CAPTAIN-CHAPLAIN JAMES WILSON

HIS POLITICAL CAMPAIGN AS INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE 1919

Wednesday March 5, 1919PETERSHAM BY-ELECTION

POLLING MARCH 22

The writ for the Petersham By-election will be issued by the Governor to-day. Nomination day will be fixed for Saturday next, and the polling will take place a fortnight afterwards, on Saturday, March 22. April 8 will be named as the date for the return of the writ. Considerable interest is attached to the opening of the campaign in support of the National candidate by the Premier to-night in the Petersham Town Hall. It is expected that several Ministers will accompany Mr Holman, and the Major Shillington will also address the meeting. Captain-Chaplain Wilson, the Independent candidate, who has been nominated by the Soldiers and Citizens’ Political Federation will open his campaign in the Petersham Town Hall to-morrow evening.

Thursday March 6, 1919 (Abridged)PETERSHAM

THE CAMPAIGN OPENED It is doubtful whether the Petersham Town Hall ever held a larger or a more lively audience than last night, when the Premier (Mr Holman) opened the campaign for the National candidate, Major Shillington. (opening paragraph abridged) The most important pronouncement made by the Premier was the legislation proposed to compel employers to re-employ returned soldiers.

CHAPLAIN-CAPTAIN WILSON’S CANDATURE Major Shillington then explained that the suggestion that he should try to get the selection for Petersham had come first from some of the soldiers now belonging to the association which had now selected Chaplain Captain Wilson. Lieutenant Cortis, the secretary of that association had asked him to withdraw his name from the National selection. A voice: That is a lie? Major Shillington: “I will bring the letter along with me next time. I replied to him and told him that the one great aim was to unite the anti-Labour section of the people so as to present a bold front to the Bolsheviks. (Hoots and cheers) I said I would stand down if he could arrange for Chaplain Captain Wilson to be the joint candidate of the two associations. Their reply was that they could not entertain it because the Soldiers’ party was out to smash the machine, there is only one machine to smash, and that is the Labour machine. (Cheers) Unless that is done we shall be inundated with Bolshevism. All the Soldiers’ party can do in this contest is to injure the Nationalist cause, because you can’t take one vote away from labour. In this contest Chaplain Captain Wilson is being made use of by a few ambitions, disappointed, and disgruntled would-be politicians. As a result of his candidature it is quite possible that Petersham will be represented by labour. He is splitting the vote and playing Labour’s part. (abridged)

Friday March 7, 1919A FIGHTING PADRE

CHAPLAIN WILSON’S SPEECHCHALLENGE TO OPPONENT

PETERSHAM CONTEST Petersham Town Hall was again crowded to the doors last night, when Captain-Chaplain Wilson, the Soldiers and Citizens’ candidate, opened his campaign. Many people were compelled to stand in the corridors, while others failed to gain entrance to the building. Although the candidate would offer no such special attraction as that which the Premier’s presence lent to Major Shillington’s meeting on the previous evening, everything was done that could be done to arouse enthusiasm, and a returned soldier’s band, parading the streets, and eventually drawing up outside the hall, helped to swell the already large crowd which had gathered there. The meeting opened with the singing of the National Anthem. The Mayor of Petersham, Alderman Gendle, again occupied the chair, and intimated that the overflow meeting would be addressed later on. He then called upon Lieutenant Thomson, of the 1st and 2nd Battalions, who said they had had Mr Holman’s soldier addressing them last night. To-night he was speaking for the soldiers’ soldier candidate.

THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD “We claim as soldiers,” he said “that we have the right to be heard in the affairs of the country. If the soldier is to be shut out from the affairs of the country, then the country will go on under the old two-party system, which will ultimately lead to ruin.” They were offering themselves up on the altar of progress in order to break down this two-party system and to see that all sections of the community had a voice in the affairs of the government. This he believed to be true democracy. What Captain-Chaplain Wilson should do would be the best for the digger. The Premier had said that if they would allow Captain-Chaplain Wilson to run under the National banner he would wipe out all other aspirants for the seat. Major Shillington was informed that if he would leave the National party and come to the Soldiers’ party Captain-Chaplain Wilson would stand down in his favour and allow him to run. “You treat the soldiers right,” said the speaker, “and they will stand as a bulwark between you and the Bolshevism. But let the diggers come home and see that they have not got preference and anything might happen. (Applause) We do not want promises. We do not want sympathy. We do not want charity. We want justice. (Applause) And we are going to get it.” A voice: “Holman, will never give it to you.”

CHAPLAIN-WILSON’S SPEECH Captain-Chaplain Wilson said that he did not expect to stand before them as a candidate for Parliamentary honours. “To me,” said Captain-Chaplain Wilson, “the Australian ‘digger’ comes first. He had made me his choice. Whatever Mr Holman or Major Shillington may say, I want to tell you here and now that I claim to be the ‘digger’s choice.” (Applause) The speaker referred to his efforts in the recruiting campaign, and stated that, without being paid for it or receiving travelling expenses during his tour in 1915, a thousand men were recruited at his meetings. They were in the presence of the “dinkum Aussies”—the ‘diggers’ who fought and suffered. There were some people who would unfrock him for the stand he had taken. It had also been stated that he was not a fighting man, that he was only a chaplain, and the Major Shillington had the advantage of being a fighting man. Before the campaign was finished perhaps they would be able to judge whether he was a fighting man, he at least had a son who had been over there for four years. The speaker said that he wanted to put himself right, and would not worry about policy for the time being. He wanted to tell them that he was perfectly satisfied that in the future the men were going to count more than they had in these political campaigns. It was a tragedy in human life to be born a man and die a politician. But once he had said to the soldiers, “I want you, and he felt he would not be playing up to the highest type of manhood if he did not say to the boys now, “If you want me, I want you.”

The speaker said that he had received some terrible letters from people who really believed he was going to the devil. “I do not suppose,” he added, “that I will be very far away from him when I get to Macquarie street.” (Laughter)

WILL GO THROUGH THE FIGHT Having once passed his word he would stand for this fight, he would go through it if he died on the way. The fact that there was no second ballot was the fault of the National Government and not his. A voice: We will see you through. The speaker: “We will get through. We have got through before, many a time. We have been used to the shell holes in “No-man’s-land before. Having served our nation once we will serve her forever, and having fought for the whole of its people, by the help of God we will go in and do the best we can for the whole of them in the councils of the country.” (Applause) Major Shillington had suggested that he was being used by disgruntled politicians. He wanted to say that this was a deliberate falsehood, and he charged him with the responsibility of making good his statement. Referring to the general discussion regarding the appearance of two soldiers in the campaign, the speaker said he proposed to make a last offer to end the unfortunate position created in Petersham. He was prepared to fight it out with Major Shillington in the presence of the Diggers, and he made the following offer:—

MAJOR SHILLINGTON CHALLENGED “As Major Shillington has suggested that he is as much the nominee of the returned soldiers as I am, and that the said returned soldiers are not in agreement with me, and further, that I am being made use of by disgruntled politicians, I feel it necessary to challenge the major to a contest this position in the presence of returned soldiers at a meeting to be convened in the Sydney Town Hall on next Monday night, or at any other night, at which he shall have the privilege of putting his case in a twenty-minutes’ speech, and I the same privilege, a vote of the men to be taken—this vote to decide whether Major Shillington or myself shall stand down from the Petersham election. This course would save us from the difficulty created by the absence of the second ballot and save any splitting of the votes in the electorate. I wish this course to be taken, as I desire to safeguard the interests of the returned soldier and save the Petersham electors from what must be a very embarrassing position.” He felt that he had done a thing perfectly fair and honourable, and he left it to Mr Holman and His Cabinet and to Major Shillington, and if the returned Diggers in the Town Hall said that Major Shillington was the man he would willingly stand down.

SANE UNIONISM WANTED Referring to his attitude towards Labour, the speaker said he had been misrepresented because he had said that the workers of Australia had been betrayed again and again by the men who were professedly their friends, and who ought to be booted out. Unfortunately the Parkes Labour league said he had urged that the Labour party should be booted out. He asserted, however, that sane unionism was wanted in the country. The curse to-day would be Bolshevism and extremism. The Kaiser was an extremist, and he became an autocrat and a danger until the Allies dammed back the goose-stepping hordes and put the Kaiser where he was to-night. Bolshevism, it if came out for domination; the O.B.U., if it stood for domination as a class—then they, the soldiers’ representatives, would fight them as they fought the Kaiser. (Applause) The great danger was that if the men were not treated as they should be a great percentage would be driven, not only into the labour party, but into the arms of the Bolsheviks themselves. There was, however, a sane Labour party in Australia, and there was sane unionism in Australia, and he asserted that sane unionism would be on the side of Justice when we came to any conflict with extreme Bolshevism. The sane labour party was the first line of defence and the “Aussie Diggers” were the second line.

