1940 Tamworth state by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Tamworth on 10 August 1940 because of the death of Frank Chaffey (United Australia).^[1]

The UAP held a five-way preselection which was won by Chaffey's son, Bill Chaffey, a farmer who had returned to the district about twelve months previously. He won preselection over Tamworth station agent P. Marsh, grazier and Peel River Shire councillor J. Scott, Tamworth grain expert W. H. Lye and former federal MP Roland Green.^[2][3] The Country Party did not contest the seat after forming an agreement with the UAP, mindful of the UAP having not contested an earlier by-election in the Country Party-held seat of Upper Hunter.^[4] Two Labor parties contested the seat as a result of the second Lang Labor split: insurance agent and future MP Thomas Ryan (for the Labor Party (Non-Communist)) and solicitor John Lyons (for the official Labor Party).^[3]

Chaffey comfortably won the seat with a majority of the primary vote.^[3]

Dates

Date	Event
9 July 1940	Death of Frank Chaffey.[1]
19 July 1940	Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.[5]
25 July 1940	Nominations
10 August 1940	Polling day
24 August 1940	Return of writ

Results

1940 Tamworth by-election
Saturday 10 August ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	United Australia	Bill Chaffey [a]	6,850	54.6	−5.4
	Labor (N-C)	Thomas Ryan	2,958	23.6
	Labor	John Lyons	2,737	21.8	−12.3
Total formal votes			12,545	98.9	+0.5
Informal votes			142	1.1	−0.5
Turnout			12,687	87.9	−6.3
	United Australia hold		Swing	−5.4

See also

• Electoral results for the district of Tamworth
• List of New South Wales state by-elections

Notes

1. Bill Chaffey was the son of former member Frank Chaffey.

References

1. "The Hon. Captain Frank Augustus Chaffey (1888–1940)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
2. "U.A.P. picks man today". Daily News. 22 July 1940. p. 7. Retrieved 22 November 2019 – via Trove.
3. "Chaffey wins". Dungog Chronicle : Durham and Gloucester Advertiser. 13 August 1940. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2019 – via Trove.
4. "No C.P. man for Tamworth". The Daily Telegraph. 14 July 1940. p. 5. Retrieved 22 November 2019 – via Trove.
5. "Writ of election: Tamworth". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 99. 19 July 1940. p. 2895. Retrieved 22 November 2019 – via Trove.
6. Green, Antony. "1940 Tamworth by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 22 November 2019.