1890 West Macquarie colonial by-election

By-election in New South Wales, Australia May 2021 May 2021 A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of West Macquarie on 6 December 1890 because Paddy Crick (Protectionist) was expelled for outrageous behaviour in the chamber.Mr William Patrick Crick (1862–1908) Yes 1 May 2019 1098 Dates Date Event 13 November 1890 Paddy Crick expelled. 14 November 1890 Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221646227 Writ of election: West Macquarie New South Wales Government Gazette 640 14 November 1890 2021-05-05 8815 Trove 1 December 1890 Nominations 6 December 1890 Polling day 16 December 1890 Return of writ Background Crick was notable for his verbal aggression in the house, especially when drunk, and in October 1889 he called several parliamentarians "bloody Orange hounds and thieves" and William McMillan moved a motion that "That Mr. Crick, the hon. member for West Macquarie, is guilty of having wilfully and vexatiously interrupted tho committee in the orderly coronet of the business of the House, wherefore this House adjudges him guilty of contempt of the House". The motion was passed by the Assembly and Crick stated "If any hon. member thought he was going to apologise to the Government he was making a great mistake. ... he would sooner be kicked out of the House on what he considered a looting of the Treasury than remain a member of it".https://api.parliament.nsw.gov.au/api/hansard/search/daily/searchablepdf/HANSARD-290296563-10493 Supply: Mr John Davies New South Wales Legislative Assembly 3 October 1889 5972 5984 Crick then walked out of the house.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13727495 Parliament of New South Wales: Legislative Assembly The Sydney Morning Herald 5 October 1889 5 May 2021 7 Trove On 12 November 1890 there was a debate involving McMillan when Crick interjected, with McMillan stating to Crick "You are nobody",https://api.parliament.nsw.gov.au/api/hansard/search/daily/searchablepdf/HANSARD-290296563-10595 Financial statement New South Wales Legislative Assembly 12 November 1890 5164 5193 with Crick responding in kind and describing McMillan as a makeshift. Ninian Melville, the Chairman of Committees called on McMillan to withdraw the expression and he did so. The Chairman then asked Crick to withdraw his expression. Crick debated the matter with the Chairman before withdrawing it. The Chairman then repeatedly asked Crick to apologise for interjecting during proceedings and he refused to do so until after McMillan had apologised for the insult. The Chairman instructed the serjeant-at-arms, Laurence Harnett, to remove Crick, who resisted stating "Don't you handle me. I will not be bullied by Melville or any one else. I will not go out, and I say so point-blank".5164 Crick was then physically removed by the serjeant-at-arms and attendants.Bede Nairn Martha Rutledge amp Crick, William Patrick (1862–1908) crick-william-patrick-paddy-5821 15 August 2020 The disturbance was reported to the Speaker, Joseph Abbott, who directed that Crick be allowed into the chamber to provide his explanation. Crick argued with Speaker stating "I am certainly not going to allow the Chair to knock me into a sort of pulverised sausage". Crick continued to argue with the Speaker who then instructed the serjeant-at-arms to again remove Crick. Whilst he was being forcibly removed, Crick stated "you got £2,000 for putting the Broken Hill Water Supply Bill through. That is what I tell you; and I tell the Chairman of Committees that he got £1,000; and I tell you you are both a pair of thieves and robbers of the country".5188 Sir Henry Parkes moved that Crick be expelled for his disorderly conduct before the committee. After debate had commenced on the motion, Crick attempted to resign with his letter stating "Mr Speaker, I consider Parliament rotten and corrupt. You put me out to-night, fearing my tongue and consequent exposure. I resign my seat, and intend to appeal to my constituents against a rotten and corrupt parliament, in which freedom of speech is brutally stifled and suppressed in order to cover up crime".5191 In the debate various euphemisms were put as to the extent of Crick's consumption of alcohol, including that he was not in a fit condition to be heard, was slightly excited, having just returned from the Melbourne Cup, where "joviality ... reigned triumphant ... where Bacchus is the chief god".Anne Twomey Anne Twomey (academic) The Constitution of New South Wales 2004 Federation Press 9781862875166 442 https://books.google.com/books?id=KayCZfZwafwC&pg=PA442 2020-11-24 Alexander Hutchison stated that "it was worse than useless to ask a drunken man to come into an assemblage of gentlemen to make an explanation of his conduct".5200 Crick's resignation was not treated as effective and he was expelled. Candidates Paddy Crick repeated his accusations of corruption in his campaign speeches.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article235787046 Mr Crick at Perth - another violent speech The Daily Telegraph 22 November 1890 5 May 2021 5 Trovehttps://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article156382263 Nomination of candidates The National Advocate 2 December 1890 5 May 2021 2 Trove Charles Boyd was a grazier from Bathurst. Each of the Sydney Morning Herald,https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13797122 The West Macquarie Election The Sydney Morning Herald 18 November 1890 5 May 2021 5 Trove the Daily Telegraph,https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article235798560 The West Macquarie Election: The candidature of Mr C Boyd The Daily Telegraph 17 November 1890 5 May 2021 5 Trovehttps://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article235792667 Mr Boyd's candidature The Daily Telegraph 28 November 1890 5 May 2021 5 Trove and the National Advocate,https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article156377585 The West Macquarie Election: Mr Charles Boyd's candidature The National Advocate 29 November 1890 5 May 2021 2 Trove record Boyd as campaigning as a Free Trader, while Antony Green lists him as an independent stating that his party affiliation was unclear from the reports Green had examined. Result [[1890 West Macquarie colonial by-election|1890 West Macquarie by-election]]Saturday 6 December1890 West Macquarie by-election 1889 West Macquarie_1 2021-05-05 Protectionist Paddy Crick (re-elected) 496 56.0 +0.9 Free Trade Charles BoydBoyd's party affiliation is taken from reports in the Sydney Morning Herald,https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13797122 The West Macquarie Election The Sydney Morning Herald 18 November 1890 5 May 2021 5 Trove the Daily Telegraph,https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article235798560 The West Macquarie Election The Daily Telegraph 17 November 1890 5 May 2021 5 Trovehttps://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article235792667 Mr Boyd's candidature The Daily Telegraph 28 November 1890 5 May 2021 5 Trove and the National Advocate,https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article156377585 The West Macquarie Election The National Advocate 29 November 1890 5 May 2021 2 Trove which record Boyd as campaigning as a Free Trader, while Antony Green lists him as an independent stating that his party affiliation was unclear from the reports Green had examined. 390 44.0 -0.9 886 100.0 +1.8 0 0.0 -1.8 886 74.4 +1.2 Protectionist No Paddy Crick (Free Trade) was expelled. Aftermath At a meeting at the Lagoon, Major Butler asked "Is it true, Mr. Crick, that you stated that there was not a virtuous woman in West Macquarie?" Crick alleged he then stated "I was told so; and, more than that, I believe that you did say so".NSWLawRp 28 1891 Crick v Butler (1891) 12 LR (NSW) 75 20 May 1891 Supreme Court (Full Court) Crick sued Butler for slander, however the jury found for Butler. The Full Court of the Supreme Court held that a question put bona fide by an elector in the course of an election meeting would not be slanderous. Further the charge was so improbable that Crick's reputation was not injured. See also Electoral results for the district of West Macquarie List of New South Wales state by-elections References expanded Category:1890 elections in Australia Category:New South Wales state by-elections Category:1890s in New South Wales