BOLSHEVISM AND BAD GOVERNMENT Bolshevism was here in Australia to-day, and Bolshevism was the product of bad government.

A voice: “Lack of education.” The speaker: “Yes, you have got profiteering. Why does not the Government stop profiteering? Is profiteering such a problem that it cannot be handled by the Government?” Lieut. Cortis, secretary of the Soldiers and Citizens League, also spoke, and Mr R. Windeyer, K.C., moved a vote of confidence in the candidate, which was seconded by Dr Kane and carried enthusiastically.

Saturday March 8, 1919THE CHALLENGE

TO BE DEALT WITH LATERSPEECHES AT PETERSHAM

Major Shillington, the Nationalist candidate for Petersham, does not as yet propose to deal with the challenge thrown out by Captain Chaplain Wilson at his meeting in the Petersham Town Hall on Thursday night last, regarding the proposed meeting of soldiers in the Sydney Town Hall. He will do so, however, at a meeting to be held in the electorate on Monday night next.” “From now on,” said Major Shillington, at a meeting held outside the Stanmore railway station last night, “I do not propose to deal greatly with the claims of the Independent candidate. I intend that his shall be a fight against Labour and against Bolshevism. A challenge was made last night by the Independent candidate, and I do not propose to deal with it to-night, because it is a matter which will take some time. I propose to deal with that at my meeting at Lewisham on Monday night. I think that when that challenge was made, the gentleman who made it must have recognised that it was an absurd proposal.” A voice: “You are not game to take it up.” Major Shillington: “I will deal with it on Monday Night.” A voice: ‘Why don’t you meet him?” Major Shillington: “He leaves it until it is too late. I have been prepared all the time to stand down. However, I am not going on with that. I will deal with that on Monday.” The speaker then explained at length exactly what had occurred in connection with the trial of Corporal Williams, with regard to which he had been questioned at his previous meeting. He stated that the soldier in question was found guilty and sentenced to seven day’s detention, but was recommended for mercy on account of his service, and never went to goal at all. He did not think the man had any complaint against him, but he believed he was being put up by somebody who wanted to make political capital out of his case. Major Shillington added that he had previously expressed himself in favour of 6 o’clock closing of hotels, and he now wished to say that he was also of the opinion that the Government should, at the next session, pass an anti-shouting measure. This had been suggested in connection with demobilisation, and some people believed that it should be made illegal to treat soldiers. He could not see any necessity for that discrimination, and he thought everybody should be on the same place, and that shouting throughout the community should be absolutely illegal. Mr Doe, M.L.A., afterwards addressed the meeting, and referred to Mr Storey’s repudiation of Bolshevism. He had repudiated Garden, and he had repudiated Judd, but he would party to-day there were men who were opposing the old Labour party’s doctrine of arbitration and substituting for it the I.W.W. doctrine of One Big Union and direct action, and, if Mr Storey wanted to repudiate these things, he had got to put out of his movement the men who were preaching them in season and out of season. It was a remarkable thing that these repudiations always came about when there was an election on. “Your report of the Petersham Town Hall meeting of Thursday night,” writes Mr T.J. Hoskins, M.L.A. “give Chaplain-Captain Wilson as saying that I had referred to him as the ‘canting parson who could pray, and not fight.” Chaplain Wilson has been misinformed. Anyone who knows me will

readily admit that I am not in the habit of referring to ministers of religion in terms like that. What I did say was that there is a danger of the vote splitting allowing a Labour candidate to slip in, as happened in Western Australia in the by-election for Lord Forrest’s seat. Chaplain Wilson, the representative of the Farmers and Settlers’ Association, is endangering the situation in the same way, for a lot of supposed followers of his are in reality Labour supporters whose one object is to keep him in the field, so that Labour will get the chance of a lifetime.

Monday March 10, 1919PETERSHAM SEAT

CHAPLAIN WILSON DISQUALIFIEDNOMINATION REJECTEDTHE RESIDENCE CLAUSE

Nominations for the Petersham by-election, to fill the vacancy in the Legislative Assembly caused by the appointment of Mr J.J. Cohen to the District Court Bench, closed at noon on Saturday. At that hour Mr W.E. Gould, the returning officer, received the following nominations:— DONALD WALTER CROAL, Accountant, Stanmore. BERNARD CLARENCE OLDE, Clerk, Petersham (Labour) SYDNEY JAMES SHILLINGTON, Grazier, Manly (Nationalist) The appearance of Mr Croal came as a surprise. This is the first occasion on which he has been heard of publicly, at all events in connection with the election. A nomination of Captain-Chaplain James Wilson was received, but it was found that he was not qualified. It appears that Captain Chaplain Wilson lost the qualification he held in the electorate in which he was enrolled. For the past 12 months, since his return from the front, he has been residing at Randwick, and in his candidature for Petersham he and his supporters have been relying on the inclusion of his name in the recent police collections for the new rolls under proportional representation as qualifying him to contest the seat. That collection, however, does not apply to the election, and therefore his nomination was held to be informal.

STILL ON THE GRANVILLE ROLL The position which has arisen is as peculiar as it is unfortunate. Interesting facts about it were given by the Chief Secretary, Mr Fuller, last night, after consultation with his electoral officers. When Captain-Chaplain Wilson joined the A.I.F. as a chaplain he was a resident and an elector of Granville. During his absence with the troops, and right up to the present time, his name was preserved on the Granville roll. It is still on that roll. Upon his return from the war, 12 months ago, however, he removed his home from Granville to Randwick. At any time during that period it was open to Captain Wilson, said Mr Fuller, to effect a transfer of his name from the Granville to the Randwick roll. He appears to have made no such attempt to retain his qualifications to vote. “Even if he had applied for a transfer of his name a quarter of an hour before nominations closed,” said the Chief Secretary, “his right to vote and his qualification to be nominated would have been secured.” Referring to what had been called a “receipt” from police, Mr Fuller explained that was merely a voucher which the police leave with every new name they collect. It bears on the face of it an intimation that it is not to be taken as an enrolment. The police are now engaged collecting complete new rolls in preparation for the next general elections under the new electoral system at proportional representation.

WARNED BY RETURNING OFFICER It further transpired last night that twice recently—the second time early last week—a warning was given to Captain Wilson’s committee to see that their candidate was on the roll. Lieutenant Cortis admits that this is so, and says that he entertained no doubt about the matter, because he understood that Captain Wilson was enrolled for Randwick.

The informality arose from the failure of Chaplain-Captain Wilson and his supporters to make certain that he was properly enrolled. As early as Tuesday last their attention was drawn to the necessity for not overlooking this all-important factor in the campaign. He and they were quite satisfied, and gave assurances that all was quite right. Even after the writ had reached Petersham attention was again called to it. Once again the assurances were that all was well. It is interesting to recall that a couple of elections ago Mr Holman narrowly missed disqualification on similar grounds. He personally discovered that his name was not on the roll. He has often boasted that this was the narrowest escape he has ever had of being put out of Parliamentary life. It is a coincidence also that at the elections of 1913 the nomination of Mr Garden, who is now secretary of the Trades and Labour Council, as a candidate for Petersham, was declared informal, because he was not enrolled. When the position became known on Saturday, a suggestion was freely made in Petersham and other circles that it could be overcome by all the candidates withdrawing, and this necessitating the election being started all over again, and provide a passage through which Chaplain-Captain Wilson’s disability could be rectified, and he be nominated. Such a course is, however, useless. Candidates cannot withdraw. They can announce their withdrawal, and individual candidates have occasionally done so, in order that the electors may concentrate their votes in other directions. But the names of all the candidates must appear on the ballot papers, and all the machinery of polling must be put into operation. It is conceded, therefore, that withdrawal in that way would be futile, for, to quote an extreme possibility, if only one elector went to the poll the candidate receiving that vote would, under the existing system, be elected.. The possibility of the government opening the way for the nomination of Chaplain-Captain Wilson has been canvassed in its relation to the independence of the returning officer by interested parties. This independence is regarded by these who discussed it as a priceless feature of the electoral system—the paramount safeguard, in fact, against attempts to destroy the freest choice by the people. If it operated harshly in a few instances, its existence safeguards the public from the possibility of extensive abuses. Therefore, it is being maintained, no governmental order, even though it is to be guaranteed by a validation law later on, can compel a returning officer to accept a nomination that is informal under the law he is administering. Conversely, no such order can compel him to exclude a candidate. For the time being, it is claimed, he is the supreme arbiter. So far as could be ascertained up to last night no action of the Electoral Department disfranchised Chaplain-Captain Wilson. He appears, so far as the details could be learnt, to have disfranchised himself. It was unofficially stated from an authoritative source yesterday that whilst he was at the war his name was in accordance with the government policy, retained on the electoral roll. All the trouble appears to have arisen from the chaplain’s neglect to secure a transfer to his new district. Dependence on the slips of paper given by the police making collections as guarantee of enrolment is a misunderstanding of such common occurrence that it is almost surprising. Never an election comes round without the same confusion arising, but in spite of insistent warning it recurs. The face of the document especially shows it purpose to be the inclusion of the name on the electoral “roll.” In a general collection, such as has been in progress recently, the processes occupy several months. Moreover, the police collection, it is again officially explained, is at best only a step towards overcoming the indifference that the vast majority of people display towards enrolment—until an election comes around. The electoral law fundamentally casts the onus of attending to enrolment entirely upon the individual. Chaplain-Captain Wilson’s position, moreover, is claimed in authoritative and politico legal circles to differ fundamentally from that of the majority of soldiers already returned or of those who are yet to return. The State authorities have absolutely no official sources of information as to the electors who enlisted for war service. The information had to be gathered in the best way possible, and it was, at best, a haphazard way. But the name of every man who was found to have enlisted has been kept on

