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1938 New South Wales state election

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FieldValue
election_name1938 New South Wales state election
countryNew South Wales
typeparliamentary
ongoingno
previous_election1935 New South Wales state election
previous_year1935
next_election1941 New South Wales state election
next_year1941
seats_for_electionAll 90 seats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
46 Assembly seats were needed for a majority
election_date
image1[[File:Bertram Stevens.jpg170x170px]]
leader1Bertram Stevens
leader_since15 April 1932
party1United Australia
colour100008B
leaders_seat1Croydon
percentage135.86%
swing12.76
popular_vote1424,275
last_election138 seats
seats137
seat_change11
image2[[File:JackLang.jpg170x170px]]
leader2Jack Lang
leader_since231 July 1923
party2Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)
leaders_seat2Auburn
percentage234.82%
swing27.60
popular_vote2412,063
last_election229 seats
seats228
seat_change21
titlePremier
image3[[File:Lieutenant-Colonel Bruxner entering the Treasury Building, Sydney (cropped 2).jpg170x170px]]
leader3Michael Bruxner
leader_since327 April 1932
party3Country
colour3006644
leaders_seat3Tenterfield
popular_vote3164,045
percentage313.86%
swing30.94%
last_election323 seats
seats322
seat_change31
map_imageFile:1938 New South Wales state election.svg
map_size450px
map_captionResults by division for the Legislative Assembly, shaded by winning party's margin of victory.
before_electionBertram Stevens
before_partyUAP/Country coalition
after_electionBertram Stevens
after_partyUAP/Country coalition

46 Assembly seats were needed for a majority

The 1938 New South Wales state election was held on 26 March 1938. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 32nd New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting.

The result of the election was:

  • United Australia Party 37 seats
  • Country Party 22 seats
  • Australian Labor Party 28 seats
  • Industrial Labor Party 2 seats
  • Independent 1 seat.

The UAP/Country Party coalition of Bertram Stevens and Michael Bruxner had a majority of 28 (down 2). Stevens continued as Premier until 5 August 1939 when he resigned after being censured by the Legislative Assembly, with 10 United Australia members crossing the floor. He was replaced as Premier by Alexander Mair.

Lang Labor reconciled with Labor in February 1936, however Labor's primary vote continued to decline. Labor's continued poor showing in this election was seen as evidence of Jack Lang's inability to appeal to the middle ground of the electorate. As a result, moves to dispose Lang intensified. The Industrial Labor Party led by Lang rival Bob Heffron was re-absorbed into the Labor on 26 August 1939 and Lang was replaced as party leader by William McKell on 5 September 1939.

During this parliament Labor and Industrial Labor each won 2 by-elections from the United Australia Party. This reduced the Government's majority to 20 when the parliament was dissolved.

Key dates

DateEvent
24 February 1938The Legislative Assembly was dissolved, and writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with an election.
4 March 1938Nominations for candidates for the election closed at noon.
26 March 1938Polling day.
13 April 1938Third Stevens–Bruxner ministry sworn in.
26 April 1938The writs were returned and the results formally declared.
12 April 1938Opening of 32nd Parliament.

Results

Main article: Results of the 1938 New South Wales state election

| turnout % = 95.79 | informal % = 2.65 |votes % = 35.86 |votes % = 34.82 |votes % = 13.86 |votes % = 3.70 |votes % = 0.88 |votes % = 10.88 |}{{bar box|title=Popular vote|titlebar=#ddd|width=495px|barwidth=650px|bars=

Retiring members

Changing seats

Seats changing handsSeat19351938PartyMemberMemberParty
Botany
Corowa
Granville
Marrickville

The member for Woollahra, Sir Daniel Levy (), died in 1937. The resulting by-election was won by Harold Mason () however he did not contest the election and the seat was regained by Vernon Treatt ().

Notes

References

  • Nairn, Bede (1995) Jack Lang the 'Big Fella':Jack Lang and the Australian Labor Party 1891-1949 Melbourne University Press Melbourne

References

  1. Nairn, Bede. "Lang, John Thomas (Jack) (1876–1975)".
  2. (1938). "1938-1941 By elections".
  3. Green, Antony. "1938 election totals". [[Parliament of New South Wales]].
Info: Wikipedia Source

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