1907 Blayney state by-election

1907 Blayney state by-election parliamentary New South Wales Electoral district of Blayney in the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales no 1904 New South Wales state election 1904 1907 New South Wales state election Nov. 1907 12 January 1907 John Withington Liberal Reform Party (Australia) Liberal Reform Party (Australia) 1,733 50.33% George Beeby George Beeby 1927 (3x4 crop).jpg 130 120 160 0 6 Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) 1,710 49.67% MLA Paddy Crick Progressive Party (1901) John Withington Liberal Reform Party (Australia) 50.6% ( 15.5%)Election result for Blayney, New South Wales, Australia April 2021 April 2021 A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Blayney on 12 January 1907 because Paddy Crick (Progressive) resigned from Parliament after findings of corruption made by a Royal Commission.Bede Nairn Martha Rutledge amp Crick, William Patrick (1862–1908) crick-william-patrick-paddy-5821 15 August 2020 Crick had also been expelled from the Legislative Assembly for outrageous behaviour in the chamber, however he was returned in the resulting by-election. The Royal Commission handed down an interim report in May 1906, which found that 50% of the sums received by a land agent Peter Close were paid to Crick whilst he was Minister for Lands. The Legislative Assembly proposed to immediately deal with Crick, however the Speaker ruled that the Assembly could not deal with the matter as it might prejudice his criminal trial. Instead the assembly amended its standing orders and suspended Crick pending the outcome of his criminal trial.Anne Twomey Anne Twomey (academic) The Constitution of New South Wales 2004 Federation Press 9781862875166 458 https://books.google.com/books?id=KayCZfZwafwC&pg=PA458 2021-04-03 The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, and the Attorney General declined to prosecute the matter again as evidence before the Royal Commission had been ruled inadmissible in his criminal trial. Crick then submitted his resignation from parliament, however before it was accepted the assembly passed a motion that he was guilty of conduct that rendered him ineligible to sit as a member. Rutledge and Nairn stated this was due to old scores being paid off, while Anne Twomey stated that this motion was passed to influence future voters not to vote for Crick. In any event Crick did not nominate for the by-election. Dates Date Event 14 Jun 1904 Paddy Crick ceased to be Minister for Lands 1 May 1905 Justice William Owen appointed Royal Commissioner to inquire into the administration of the Lands Department.AGY-4959 Royal Commission on Administration of Lands Department https://search.records.nsw.gov.au/permalink/f/1ebnd1l/ORGANISATIONS1004421 NSW State Archives & Records 3 April 2021 23 May 1906 Interim report of the Royal Commission submitted to the Governor. 24 July 1906 Paddy Crick was suspended from the Legislative Assembly until the verdict of the jury in his criminal trial. 13 November 1906 Trial of Paddy Crick and William Willis commenced before Justice Robert Pring and a jury.https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14828453 Lands commission cases The Sydney Morning Herald 14 November 1906 3 April 2021 6 Trove 28 November 1906 Jury unable to reach a verdict in the trial of Crick and Willis.https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14825709 Lands commission cases The Sydney Morning Herald 29 November 1906 3 April 2021 4 Trove 6 December 1906 Paddy Crick submitted his resignation. 11 December 1906 Legislative Assembly passed a motion that Paddy Crick was guilty of conduct that rendered him ineligible to sit as a member of the Assembly. 14 December 1906 Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226478083 Writ of election: Blayney Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales 275 14 December 1906 2021-04-03 6807 Trove 29 December 1906 Nominations 12 January 1907 Polling day 29 January 1907 Return of writ Results [[1907 Blayney state by-election|1907 Blayney state by-election]]1907 Blayney by-election 1904 Blayney_1 2021-04-03 Liberal reform John Withington 1,733 50.3 Labor NSW George Beeby 1,710 49.7 3,443 100.0 +0.7 0 0.0 -0.7 3,443 50.6 -15.5 Liberal reform Progressive No Aftermath Paddy Crick was struck off the roll of solicitors on 23 August 1907 because of the evidence before the Royal Commission.NSWStRp 78 1907 Re Crick (1907) 7 SR (NSW) 576 23 August 1907 Supreme Court (Full Court). He challenged the validity of his suspension in the Supreme Court and was successful before the Full Court,NSWStRp 24 1907 Crick v Harnett (1907) 7 SR (NSW) 126 15 March 1907 Supreme Court (Full Court). however this was overturned on appeal to the Privy Council which held that the Legislative Assembly was the sole judge whether an "occasion" had arisen that affected the orderly conduct of the Assembly.UKPC 48 1908 1 Harnett v Crick [1908] AC 470 28 July 1908 Privy Council. Crick stood for parliament again at the September 1907 election for Surry Hills but was unsuccessful. He died the following year. See also Electoral results for the district of Blayney References expanded 1907 elections in Australia Category:New South Wales state by-elections Category:1900s in New South Wales Category:January 1907 in Australia Category:January 1907 in Oceania