the roll, and indicated by crossed swords. There are many thousands of such markings in the various rolls. The electoral authorities candidly confess that doubtless hundreds of soldiers have been struck off simply because the officials had no knowledge that they were soldiers. But such accidents and omissions happen with civilians also. When however, the soldiers return to civil life and remove to another electoral district, the responsibility of transferring their enrolment is theirs. Mr Holman, discussing the question yesterday, said the government had been most zealous in safe guarding the enrolments of soldiers, and would continue that policy, but accidental omissions most occur in the absence of satisfactory sources of information.

LAW OFFICERS INQUIRINGMR HOLMAN ACTS PROMPTLY

The Premier, Mr Holman, acted promptly when informed of the informality of Chaplain Wilson’s nomination. Immediately after he received the news, at midday on Saturday Mr Holman made the following statement:—“I have just heard of the difficulty which has arisen in connection with the Petersham election. This is an entirely unexpected development. Although I have no particular sympathy with Chaplain-Captain Wilson’s candidature, it would be a great shame if, as the result of his absence at the front, he was prevented from standing. “I have just given instructions that the law officers consulted as to whether by Executive authority, coupled if necessary with the requisite validating legislation, the difficulty cannot be overcome. “I shall call Cabinet together on Monday to consider the position in the light of the law officers’ report.”

MR JOHN STOREY’S VIEWNOMINATION IS VALID

“There is no doubt that Chaplain Wilson’s nomination is valid, according to all the promises that were made to the soldiers when they went to the front,” said Mr John Storey leader of the Opposition. “A distinct promise was given that soldiers would not lose their privileges as electors. There is no chance of evading that issue. Both political parties in the Commonwealth decided that the soldiers should have the privileges of voting, and this was confirmed from every platform on which State politicians spoke. “Chaplain Wilson should be allowed to nominate. Of course, if Mr Holman takes the legal view of the question, and decides to ascertain the position from the officers of the department, there can be only on answer—Chaplain Wilson cannot stand. The law is distinct and clear. “If Mr Holman is going to shelter himself behind the legal aspect, he knows as a lawyer, before he asks the question, what the reply will be. If, on the other hand, he is going to honour the promises given by his party and by his colleagues from every Federal and State platform there will be no necessity to amend the law, as the machinery for taking the soldiers’ vote has already been provided and has been used in England. Provision was made in a bill which came before the House for taking the votes of soldiers on the other side of the world. A very acrimonious debate took place during the passage of that bill, there being a fear that there might be improper voting. But all parties eventually agreed that the soldiers were entitled to vote, even though there might be a few irregular practises. If Mr Holman wants to do justice to the soldiers he will, without asking for a validation Act, place Chaplain-Captain Wilson in a position to go to the poll.”

MAJOR SHILLINGTON’S COMMENTS The position was referred to by Major Shillington, the Nationalist candidate, at an organising meeting of the women’s Reform League at Lewisham on Saturday night. “It is to be regretted,” he said. “It would have been much better if the campaign could have gone on as it started. I am aware that with the Chaplain in the field the vote would be split, and it would be a fight between the Nationalist and Labour parties. I have been around the electorate, and I know that an independent candidate has not a large following, but we have to do everything we can.”

The meeting, over which Mrs Prott presided, carried a motion endorsing Major Shillington’s candidature, and agreeing to work to secure his return.

RETURNING OFFICER’S STATEMENT The Returning Officer for Petersham, Mr W. E. Gould, stated last night that Chaplain-Captain Wilson, when his nomination was put in, said he was a resident of Randwick, had been resident there for about 12 months, and made it plain that he depended for his qualification upon his residence at Randwick, and upon what he said were enrolment receipts from the police, but which were merely acknowledgements that were left by the police when making the collection recently. Mr Gould also said that prior to the nomination day Chaplain-Captain Wilson and his supporters informed him first that he was enrolled at Manly. Then they told him Randwick, and as Mr Gould could not find the name on that roll he made further inquiries, and was told it was on Hurstville. Before inquiries at Hurstville were completed, they informed him again that the enrolment was at Randwick. After the difficulty arose, he was told that Chaplain-Captain Wilson was enrolled at Granville. “But the candidate himself was very explicit,” continued Mr Gould, “that his qualification was at Randwick; he produced the police documents, and said he relied absolutely on them, and on his 12 months residence there.” “Did you inspect the Granville roll?” “No,” Mr Gould replied, “it was not necessary. The law is very plain that up to one month of shifting his residence from the district in which he is enrolled an elector can vote in the electorate, but after that month he is disqualified. Captain Wilson insisted that his qualification was Randwick, where he had been living for 12 months—or 11 months after his qualification for Randwick closed—and that was the only information on which I could act.”

SOLDIER’S ORGANISATION Lieut. Cortis, secretary of the Soldiers and Citizens Federation, stated last night—“The federation intends to make representations to the chief electoral officer that Chaplain-Captain Wilson had good grounds for being absent for the period of one month from the Granville electorate, in which district his name is enrolled. It is hoped the officers of the Cabinet will be able to extend to all soldiers the privilege of remaining on the rolls on which their name appears until they are free from hospital treatment, even though they have shifted their residences temporarily into the neighbourhood of hospitals. “In the meantime the federation is pushing ahead with its campaign until a definite settlement has been reached.” Asked as to its attitude in the event of Chaplain-Captain Wilson having to withdraw, Lieut. Cortis said the federation would not support either side in the contest, as its constitution set out that it should not affiliate with either party.

CHAPLAIN WILSON’S INTENTIONWILL CONTINUE CAMPAIGN.

Captain-Chaplain Wilson last night stated that he voted at the last referendum, and no objection was taken regarding his right to vote. In January he gave a constable an application to be placed on the roll for Randwick. The chief electoral officer had now ruled that as he had lived away from Granville—where he was previously enrolled—for longer than a month his nomination for the Petersham seat was informal. On this basis for reasoning, it seemed that every returned soldier, who had been away fighting for his country, would be disfranchised unless he returned to his home. Chaplain Wilson went on to say that he was awaiting the decision of to-day’s Cabinet meeting with some anxiety, but, in the meantime his organisation would continue its work, and he would speak at the Petersham Town Hall on Wednesday night next, which ever way the decision went. A large audience assembled at the Lyceum Hall yesterday afternoon when Chaplain-Captain spoke on the “Case for the Empire.” He began his address by saying “I do not propose to say anything regarding the unforseen developments in connection with the Petersham by-election. The matter must

be left in the hands of Mr Holman and his Cabinet, and on no account will I attempt to influence their decision. The whole position is freighted with difficulty, and I appeal to my friends to act in a dignified manner and honour the best of traditions of our fighting force.”

MAJOR SHILLINGTON’S POSITION We have received from Lieutenant E. Cortis, organising secretary of the Soldiers and Citizens Political Party, a copy of a letter which he forwarded to Major Shillington on February 6. Herein he stated that the party had definitely decided to support Captain Wilson, and added:—“I regret the delay in replying to your wire, but hope you can advise me to publish a statement that you had no intention to run against the objective of the federation. Such a statement will remove much disappointment now being expressed.

CHAPLAINS WILSON’S MEETINGS Largely attended meetings were held on Saturday night in connection with Captain Wilson’s candidature. One meeting was in Parramatta-road and the other at the corner of New Canterbury-road and Gardner-street, and speeches were delivered by Lieut. Cortis and Messrs T.J. Hugh, Seymour, Hule and Semple, and resolutions were carried sympathising with Chaplain-Captain Wilson in the position that had risen and endorsing his candidature. Chaplain-Captain Wilson is announced to address meetings in the Petersham Town Hall in explanation of his position. Tomorrow night he will address a meeting of ladies and on Wednesday night a general meeting.

