TASMANIA ======================================================================== HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ======================================================================== THE THIRTY-SECOND PARLIAMENT ELECTED 13 OCTOBER 1956 ======================================================================== The Thirty-Second Parliament was opened on 29 October 1956 and was dissolved on 9 April 1959. Sources ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Voting figures are taken from the "Report on Parliamemtary Elections", 1957, by C A Blakney, Chief Electoral Officer. Biographies of elected members are from Bennett and the Tasmanian Parliament website. Since the National Library's Trove newspaper archive ends in 1954, I have been unable to locate a list of candidates for this election. The "Report on Parliamemtary Elections" gives only candidate surnames. Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Labor won its eighth successive victory at this election, winning a a majority of the primary vote and retaining its 15 seats. The Liberals also won 15 seats but polled a minority of the vote, and were again obliged to provide a Speaker, leaving Labor with a working majority. This second successive 15-all result at last prompted the Parliament to enlarge the House of Assembly to 35 members (an odd number), with seven members for each Division. Bob Cosgrove retired in August 1958, having been Premier with one break since July 1939. He was and still is Tasmania's longest-serving Premier. He was succeeded by Eric Reece. Tim Jackson remained Liberal leader. The 1955 split in the federal Labor Party brought down Labor governments in Victoria and (in 1957) Queensland, but had little effect in Tasmania, thanks to Cosgrove's astute party management. Anti-Communist Labor candidates contested all five Divisions, but polled poorly. It was hard to be more anti-Communist than Cosgrove. Mabel Miller was re-elected in Franklin, but Millie Best was defeated in Wilmot. No other female candidates appeared. STATE SUMMARY OF VOTES AND SEATS ======================================================================== Enrolled voters: 174,632 Total votes counted: 166,293 95.2 Informal votes: 6,968 04.2 Formal votes: 159,435 95.8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Party Votes % Seats ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Labor Party 80,096 50.2 -02.4 15 Liberal Party 69,477 43.6 -01.7 15 Others 9,752 06.1 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 159,435 30 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VOTES AND SEATS BY DIVISION ========================================================================================================================= Division Labor Party Liberal Party Others ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Votes % Quotas Seats Votes % Quotas Seats Votes % Quotas Seats ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bass 16,556 51.5 -02.0 3.61 3 14,292 44.5 -01.5 3.11 3 1,301 04.0 0.25 - Braddon 15,302 48.5 -04.8 3.39 3 14,814 46.9 +00.2 3.29 3 1,449 04.6 0.28 - Denison 16,837 48.7 -02.1 3.41 3 14,317 41.4 -01.1 2.90 3 3,406 09.8 0.66 - Franklin 14,566 49.8 -00.1 3.43 3 12,751 43.0 -03.5 3.00 3 2,400 08.1 0.47 - Wilmot 16,835 53.7 -02.0 3.76 3 13,303 42.5 -01.7 2.97 3 1,196 03.8 0.23 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 80,096 50.2 -02.4 15.57 15 69,477 43.6 -01.7 13.51 15 9,752 06.1 1.90 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the totals for each party I have shown the number of notional statewide quotas they obtained. The notional statewide quota (5,143) is the statewide formal vote (159,435) divided by 31. VOTING BY DIVISION ======================================================================== BASS (six members to be elected) ======================================================================== Main polling places: George Town, Launceston, Lilydale, St Leonards ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Enrolled voters: 35,504 Total votes cast: 33,718 95.0 Informal votes: 1,569 04.7 Formal votes: 32,149 95.3 Quota for election: 4,593 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Candidate Party Votes % ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eric W BEATTIE * Liberal Party 4,252 13.2 ELECTED 3 Fleming Liberal Party 631 02.0 William H M Fry Liberal Party 2,906 09.0 Frederick A MARRIOTT * Liberal Party 3,326 10.3 ELECTED 4 John L STEER * Liberal Party 3,177 09.9 ELECTED 5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Alexander C ATKINS Labor Party 3,209 10.0 ELECTED 6 Hon Herbert C BARNARD * Labor Party 5,159 16.0 ELECTED 1 Cocker Labor Party 783 02.4 Wallace H Fraser Labor Party 390 01.2 Hon John L Madden * Labor Party 2,445 07.6 Hon Dr Reginald J D TURNBULL * Labor Party 4,570 14.2 ELECTED 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Virgil D Morgan Anti-Comm Labor 1,228 03.8 Pollington Anti-Comm Labor 73 00.2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 32,149 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Atkins was MHA for Bass 1946-48. 