1929 Ashfield state by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Ashfield on 5 October 1929 because of the resignation of Milton Jarvie (Nationalist).

Sir Colin Davidson, a Judge of the Supreme Court, was appointed to conduct a Royal Commission to investigate whether there were attempts at bribery with an application for a Campsie bus service. On 7 June 1929 the Royal Commission reported its findings, including that Jarvie had attempted to bribe Albert Bruntnell who was the Chief Secretary. Jarvie was charged with criminal offences, however on 1 July 1929 he was found not guilty. Jarvie nonetheless resigned so that the electors of Ashfield could return him with an overwhelming majority.

Dates

Date	Event
7 June 1929	Royal Commission report given to Governor.
1 July 1929	Jarvie found not guilty.
17 September 1929	Jarvie resigned.
19 September 1929	Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
24 September 1929	Nominations
5 October 1929	Polling day
18 October 1929	Return of writ

Result

1929 Ashfield by-election
Saturday 5 October 

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor NSW	John Clancy	3,526	38.4	+12.5
	Nationalist	Milton Jarvie	3,484	38.0	-20.2
	Independent	Alexander Huie	1,692	18.5	+2.6
	Nationalist	Reginald Kirkwood	281	3.1	+3.1
	Nationalist	Albert Pikett	190	2.1	+2.1
Total formal votes			9,173	99.0	-0.2
Informal votes			95	1.0	+0.2
Turnout			9,268	71.9	-13.9
Two-party-preferred result
	Nationalist	Milton Jarvie (re-elected)	4,376	51.5
	Labor NSW	John Clancy	4,128	48.5
	Nationalist hold		Swing	N/A

See also

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