Tuesday March 11, 1919PETERSHAM CONTEST

CHAPTAIN WILSON’S NAME UNACCEPTABLEINFORMALITY CANNOT BE REMEDIED

OTHER NOMINATIONS VALIDITY QUESTIONED State Ministers were called together by the Premier yesterday morning to consider the rejection by the returning officer of the nomination of Chaplain-Captain Wilson for the Petersham seat. It was stated subsequently that Mr Holman and Mr Fuller were strongly in favour of the validation of the nomination, if there were any process by way that could be done. The legal members of the Cabinet, however, indicated that the legal objections to any such course were insuperable. It was therefore decided that the matter must stand as it is, and the election proceed without Chaplain-Captain Wilson’s name appearing on the ballot paper.

“ALL INFORMAL”OPINION OF LEARNED COUNSEL

Captain-Chaplain’s Wilson’s committee considered the position, and contended that the whole of the nominations are informal. The point relied upon is that they were made in the form prescribed by the old Act, whereas the new form is set out in the Amending Act passed last session. Yesterday Messrs E.J. Loxton K.C. and F.A.A. Russell gave Captain Chaplain Wilson’s committee the following considered opinion:—

“It is doubtful if the returning officer had any authority to disqualify the candidate. He is not a judicial officer, but purely administrative, and if the form of the nomination is in order within section 79 as amended, he has no power to declare it illegal.“However, all nominations of the candidates are informal, inasmuch as that they do not comply with section 79, sub-section 4 as amended by section 8 of the amending Act, and the returning officer should have held that there was no person nominated in accordance with section 79 as amended.”

THE POINT EXPLAINED The question involved the point raised by Mr Loxton is whether or not the Parliamentary Elections Amending Act, which was passed at the end of last session, applies to the present by-election. If it is

held to do so, the form of the nomination paper should be slightly different from that employed under the old Act. The actual difference is of minor importance, the amendment providing for the insertion of the places of residence, place of enrolment and the polling areas of the nominators, as well as their signatures, which alone were required on the old form. However, the contention is that, however trivial it might be, any detail in the form of the ballot paper which did not comply with the law would render it invalid.

CAPTAIN WILSON’S INTENTIONS It is understood that Chaplain Captain Wilson proposed to carry on his campaign, at least to the extent of addressing several more meetings in the electorate. With regard to the legal point taken on his behalf on the advice of Mr Loxton, K.C. and Mr F.A.A. Russell, it is announced that Chaplain Captain Wilson will deal with this aspect of the matter especially at meetings to be held this week. Chaplain Captain Wilson and members of his committee will this evening address meetings in the following places—corner Railway street and Parramatta road, corner Gordon and Canterbury roads, Albany road, Petersham station (Brighton and Palace roads) and in the Town Hall, Petersham, (ladies’ meeting.)

OPINION OF MINISTERS“SEEKING TO CREAT DIFFICULTIES”

The State Ministers were much interested in the claim that the other three nomination papers were informal. They discussed the matter from every aspect, but were in agreement in failing to appreciate the seriousness of the objection raised. The official view was put succinctly to the Premier. Mr Holman said: “This is mere seeking to create difficulties. I have no opportunity of forming an opinion as to the correctness or otherwise of the views of the learned counsel who have been offering their advice to the interested parties. I am very far from believing that their view is the correct one. But, whether correct or not, it cannot possibly affect the procedure that will be necessary in the present election. The election must go on. The forms were issued by the Returning Officer and were accepted by him. The same forms were made available to every candidate. Nobody has been prejudiced by the issue of these forms. Nobody has been harmed. Whether they were technically the right forms or not is a point I express no opinion. But even if they were wrong the only way to establish that is to bring it before the elections and qualifications committee by petition later on when Parliament is sitting. “If an election could be stopped every time if in the opinion of some acute legal advisor an “i” had not been dotted or a “t” not crossed, we should never get any Parliament together at all,” went the Premier. “I have no doubt that in every election both general elections and by-elections there are minor irregularities of the kind which the keen brains of the legal gentlemen whose opinion is quoted in this connection have detected here. But these irregularities do not prevent the election being held or the Parliament being constituted. I am at a loss to understand what purpose is sought to be served by the publication of counsel’s opinion on points of this character. As I have already said, the election must go on and be brought to a conclusion. I can honestly say that no one regrets more than I do that accident which led to Captain Wilson’s exclusion from the ballot—not that I have any sympathy with his candidature but I am a firm believer in giving every man a clear run. But now that the difficulty has been dealt with and is seen to be without remedy for the present, there is clearly nothing to be gained by bringing forward a number of microscopical points which are of no public interest. They merely illustrate the ingenuity of the lawyers who detect them, but not the patriotism of the public spirit of those who would take advantage of them.”

OUT, BUT NOT DOWNCAPTAIN WILSON ON “TECHNICALITY”

Chaplain-Captain Wilson addressed four meetings in the Petersham electorate last night—at Stanmore, Lewisham, New Canterbury-road, and at the corner of Morgan and Bishop streets. They were all well attended, and assisting speeches were made by Lieutenant Cortis, Messrs A.K. Thompson, J. Seymour, A. Gosby, R. Nicholson, J. Thompson, A.O. Hine, Castob, Hough, Rhodes,

Simpson, Temple, Walker, and Baker. Chaplain-Captain Wilson was splendidly received and frequently cheered at each meeting. “It appears, according to Mr Holmes and his Cabinet that we are out,” Captain Wilson said; “but we are not down. We will be here again. It does not matter what Mr Holmes or his Cabinet does, it does not matter that they have put us out on a technicality; we can go down, and are prepared to go down, so long as the cause for which we stand comes on to the throne. I started in this fight with clean hands, and I come out of it with clean hands. I did not accept the cosy seat offered by the Nationalist party; I chose the stormy path that I thought would lead to the betterment of my fellow-citizens. But it appears from legal opinions that I am not the only one who makes mistakes, the Government has made a mistake that makes all the nominations informal. None of the candidates is eligible—but can we get the Cabinet to take that view? Anyhow, by persevering in the self-reliance, whole-heartedness, and manliness that are being shown at present we will come out on top. Mr Parkhill has said I went to France in 1914 actuated by a commercial spirit. My commercialism consisted in returning in third-class steamer accommodation and in lecturing throughout Australia and raising £2000 for patriotic funds. They gave me over £100 for lectures in Perth while I was on the way to Europe with the Mining Corps. With that money I put 1200 pairs of sandshoes on the feet of the Diggers and paid their way until we got to France. “My part in connection with this war will bear inspection against that of Mr Parkhill I ask you to continue to believe in me. I will be with you again—they are not going to “snuff” me. There will be a resurrection by-and-bye.

NATIONALIST CANDIDATENO SYMPATHY WITH CAPTAIN WILSON

A crowded meeting was addressed by Major Shillington in the Empire Hall, Lewisham, last evening. Major Shillington who had a mixed reception, two interrupters being removed by police, said that Saturday’s development had altered the outlook in regard to that election, as Chaplain Captain Wilson was now entirely eliminated. As the speaker had explained at previous meetings, he was most anxious to avoid any electoral contest between returned soldiers, and had even gone so far as to offer to retire in favour of Captain Wilson. Owing to the unreasonable attitude of Captain Wilson’s committee, no arrangement could be come to. Now he was sorry concerning Saturday’s developments, as he was anxious that the returned soldiers of Petersham should have an opportunity of showing that they were behind the National party, and against the rising tide of Bolshevism. For Captain Wilson he had no sympathy whatever, as a man who took so little interest in public affairs that he did not take the necessary steps to ensure that his name was on the electoral roll deserved to be out of the fight. The Government was anxious to give him a run, and personally he was sorry that Captain Wilson was out of the fight. It had been alleged that he (Major Shillington) was at one time a member of the Sailors and Soldiers’ Political party and deserted that party in order to get an easy way into Parliament. That was not so; he never was and never intended to be a member of that party because he knew that party was deliberately launched with the idea of smashing the Sailors and Soldiers’ Imperial League, which was doing good work for the boys, and would be a power of good in the community. That was the reason he would have nothing to do with the Sailors and Soldiers’ Political party. He stood behind the National party, because he considered that the returned soldiers and sailors would stand behind the National party, which had stood so consistently behind them in their years of crisis. (Applause) Mr D.R. Hall, the Attorney-General referred at some length to Mr Storey’s repudiation of the Bolsheviks of the Australian Labour party, and said that was evidently an electioneering dodge. The men behind the revolutionary principles of the Big One Union were not as, Mr Storey asserted “misguided enthusiasts”, inexperienced theorists”, “a few limelighters and notoriety hunters” but like the most prominent Labourites of the day—men like Mr Willis, Mr Arthur Rae, Mr Howie, Mr J. Baillie M.L.A. and Mr Buckley M.L.A. Mr J. Leye M.L.A. and others, also spoke.