2. For Fraser, see Bass 1961 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Alexander Charles Atkins (1903-1978): Elected 1946. Defeated 1948. Elected 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Minister for the Tourist and Immigration Department from 22 July 1958 Minister administering the Forestry Department 22 July 1958 to 26 August 1958 Minister for Forests from 26 Agust 1958 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Herbert Claude Barnard 1890-1957): Elected 1950, 1955, 1956 Died 6 December 1957: see Vacancies ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eric William Beattie (1912-2006): Elected 1946, 1948. Defeated 1950. Filled vacancy 1954. Elected 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ John Lewis Madden (1896-1971): Filled vacancy 1936. Elected 1937, 1941, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955. Defeated 1956 Later career: see Vacancies ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Treasurer to 23 October 1956 Minister for Transport to 23 October 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Frederick Arthur Marriott (1910-94): Elected 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ John Leslie Steer (1919-68): Elected 1950, 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Reginald John David Turnbull (1908-2006): Elected 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Minister for Health to 23 October 1956 Treasurer 23 October 1956 to 11 June 1958 Minister administering the Department of Health Services 23 October 1956 to 11 June 1958 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BRADDON (six members to be elected) ======================================================================== Main polling places: Burnie, Devonport, Zeehan, Wynyard ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Enrolled voters: 34,279 Total votes cast: 32,680 95.3 Informal votes: 1,115 03.4 Formal votes: 31,565 96.6 Quota for election: 4,510 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Candidate Party Votes % ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hon Carol A BRAMICH * Liberal Party 5,567 17.1 ELECTED 2 John G BREHENY * Liberal Party 2,409 07.6 ELECTED 6 John R Fidler * Liberal Party 2,461 08.1 T T Frampton Liberal Party 676 02.1 E A Gaby Liberal Party 919 02.9 Kevin O LYONS * Liberal Party 2,882 09.1 ELECTED 5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Doody Anti-Comm Labor 638 02.0 Galpin Anti-Comm Labor 134 00.4 Healy Anti-Comm Labor 538 01.7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hon Charley B AYLETT * Labor Party 2,673 08.5 ELECTED 4 Cameron Labor Party 613 01.9 Keating Labor Party 587 01.9 Hon Eric E REECE * Labor Party 5,983 19.0 ELECTED 1 Taylor Labor Party 1,641 05.2 Sydney V WARD Labor Party 3,805 12.1 ELECTED 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 31,565 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bramich was elected for Labor in 1955. He defected to the Liberal Party in September 1956. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Charley Bischoff Aylett (1913-66): Elected 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956 Aylett contested Denison at the 1959 election. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Minister for Housing Minister for Transport to 29 August 1958 Minister administering the Police Department to 25 August 1958 Minister administering the Department of Police and Licensing 29 August 1958 to 16 January 1959 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Carroll Athelstone Bramich (1893-1964): Elected 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ John Gerald Breheny (1910-2009): Filled vacancy 1950, 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ John Roy Fidler (1891-1973): Elected 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955. Defeated 1956 Died 17 March 1973 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kevin Orchard Lyons (1923-2000): Elected 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Speaker of the House of Assembly from 29 October 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eric Elliott Reece (1909-99): Elected 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Minister for Lands to 25 August 1958 Minister for Works to 25 August 1958 Minister for Mines to 25 August 1958 Minister for Local Government to 25 August 1958 Premier from 25 August 1958 Treasurer 25 August 1958 to 28 October 1958 Attorney-General from 28 October 1958 Minister administering the Department of Mines from 25 August 1958 Minister administering the Department of Police and Licensing from 16 January 1959 Leader of the Australian Labor Party from 25 August 1958 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sydney Victor Ward (1903-88): Elected 1956 Born: 20 March 1903, Woodbridge Career: Business operator, farmer. Circular Head Municipal Council. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DENISON (six members to be elected) ======================================================================== Main polling places: Hobart, Moonah, New Town, Queenborough ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Enrolled voters: 37,912 Total votes cast: 36,056 95.1 Informal votes: 1,496 04.1 Formal votes: 34,560 95.9 Quota for election: 4,938 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Candidate Party Votes % ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hon Robert COSGROVE * Labor Party 10,150 29.4 ELECTED 1 Hon Dr John F GAHA * Labor Party 1,277 03.7 ELECTED 3 Eric R A Howroyd Labor Party 414 01.2 Robert H Lacey Labor Party 623 01.8 Brian K Miller Labor Party 2,029 05.9 Hon Alfred J WHITE * Labor Party 2,444 07.1 ELECTED 