1937 Later career: Co-ordinator of works, RAAF. Died 27 August 1941 --------------------------------------------------------------------