LABOUR CAMPAIGN OPENEDBY MR JOHN STOREY

Abridged – paragraphs where Captain Wilson is referred to, are only reprinted here. Mr Olde had a gratifying reception upon being introduced by the chairman of the local Labour League. He said the disqualification of the Chaplain Captain Wilson was an evidence of the complete lack of consideration for the soldiers on the part of the National Government. There were two things to be decided in this election: two things on which the stability and honour of public life depended, viz, whether judicial or other high appointments were to be the result of political jobbery or not: and secondly, whether or not unrestricted profiteering, encouraged by the National government was to continue. The whole state was waiting for the lead of Petersham in this regard, and his return to parliament would be an effective protest against the continuance of these things.

POLITICAL BARGAINING DENOUNCED Mr John Storey, who was most cordially received, said there was no need to worry about the harsh things that were spoken of them. The bitterest of their opponents were sometimes their friends. Just prior to the war, Major Shillington was a strong Labour man and a member of the Manly Labour League. (Laughter) But Major Shillington would never have been heard of but for the appearance of Captain Wilson in Petersham. There were quite a number of eminently eligible men in Petersham who had been waiting for three years for Mr Cohen to become a judge. But to suit Mr Holman’s ideas a returned soldier had to be found to run against another returned soldier. “Are you going to allow Mr Holman to delude you by picking up a comparative novice, unknown in Petersham or anywhere else, and putting him before men whom you know, and who were eminently suitable to represent you?” he asked. Referring to the disqualification of Captain Wilson, Mr Storey said that if Mr Holman meant what he said—if Mr Holman wanted Captain Wilson to have a run—then he should withdraw the writ and let all candidates nominate over again. (Applause) Parliament had done indemnifying things before, and he had no doubt that if such a course had been taken Parliament would have indemnified it. During the last session of Parliament, with the Premier’s full concurrence, a bill to restore two names to the Canterbury municipal roll had passed the Legislative Assembly, but had been blocked by the Upper House. Soon after the National party was formed there began rumours that certain Judges were to be appointed, among whom Mr Cohen’s name was mentioned. Ministers who were interrogated both inside and outside Parliament insisted that no such appointments were contemplated. Now Mr Holman came to Petersham and had the cool effrontery to say that Mr Cohen’s appointment was merely honouring a promise given to Sir Charles Wade. Article abridged.

Wednesday March 12, 1919PETERSHAM

CABINET DECLINES TO INTERFEREELECTION TO GO ON

Further pressure was brought to bear on the Government yesterday to interfere in the matter of the nominations of candidates for the Petersham by-election in order to allow Captain Wilson to go to the ballot. A deputation, in which Captain Carmichael M.C., M.L.A., Mr Loxton K.C. and Mr F.A.A. Russell took part, waited upon the Premier. It was urged that the point taken against validity of all the nominations was sound, and that the Government should step in and instruct the returning officer to reject them all, and call for fresh nominations. Mr Holman promised that immediate consideration should be given to the representations, and later in the day arranged that Mr Loxton should submit his legal objections to the form of nomination used to the legal members of Cabinet—Mr Hall, Attorney-General and Mr Garland, Solicitor-General and

Minister for Justice. This interview took place; but the Government adheres to its decision not to interfere with the conduct of the election by the returning officer. The final word on the matter was given last night by Mr Holman, who made the following statement:

“The Law Ministers, Mr Hal and Mr Garland, report to me as follows:—“Mr Loxton, without entering into the propriety of the returning officer’s action in rejecting

Captain Wilson’s nomination, contended that the nominations of the three candidates which he had accepted were, in point of law, invalid for the reasons given in the joint opinion of himself and Mr Russell. He further suggested that the law officers of the Crown should inform the returning officer that, in their opinion, his action in accepting these nominations was wrong, and that he should make the return to the writ that no valid nominations were received by him.

“We cannot advise that this course should be adopted. For various reasons we are not satisfied that Mr Loxton’s opinion as to invalidity of the nominations is beyond doubt, but, in any event, there is only one constitutional method of correcting mistakes that may be made by the returning officer. We see grave danger in any attempt on the part of political officers to interfere with the discretion which the law vests with him. Parliament has itself, as Mr Loxton admitted, set up a body to correct any such mistakes. That body is the Elections and Qualifications Committee. For Ministers of the Crown to interfere would involve a departure from the long established practice that returning officers should be permitted to exercise their unfettered judgement, and would create a very dangerous precedent.”

SOLICITOR-GENERAL’S CHALLENGETO MR STOREY

The Solicitor-General (Mr Garland) addressed a crowded meeting in the Petersham Town Hall last night in support of the candidature of Major Shillington, the elected Nationalist candidate. Many of those present were supporters of Chaplain-Captain Wilson and Mr Olde, and interjections were frequent. Major Shillington, who was well received, said it had been stated that he was at one time a supported of the Labour party. He had always been in sympathy with the working classes. (Laughter) But he would not support a political party that had in its ranks disloyalists and traitors. He hoped that Captain-Chaplain Wilson would yet have a run. (Applause) The Solicitor-General (Mr Garland) said that Captain-Chaplain Wilson missed the bus because “he did not know where he was.” (Laughter) It would be a gross infringement for the Government to endeavour to interfere. If Captain-Chaplain Wilson’s nomination had been unfairly rejected by the returning officer, he had the right to appeal to the Elections and Qualifications Committee. The Government deeply regretted that it had not a fair straight-out fight between all parties. Abridged. Thursday March 13, 1919

PETERSHAMCHAPLAIN WILSON’S ADDRESS

All the meetings so far held in connection with the Petersham by-election large and enthusiastic though they have been, were eclipsed in attendance and enthusiasm by the final meeting of Chaplain-Captain Wilson in the local Town Hall last night. In addition to the audience that crammed itself into the hall, and overflow of the meeting by a couple of thousand people was held outside. The enthusiasm was marked and sustained, and at the commencement and conclusion of Chaplain-Captain Wilson’s speeches there was prolonged cheering. The speeches were also freely punctuated with demonstrations, and there was throughout an absence of hostile interjections. The Mayor (Mr Gendle) presided. “I did not know I was even on the State roll at all until the chief electoral officer, Mr Harkness, told the secretary of my committee that I was enrolled for Granville,” Chaplain-Captain Wilson said. Mr Fuller had said that all he had to do was transfer to Randwick, but he challenged Mr Fuller and all the other Ministers to show him how he could have got a transfer. There was no collections of electors’

lists in 1918. He had been fighting for the King and his men, and returned to Australia in broken health, and before recovery went out for 12 months lecturing to raise money for the A.I.F. He was also used by the Federal authorities, without salary, to urge men to go to the front. Why belittle me, after those services? I did them to the best of my ability and because I thought what I did was right. There had been no chance for me to get on the roll. The fact is that they have not been able to merge me from the soldier into the citizen. “But I say,” Captain Wilson continued, “that every man has gone through what I have gone through for his country and say ‘While you are merging me back from my soldier position to my citizen position you must see that I do not lose my franchise.” (Prolonged applause) Mr E.J. Loxton, K.C. said people were justly anxious to get free of machine politics, and, discussing at length the legal aspect of Chaplain-Captain Wilson’s nomination, added that though the machine had given them a set-back on this occasion, it would not do so again. The general elections would definitely decide between machine government and free choice of the people.

TREASURER AT STANMORE Speaking at an open-air meeting at Stanmore last night, the Treasurer (Mr Fitzpatrick) said that Major Shillington was a soldier and a friend of soldiers. The contest had narrowed itself down to one between the loyalist and the disloyalists. Mr Storey wished to keep Chaplain-Captain Wilson in the field so that he would split the vote. A voice: You are glad Captain-Chaplain Wilson is out of it. Mr Fitzpatrick would like to see a triangular contest. There were just so many soldiers behind Major Shillington as there were supporting Chaplain-Captain Wilson. Mr Storey’s crocodile tears would not affect the issue. When one talked to him privately Mr Storey was a good sort, and when the National party was formed it had his concurrency because he realised what would happen if those behind him got control. But Mr Storey in public life was different. Mr Storey was, for the time being, was the mouthpiece for the Labour movement, but apparently his days were numbered. The labour movement had been captured by Bolsheviks and Sinn Feiners who cared nothing for law and order. Mr Storey, whether he liked it or not, would have to dance to the music whether it was “Annie Rooney” or “Pop goes the Weasel.” (Laughter) As Minister for Mines he (Mr Fitzpatrick) knew that no miner on the South Coast working eight hours bank to bank should earn less than 22/ or 23/ per shift, yet by the application of the “darg” they refused to earn more than 12/4. He wondered what their wives and children, who were reported to be bootless, would have to say about that? The Labour movement was now controlled by a number of “Johnny come Latelys.” A voice: Do you want to get control of it? Mr Fitzpatrick replied that he would just as soon get hold of Morrissey’s rattle snakes and try to control them. (Laughter) Bolshevism was at the bottom of the O.B.U. movement. A voice: Why don’t the Allies stop Bolshevism in Russia? Mr Fitzpatrick: “They have enough to do to deal with your friends in Germany.”