6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cashmore Liberal Party 1,239 03.6 William C HODGMAN * Liberal Party 1,391 04.0 ELECTED 5 Robertson Liberal Party 362 01.0 W R Stanton Liberal Party 201 00.6 Horace W STRUTT * Liberal Party 1,094 03.2 ELECTED 4 Reginald C TOWNLEY * Liberal Party 10,030 29.0 ELECTED 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bartholomew Anti-Comm Labor 418 01.2 Marshall Anti-Comm Labor 68 00.2 Orpwood Anti-Comm Labor 414 01.2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bower 460 01.3 William G Wedd 1,896 05.5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Max Bound Communist 91 00.3 Lloyd 59 00.2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 34,560 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Howroyd was MHA for Denison 1937-50. See Vacancies 2. For Lacey, see Vacancies 3. For Miller, see Legislative Council, Newdegate 1957. 4. Wedd was MHA for Denison 1948-53. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Robert Cosgrove (1884-1969): Elected 1919. Defeated 1922. Elected 1925, 1928. Defeated 1931. Elected 1934, 1937, 1941, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956 Resigned 25 August 1958: see Vacancies Died 25 August 1969 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Premier to 25 August 1958 Minister for Education to 25 August 1958 Treasurer 12 June 1958 to 25 August 1958 Leader of the Labor Party to 25 August 1958 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ John Francis Gaha (1894-1966): Elected 1950, 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Minister for Police 26 August 1959 to 29 August 1959 Minister for Transport 29 August 1958 to 16 January 1959 Chief Secretary from 16 January 1959 Minister for Health from 9 April 1959 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ William Clark Hodgman (1909-97): Elected 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Horace William Strutt (1903-85): Elected 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Speaker of the House of Assembly to 28 October 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Reginald Colin Townley (1904-82): Elected 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Alfred John White (1902-87): Elected 1941, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956 Resigned 27 January 1959: see Vacancies Died 31 August 1987 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chief Secretary to 16 January 1959 Minister administering the Department of Health Services 26 August 1958 to 28 October 1958 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FRANKLIN (six members to be elected) ======================================================================== Main polling places: Clarence, Derwent Park, Glenorchy, Kingborough ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Enrolled voters: 32,376 Total votes cast: 31,062 95.9 Informal votes: 1,345 04.3 Formal votes: 29,717 95.7 Quota for election: 4,246 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Candidate Party Votes % ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Douglas F Clark Liberal Party 1,947 06.6 William JACKSON * Liberal Party 5,508 18.5 ELECTED 1 Mabel F MILLER * Liberal Party 1,924 06.5 ELECTED 4 Thomas G PEARSALL * Liberal Party 2,438 08.2 ELECTED 5 Pitman Liberal Party 208 00.7 W E Rayner Liberal Party 726 02.4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Harold Anti-Comm Labor 330 01.1 Hursey Anti-Comm Labor 133 00.4 Roberts Anti-Comm Labor 353 01.2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Brian P CRAWFORD Labor Party 2,813 09.5 ELECTED 6 Hon John J DWYER * Labor Party 4,747 16.0 ELECTED 2 Hon Charles Hand * Labor Party 2,211 07.4 McNally Labor Party 343 01.2 William A NEILSON * Labor Party 3,729 12.5 ELECTED 3 Persey Labor Party 723 02.4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 29,717 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ For Clark, see Franklin 1964 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Brian Peter Crawford (1926-2004): Elected 1956 Born: 8 June 1926, Hobart Career: Clerk. Military service World War II. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ John James Dwyer (1890-1962): Elected 1931, 1934, 1937, 1941, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Charles Henry Hand (1900-66): Elected 1948, 1950, 1955. Defeated 1956 Died 3 October 1966 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Minister for Commerce to 23 October 1956 Honorary Minister administering the Tourist and Immigration Department to 23 October 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ William Jackson (1907-75): Elected 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Leader of the Opposition Leader of the Liberal Party ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mabel Flora Miller (1906-78): Elected 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ William Arthur Neilson (1925-89): Elected 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Minister for the Tourist and Immigration Department 23 October 1956 to 22 July 1958 Attorney-General 22 July 1958 to 28 October 1958 Treasurer from 9 April 1959 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thomas Gordon Pearsall (1920-2003): Elected 1950, 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WILMOT (six members to be elected) ======================================================================== Main