1894 Hartley colonial by-election

By-election in New South Wales, Australia April 2021 April 2021 A by-election for the seat of Hartley in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly was held on 14 August 1894 because Joseph Cook had been appointed Postmaster General in the Reid ministry.Sir Joseph Cook (1860–1947) 1070 Yes 2020-09-25 Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested and four ministers were re-elected unopposed, James Brunker (East Maitland), Joseph Carruthers (St George), Jacob Garrard (Sherbrooke) and James Young (The Manning). A poll was required in Bathurst (Sydney Smith), Hartley, Singleton (Albert Gould) and Sydney-King (George Reid) however all were comfortably re-elected.1894 to 1895 by-elections 1894 ByElections 2021-04-21 Background Cook was one of 35 Labour NSW members elected at the 1891 New South Wales colonial election and was the leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party from 1893. The party was divided on the question of free trade or protectionism, with Cook on the side of free trade, but increasingly at odds with the party. The party decided that members must sign a "pledge" to be bound by decisions of the Caucus and Cook was the leader of those parliamentarians who refused to sign,Crowley F K Cook, Sir Joseph (1860–1947) cook-sir-joseph-5763 2020-09-25 contesting the 1894 election as an Independent Labour NSW candidate.Results of the 1894 New South Wales colonial election Green 1894 Hartley 1894 Hartley 22 November 2019 Cook's decision, immediately after the election, to join the Free Trade ministry under George Reid was seen as an opportunistic act which saw Cook labeled as a class traitor. Dates Date Event 17 July 1894 1894 New South Wales colonial election 3 August 1894 Reid ministry appointed.https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222188942 Appointment of ministers New South Wales Government Gazette 506 3 August 1894 2020-09-25 4891 Trove 4 August 1894 Writ of election issued by the Governor.https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222188950 Writ of election: Hartley New South Wales Government Gazette 507 4 August 1894 2020-09-25 4895 TroveOrdinarily the writ for a by-election would be issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, however the ministers were appointed before Parliament convened and the writs were issued by the Governor. 10 August 1894 Day of nomination 14 August 1894 Polling day 24 August 1894 Return of writ Result [[1894 Hartley colonial by-election|1894 Hartley by-election]]Tuesday 14 August1894 Hartley by-election 1894 Hartley_1 2020-09-25 Free Trade Joseph Cook (re-elected) 942 83.8 Labour NSW James Thomson 182 16.2 1,124 99.5 6 0.5 1,130 55.6Estimate based on a roll of 2,031 at the 1894 election.Results of the 1894 New South Wales colonial election Green 1894 Hartley free trade Independent Labour NSW No Joseph Cook was appointed Postmaster General in the Reid ministry (Free Trade). See also Electoral results for the district of Hartley (New South Wales) List of New South Wales state by-elections Notes References expanded Category:1894 elections in Australia Category:New South Wales state by-elections Category:1890s in New South Wales Category:August 1894 in Australia