NATIONALIST CAMPAIGN To-night the Chief Secretary (Mr Fuller) Mr C.W. Oakes M.L.A. and Chaplain-Captain Cranston will speak in the Town Hall, Petersham, in support of the candidature of Major Shillington. There will be a women’s rally in the Town Hall, Petersham, at 3 o’clock tomorrow afternoon, when Chaplain Colonel Mackenzie, M.C., will deliver an address on “What we should do for our Soldiers.” Mrs W.A. Holman will preside.

Friday March 14, 1919PETERSHAM

CHAPLAIN WILSON’S NAME NOT ON ANY ROLL

CHIEF SECRETARY’S ASSERTION

When the Chief Secretary (Mr Fuller) commenced his speech in the Petersham Town Hall last night on behalf of Major Shillington, the National candidate, 50 percent of the audience were hostile. Boo-hooing and interjections were frequent, and four youths were ejected by police. Before he had concluded a vigorous, telling address the interjectors were silenced, and Mr Fuller was cheered time and again. Major Shillington said he wished to make it clear that, in his opinion, and in the opinion of the whole of the army, padres were just as much “Diggers” as the fighting troops. (Applause) “What” he asked “did the Labour party care about returned soldiers? The Labour party only cares about the votes of soldiers.” (Applause) Mr Fuller said that he was proud to be on the same platform as Major Shillington—a man who had gone to the front and was prepared to make the extreme sacrifice. (Applause) Referring to the appointment of Judge Cohen to the district Court Bench, Mr Fuller said that as long as he was in public life he would give preferential treatment to a man who had given service to his country. (Applause) Some of the men who had objected to the appointment of Judge Cohen sat in their offices in Phillip-street or Elizabeth-street, drew their fees and gave no public support to their country. (Applause) Mr Fuller declared in the name of Captain-Chaplain Wilson did not appear on either the Granville or the Parramatta roll. He had had the rolls searched from 1914 onward, and that was the result. Perhaps some of Captain-Chaplain Wilson’s friends would say on which New South Wales roll the name of Captain-Chaplain Wilson appeared. A voice: Taronga Park. (Laughter) Mr Fuller, continuing, declared that the Government had all along given instructions to the police collecting the rolls that no injustice should be done to the returned soldiers, and that their civic rights should be preserved. (Applause) He denied that the Government had deprived Captain-Chaplain Wilson of his civic rights. (Applause) The State Government had provided a club for the coal-lumpers, so that when they finished work in the early morning they could have a bath and a rest. (Applause) Within the next week or two a similar club would be started for returned soldiers working on the wharfs. Mr Storey was not game to repudiate Bolshevism. If Mr Storey disapproved of Bolshevism he should disassociate himself from it. Bolshevism was evident during the big strike in 1917. The National Government was out against all that sort of thing. (Applause) Mr C.W. Oakes, M.L.A., also spoke.

Saturday March 15, 1919PETERSHAM

INTEREST DECLININGPOORLY ATTENDED MEETINGS

There appears to have been a rapid decline of the unusual interest that was created in the Petersham by-election. With all hope having gone of Chaplain Captain Wilson’s nomination being recognised, the result is considered to be a forgone conclusion in favour of the soldier candidate of the National party, Major Shillington. The Labour candidate will certainly gain a considerable number of votes as a result of the chagrin occasioned by the forced withdrawal of Chaplain Captain Wilson. And there are a large number of people who believe that this, combined with the probable refusal on the part of many more of the disqualified candidate’s supporters to vote at all, will mean the return of the Labour nominee, Mr B.C. Olde. If the figures of past elections are any guide, however, there is little reason to believe that Petersham has already become even a possibility of a formidable Labour stronghold. Last night the meetings of the rival candidates were held in open air. Despite the fact that it was late night shopping night, they were poorly attended. There were plenty of people, but comparatively few of them appeared to be sufficiently interested in the campaign, which began amid so much excitement, to stand in the bleak wind and listen for any length of time.

Major Shillington spoke from several platforms. He emphasised the point that the chief concern of the National party had been to devote all the country’s resources to the winning of the war. That party had been intensely interested in the welfare of the soldiers’ dependants while they were away and was whole-heartedly intent upon on looking after the soldiers after their return. He counselled the electors not to be cajoled by the efforts of what he called misguided enthusiasts, who talked of creating new parties and smashing old machines. He denied that he was either out of touch or out of sympathy with the honest worker, but the electors should not be misled into sending into Parliament a man who must support a party with disloyalists in its ranks. He did not accuse Mr Olde of Bolshevik tendencies, but the party which he seeks to join in Parliament is undoubtedly Bolshevik, and he did not think the electors of Petersham would countenance it.

LABOUR CANDIDATEOPPOSED TO BOLSHEVISM

Mr B.C. Olde, the Labour Candidate, who is contesting the Petersham by-election, in the course of an address last night at Petersham, denounced the principles of Bolshevism. He said that he believed in constitutional government, which meant government by peaceful and orderly methods. Would anyone, he asked, who had read the works of Tolstoi, dare say that the conditions prevailing in Russia were the same as those in Australia? The Labour candidate expressed sorrow that Chaplain-Captain Wilson was not in the contest, as said that he (the speaker) would withdraw his nomination at once if Major Shillington would do likewise. If this were done Captain Wilson could then enter the contest. Continuing he said: “I should like to ask Major Shillington if he is satisfied with the deal soldiers are now receiving? I contend that a soldier should receive full pay until he is discharged or is found full employment.

Wednesday March 13, 1919BY-ELECTION

PREMIER SPEAKS AT LEWISHAMHOSTILE ELEMENT

MANY INTERRUPTIONS That there is very keen interest in Petersham electorate in the by-election campaign now proceeding there, and that Chaplain Captain Wilson has much sympathy in the unfortunate circumstances which cut him out of being a candidate, were features of the by-election, made clear last night at a very large meeting last night in the Lewisham Picture Theatre, addressed by the Premier (Mr Holman), the National candidates (Major Shillington), and others. The meeting was a “lively” one. There seemed to be three elements in it—those friendly to the Nationalist party, those distinctly hostile to the Nationalists, and those who were friendly with neither Nationalists nor Labourite, but who vociferously cheered when the name Chaplain-Captain Wilson was mentioned. On the whole, the reception given each speaker was not cordial. The Premier, who was in good fighting trim spoke in the face of determined opposition but gradually wore down the hostility displayed, and got a fairly satisfactory hearing.

MAJOR SHILLINGTON Major Shillington spoke briefly, amid some interruption. The indications, he said, were that there would be a solid vote for the Nationalist candidate on Saturday Voice: You’ll wake up on Sunday morning. (Great laughter) The candidate, continuing, said that all who studied the position were convinced that the reins of Government must be kept out of the hands of the Bolshevik elements. He was out to fight the extremists and disloyalists, those who were in sympathy with the Bolshevists, and those who sent cordial messages to the enemy. (Applause) But he was completely in sympathy with the honest worker. His attitude is regard to the aspirations of Labour had been grossly misrepresented.

“I feel sure that the people of Petersham must be completely puzzled by the attitude of Chaplain-Captain Wilson,” went on the candidate, but the mention of Chaplain’s name started a remarkable burst of cheering, which lasted several minutes. Major Shillington repudiated the claim of Lieutenant Cortis’ party, that it was the only friend of the returned soldier, and proceeded to sharply criticise some of the tactics of the friends of the Labour candidate, whom he accused, amid applause and cheers, of an attitude of distinctly pro-German and anti-Ally.

THE PREMIER’S SPEECH Mr Holman, whose reception was a mixture of cheers and hoots, said that when war broke out it was recognised that it was a war in which the forces of democracy were arrayed against the forces of reactionary Central Europe. For the first few months there was in France, Belgium and Great Britain, and all Great Britain’s dependencies a union of all parties to make it possible that a league of peace might be established forever. Though there was difference as to detail there was absolute unanimity as to what was to be achieved. But during the last twelve months of the titanic struggle there was a gigantic and strenuous effort on the part of the Labour party to pull Australia out. (Applause and hooting) At the Governor-General’s Conference on recruiting the attitude of the Labour movement was definitely pronounced in favour of withdrawing Australian from the struggle. The head of the Opposition (Mr Storey) was cowed and throttled by the attitude of his own party. At the Perth Conference a resolution was carried that there should be no more recruiting, and that the Allies should at that moment, when the Germans were apparently victorious, approach the Germans and ask them to state their terms. On Saturday next the people would have to decide between the representative of the National party and the representative of the Labour party, which in the hour of the country’s greatest need left the country in the lurch. On the other hand, the National party said that that was the moment to redouble their efforts and to make any sacrifice. The Australian hated a traitor (applause and hooting)—and despised a “cocktail.” It had been stated that the big-strike of 1917 was a trap, what sort of leaders were those at the head of the Labour party who ran the workers in to that trap? The agitation for the release of the L.W.W. men had been succeeded by an agitation for One Big Union. (Applause)

“CAPTAIN WILSON’S SUPPORTERS” There, he said, were Captain Wilson’s supporters cheering on One Big Union, which aimed at taking control of the means of production and everything else by revolution and Russian Bolshevism. The Labour party was sunk ten fathoms deep in complicity with the One Big Union scheme. The Labour party was beggared and bankrupt of all the ideas and all proposals. It had nothing to put forward. (Applause) The idea of surrendering to Germany had been abandoned because it was found that there was better mettle among the Allies, and, thank God, in Australia. The next move was the gigantic strike of 1917, and after that the One Big Union agitation. Very little would be heard of the One Big Union until after the elections. The Labour party was absolutely barren of ideas and did not have a single proposal for the advancement of the country.