polling places: Beaconsfield, Deloraine, Latrobe, New Norfolk ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Enrolled voters: 34,561 Total votes cast: 32,777 94.8 Informal votes: 1,443 04.4 Formal votes: 31,334 95.6 Quota for election: 4,477 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Candidate Party Votes % ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Leonard H BESSELL Liberal Party 2,754 08.8 ELECTED 6 A Millie Best * Liberal Party 1,884 06.0 Charles R BEST * Liberal Party 2,724 08.7 ELECTED 5 W Angus BETHUNE * Liberal Party 3,290 10.4 ELECTED 4 Gibson Liberal Party 1,758 05.6 Strickland Liberal Party 893 02.8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Doherty Anti-Comm Labor 682 02.2 Maloney Anti-Comm Labor 362 01.2 Reidy Anti-Comm Labor 172 00.5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Douglas A CASHION * Labor Party 3,344 10.7 ELECTED 2 Roy Frederick FAGAN * Labor Party 5,280 16.9 ELECTED 1 Arthur R FISHER Labor Party 3,523 11.2 ELECTED 3 William D McNeill Labor Party 1,554 05.0 Lancelot T Spurr * Labor Party 2,046 06.5 Taylor Labor Party 1,088 03.5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 31,334 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ For McNeill, see Vacancies ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Leonard Hubert Bessell (1917-81): Elected 1956 Born: 6 February 1917, Whitemore ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Amelia Martha (Millie) Best: (1900-79): Elected 1955. Defeated 1956 Later career: see Vacancies ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Charles Robinson Best (1909-96): Elected 1950, 1955, 1956 Resigned 24 November 1958: see Vacancies Later career: see Legislative Council, Meander 1958 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Walter Angus Bethune (1908-2004): Elected 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Douglas Alfred Cashion (1907-2004): Filled vacancy 1949. Elected 1950, 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Minister for Transport 23 October 1956 to 26 August 1958 Minister for Lands and Works from 26 August 1958 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Roy Frederick Fagan (1905-90): Elected 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Attorney-General Deputy Premier from 26 August 1958 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Arthur Reginald Fisher (1901-58): Elected 1956 Born: 15 June 1901, Oatlands Career: Farmer. Oatlands Municipal Council. Died 29 December 1958: see Vacancies ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lancelot T Spurr (1897-1965): Filled vacancy 1941. Elected 1941, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955. Defeated 1956 Died 30 May 1965 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VACANCIES 1956-59 ======================================================================== BASS ======================================================================== 23 December 1957, following the death of Hon H Claude Barnard ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hon John L MADDEN Labor Party ------------------------------------------------------------------------ John Lewis Madden (1896-1971): Filled vacancy 1936. Elected 1937, 1941, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955. Defeated 1956. Filled vacancy 1957 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DENISON ======================================================================== 4 September 1958, following the resignation of Hon Robert Cosgrove ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eric R A HOWROYD Labor Party ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eric Richard Aldred Howroyd (1900-80): Elected 1937, 1941, 1946, 1948. Defeated 1950. Filled vacancy 1958 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WILMOT ======================================================================== 24 November 1958, following the resignation of Charles R Best ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A Millie BEST Liberal Party ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Amelia Martha (Millie) Best: (1900-79): Elected 1955. Defeated 1956. Filled vacancy 1958 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WILMOT ======================================================================== 15 January 1959, following the death of Arthur R Fisher ------------------------------------------------------------------------ William D McNEILL Labor Party ------------------------------------------------------------------------ William Donald McNeill (1906-64): Filled vacancy 1959 Born: 21 January 1906. South Australia Career: Farmer, public servant. Military service World War II. Publican. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DENISON ======================================================================== 27 January 1959, following the resignation of Hon Alfred J White ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Robert H LACEY Labor Party ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Robert Herbert Lacey (1900-84): Filled vacancy 1959 Born: 12 January 1900. Victoria Career: Military service World War I. Miner, blacksmith, bush worker. To Tas 1924. Organiser, Australian Workers Union. Official, Federated Clerks' Union. General Secretary, Tas Labor Party. ------------------------------------------------------------------------