THE COST OF LIVING It has been claimed that the price of food in Queensland had been kept down. No one denied that the Queensland Government had kept down the price of meat. It was easy to keep the price of a commodity when the State had an abounding supply and that applied to Queensland. He gave Mr Ryan and Mr Theodore every credit for doing that, but it was an easy thing to do. Figures have been made available by the Federal Statistician showed that in spite of the fact that Queensland had had cheap meat for three or four years, the all-round cost of living in New South Wales had risen 43.9 per cent and in Queensland 60.4 per cent. The Labour Government of Queensland had been no more able to struggle against the natural increase in prices due to the circumstances of the war than had the National Government of New South Wales.

WHAT WAS DONE FOR THE SOLDIERS

The Premier proceeded to deal with the attitude of the national party towards the soldier and the appearance of various political organisations claiming to represent soldiers. The gravest problem before them now and for the next three years was repatriation. The National party, with its majority and strength was in a position to handle repatriation adequately and firmly, but the sectional organisations springing into being, being small and isolated, could not make that claim. What had been done for the good of the country during the last two and a half years of war was not done by the National party? He knew nothing when the Federal Government first proposed its pension scheme it suggested £1 a week for disabled soldiers. The New South Wales Government protested vigorously, and the amount was raised to £2/2/- per week. The State Government in many ways, had helped many soldiers—in assisting them to homes and furniture, in granting them railway and tram passes, in giving special facilities to blinded soldiers. That was the Government’s policy, and they wanted Major Shillington to help them with it. Could Lieutenant Cortis do more? Voices: Yes. The Premier: He couldn’t. He could say more, but there is nothing more he could do. Mr Holman proceeded to give details and various forms of taxation which had been remitted in the cases of substantial amount. By deeds and not by words the Government had shown its desire to help the returned soldier. The policy of providing returned soldiers and soldier’s widows with homes had been definitely undertaken by the Commonwealth but it was first advocated by the New South Wales Government. (Applause) Before the Commonwealth took up this work the state provided 1011 soldiers’ widows with homes. The New South Wales Government, alone of all the States, was providing the mothers of deceased soldiers (formerly dependent on them) with homes. Rentals had been remitted in the case of many hundreds of landholders who had enlisted and whose payments got into arrears.

CHAPLAIN WILSON’S NOMINATION The Premier referred to the “unfortunate accident which led to the non-appearance at the poll of Chaplain Wilson.” “I have every respect for Chaplain Wilson, who has gone to the front and done his duty,” he said, “more respect for him than the friends of Chaplain Wilson here tonight appear to have for Major Shillington, who also went to the front and done his duty.” At this stage there was persistent interruption, and the Premier asked that the man be removed. The man was put out, while a big section hooted the Premier. The Premier, proceeding read official documents to the effect that on nomination day March 8 Chaplain Wilson was asked to make sure that he was enrolled. He produced a police receipt to show that he had been enrolled for Randwick, and when told that was not sufficient, he and Lieut. Cortis said that Captain Wilson’s name appeared on the Granville roll. Search was made, from 1913 onwards but the name did not appear on either the Granville or Parramatta rolls. Further inquiry was made, and it was learned that the Government on March 23, 1915 received a letter directing attention to a brilliant lecture which “the Rev. J. Wilson of New Zealand” was giving on behalf of the Belgian Fund, and suggesting that he be given a railway pass. The pass was granted. At that time Chaplain Wilson was a new arrival from New Zealand. That was no discredit to anyone—very good men came from New Zealand but from that time up to the present he never took the time trouble to get himself on the rolls. The Premier declared that the friends of Mr Olde were endeavouring to excite sympathy against Major Shillington suggesting that wrong had been deliberately done to Captain Wilson. (Hoots and dissent) He did not think that anyone was to blame as it was Captain Wilson, who had lived in this country three out of four years since 1915, and had failed to enrol.

CHAPLAIN WILSON’S ENROLMENTMR FULLER’S REPLY

Replying yesterday to Chaplain’s Wilson’s last statement that: “All this talk about Granville was commenced by Mr George Fuller, and that he personally, had never mentioned the Granville rolls,” Mr

Fuller, Chief Secretary said: “I desire to state most emphatically that my references to the Granville Roll, the first of which appeared in the morning press on March 10, 1919 were based on Chaplain Wilson’s statement made before the returning officer, Mr W.E. Gould, on March 8, 1919 in the presence of Mr J.B. Chisholm, substitute returning officer:—“That his name (Captain-Chaplain Wilson) was on the Granville roll with crossed swords.” He further stated “that his name was on the said roll when he went away to the war.” “How Chaplain Captain Wilson can contend that the talk about Granville was commenced by me,” said Mr Fuller. “Under the circumstances which I have just stated, is rather difficult to know; and his statement that he (Chaplain-Captain Wilson) personally had never mentioned the Granville roll, is in direct contradiction to the written statement which I have at present before me, the words of which I have quoted, signed my Mr W.E. Gould, returning officer; and Mr J.B. Chisholm, substitute returning officer. “I have had the Granville roll searched from 1913 onward and Captain Chaplain Wilson’s name does not appear. The public can decide who is correct—the disinterested returning officer and his substitute or the interested Captain Chaplain Wilson,” added the Minister. “There are 90 rolls in this State. Will Captain Chaplain Wilson let us know which, if any roll he is on?”

March 20, 1919 Editorial ColumnPETERSHAM

The red-herring appears to be playing a conspicuous part at Petersham. Prominent speakers are putting it to adroit uses, and the Labour party if following the example though with somewhat less subtlety of method. Chaplain Wilson knows he is definitely out of the contest as when discharging his very onerous duties in France. The Labour party, of course, is merely on a diversion, banging the drum for general principles. In the peculiar circumstances of the moment, therefore, the suggestion from the citadel of Labour and from the friends of Captain Wilson that the followers of the latter should either not record their votes or alternately vote against the National candidate, deserves to be recognised for what it really is. Why should the electors assist in distorting the political feeling of the electorate? Unless Captain Wilson is doing himself a grave injustice in his political orations the variation between his attitude and that of Major Shillington towards the Labour party is negligible. Unless the Labour party is making itself profoundly misunderstood the mandarins of the caucus regard Captain Wilson with no less disfavour than they do Major Shillington. The idea that a Wilson supporter may legitimately vote Labour is not less bizarre that to ask that an admirer of Mr John Storey’s statesmanship should vote for Major Shillington upon the ground of the Labour candidate having scarcely the remote chance of election. The only possible result of the electors of Petersham wandering distractedly about with their votes would be to delude both themselves, and the country, and the candidates, about the constituency’s judgement on a plain set of facts. The facts are not to be obscured by the scent of many red-herrings. They are (1) That Petersham the issue is between the Nationalists on one side and Labour on the other; and (2) that the country which is watching Petersham with interest, will not look upon the vote being subject to any other explanation. A largely, increased Labour vote would, of course, be claimed as evidence of the spread of Labour sympathy. A material reduction of the Nationalist vote would naturally be claimed as proof of the spread of dissent. It is not improbable that dissent exists. Every coalition must count upon such a development. But the difference between dissent and active hostility is very marked—and it may be well marked for those electors who may have been beguiled into promises to either abstain from voting or to vote against their political convictions to release this. The problem for the dissenter is to give intelligent expression to his dissent. He cannot possibly do that by voting for a party of which he is not merely critical but to which he is utterly opposed. These considerations, we suggest, are of very real importance to the whole body of electors throughout the state. At the general election they returned the Nationalists with a majority, and registered empathetic disapproval of the Labour. Something not far

removed from panic was felt at the possibility of Labour taking control. Do the electors who called the Nationalist party into being—who are themselves the Nationalist party—look forward now with any less disfavour to a labour regime? What is the alternative at Petersham to the Nationalists? It is no reply to such questions to say that the Ministry has been guilty of this, that or the other offending or act of omission. There never yet was a Government of perfection, and it is to be sincerely hoped there never will be one making claim to any such distinction. The coalition majority was the only alternative to disruption and defeat on one side and firmly organised minority on the other imposing its programme upon unwilling constituencies. Labour not unnaturally wishes to bring the possibility of such alternative closer to reality. Others who are fishing in troubled waters are equally desirous of developments in the same direction. But to the Nationalists the alternative is still the same, and just as evil as ever. The clear duty of the electors of Petersham is to vote on the strength of their political convictions as between the candidates legally nominated. To attempt to give a different vote would which would disappear into the recondite arithmetic of parties after the poll and be without rational explanation would be a mere in self-stultification.

Thursday March 20, 1919CHAPLAIN WILSON

NOW ON RANDWICK ROLLREPLY TO MR FULLER

Chaplain Wilson made the following statement yesterday:—“I notice Mr Fuller says in his statement to the ‘Herald’ on March 10 based upon a statement made by me before the returning officer Mr W.E. Gould, on March 8, 1919 in the presence of Mr J.B. Chisholm substitute returning officer that his name (Chaplain Wilson’s) was on the Granville roll with crossed swords and he further stated that his name was on the roll when he went away to the war. “I wish to say that such a statement is utterly without foundation, and I can produce evidence to show that not only did I not make that statement with regard to my being on the Granville roll, but assured my committee, several members who were with me in the presence of the returning officer, that so far as I knew, I was not on any of the State rolls, and that I was relying on qualification upon application through police for electoral rights at Randwick. I held a receipt from police, brought that receipt to the secretary of my committee, who was under the impression that it guaranteed me electoral privileges. I showed that receipt to Mr Gould, and he said it was to no avail. The only reference to Granville at that time was in the nature of a question as to where I was living when I went to war. My reply was that I had lived at Granville and went into the camp from that place. Mr Gould may have inferred from that I was on the Granville roll, but so far as, I am personally concerned, I would be prepared on oath to state that I never mentioned the Granville roll until I read Mr Fuller’s explanation published in the Press. “Even if I had made such a statement Mr Fuller should have verified it before publishing his lengthy explanation in the Press. I presume he had access to all the rolls of the State. He had from Saturday at 12 o’clock when nominations closed, until late Sunday evening. He had also, on his own showing, consulted his electoral officers, and they surely should have discovered that I made a statement that I made a misstatement to the returning officer. I certainly think that Mr Fuller’s endeavour to cast blame on me for misleading him in this matter is very undignified indeed. My candid opinion is that my opponents are playing a huge game of bluff. The whole thing is a political smother, and I shall certainly endeavour to make the facts of this case throughout the State. “Mr Fuller concludes: ‘Will Chaplain Wilson now let us know which, if any, roll he is on.’ Yes I am now on the Randwick roll. I seem to have got there in a wonderful way. My qualifications are evidently good enough for the electoral officer so I have sailed in, and cast my anchor in the harbour of electoral privilege, after an exceedingly stormy voyage. “I must thank my friends in Macquarie-street for making evident to all that Wilson is no joke. They have found him a foe-man worthy of their steel.

I think I shall live to fight another day, and if given a chance to go for a clean, square fight with the Nationalist candidate at Petersham, I have little doubt as to what the verdict of the people would be at the poll.”

ENTHUSIASTIC WOMEN As the by-election campaign in Petersham draws to an end, the most notable feature is the extraordinary interest being taken by the women. This is apparent at both National and Labour meetings. The women compose the bigger section of the audiences at most of the open-air meetings and stump orations from lady orators are almost a nightly occurrence. Last night the Nationalists held a big women’s rally in support of Major Shillington in the Empire Hall, Gordon-street. Lady Cook presided. Among the speakers, were Reverend R.B.S. Hammond, Chaplain-Captain Cranston, and Chaplain-Major Holliday. The speeches were splendidly received and much enthusiastic sentiment was aroused for the National party’s soldier candidate. Chaplain-Major Holliday said he had not been invited. He had volunteered to help Major Shillington, because he knew him at the front. Moreover, he (the speaker) felt that if any party ever deserved support, it was the National party for what they had done and tried to do for the soldiers, both while they were away and when they came back. At each of the many meetings held last night there was evidence of the presence of some dissatisfied supporters of Chaplain Wilson, but as polling day (Saturday next) approaches, the contest is narrowing down to a fight between Labour and the Nationalist cause.

Saturday March 22, 1919PETERSHAM

BY-ELECTION TODAY The Petersham by-election rendered necessary by the elevation of Mr J.J. Cohen to the bench of the district court, will take place today. The following are the candidates:MAJOR J.S. SHILLINGTON NationalistMR B.C. OLDE LabourMR DONALD W. CROAL Independent The polling will commence and 8 am and will continue until 7 pm. There will be three polling places, situated as follows:

Petersham Town Hall (Petersham end).Public School, Gordon-street (Lewisham end).Congregational School (Sydenham end).

The candidates and their committees held final meetings last evening, and Petersham and Lewisham echoed to the clamour of furious argument. All the halls were occupied, and many gatherings were addressed in the streets. The Premier addressed, in the Petersham Town Hall, the principal “rally” of the Nationalists. He was supported by Mr Ball (Minister for Works), Mr Storey (Honorary Minister), Major Shillington (the Nationalist candidate), and others. The large meeting on the whole, was friendly. Mr Holman received a cordial reception and attentive hearing and spoke practically without interruption. A large number of persons unable to gain admission congregated in front of the hall, where they were addressed by Nationalist speakers. There were large hostile elements here, however, and the proceedings did not lack variety. Mr Holman dealt mostly with the relationship between the government and the returned soldiers, and claimed that the Nationalists were than any other, entitled to call themselves “the party of citizens and soldiers.” The returned soldier had preference in the Public Service and the Government was now arranging to give them preference in private employment. The whole of the credit and resources of the State would be strained rather than that starving or indigent soldiers should be permitted in our midst.

In answer to a question concerning the treatment given “loyalists” and returned soldiers on the wharfs, the Premier said that special provision had been made for loyalists, and they were now negotiating with shipping companies concerned so that the latter might follow the Government’s policy and give absolute preference to returned soldiers. “If we cannot do it that way,” added the Premier, “we shall do it by legislation.”

Monday March 24, 1919PETERSHAM

MAJOR SHILLINGTON RETURNEDMAJORITY OF 256

The result of the polling at Petersham election on Saturday was as follows:—CROAL (Independent) 150OLDE (Labour) 2377SHILLINGTON (Nationalist) 2633Informal 35

Majority for Shillington 256

The by-election was rendered necessary by the resignation by Judge Cohen. The election campaign was one of the most memorable in the political history of the State, because of the entry into the field of Chaplain Wilson as the nominee of the Soldiers and Citizen’s Political Federation, and the subsequent rejection of the candidate’s nomination by the returning officer, thus leaving in the field the National and Labour candidates, as well as an independent candidate in Mr Donald W. Croal. The voting was distributed as follows:—

Croal Olde Shillington InfPetersham 78 .. 811 .. 1343 .. 17Lewisham 45 .. 806 .. 925 .. 5 Sydenham 27 .. 760 .. 365 .. 13 Total …. 150 ..2377 .. 2633 .. 35

Under 50 per cent of the electors exercised their franchise. At the 1917 elections the result at Petersham was as follows:—J.J. Cohen (N), 4112; J.E. Bourke (P.L.L), 2151; J.A. Lucas (Ind) 487. Absolute majority for Cohen 1464. At the election prior to that Judge Cohen was returned unopposed. The Nationalist majority over Labour candidate in 1917 was nearly 2000, as will be seen from the above figures. Major Shillington’s majority over the Labour candidate on Saturday was 256. Taking both the Labour and Independent candidates’ votes the National candidate’s absolute majority was 106. The Labour candidate polled 216 more votes than the Labour candidate in 1917. The total poll on Saturday was 1600 less than in 1917. The chief polling centre was Petersham Town Hall, outside which the returning officer (Mr W.E. Gould) announced the result to a large gathering. The 1917 roll, validated by the amending Act of 1918, and a supplementary roll were used. The latter it is stated embodied additional names enrolled right up to the day before the issue of the writ.

MAJOR SHILLINGTON’S COMMENTS “It is,” said Major Shillington who was applauded upon moving a vote of thanks to the returning officer, “a good thing for us that the majority is such a small one, because it will spur up the Nationalists to greater efforts at the general elections. I have to thank my committee for the magnificent work done on my behalf. It is only on their account that I regret that my majority has not been a much larger one. Their fine work for me was deserving of an overwhelming majority.”

Referring to the returning officer’s work, he said the arrangements had been entirely satisfactory. He thanked the electors who had voted for him, and would endeavour to prove himself worthy of their confidence and of their support at the general election. (Applause)

MR OLDE’S VIEWS Cheering from a section of the crowd greeted Mr Olde. He said the fact that he had a reduced majority in 1917 of 2000 to 200 was satisfactory to him. “It will be the other way at the next election,” interjected a supporter. Mr Olde said that he felt the gratifying figures recorded were not so much the result of his own efforts as the result of his worthy workers and the great cause of his which he represented. What had been considered the safest National seat had been reduced from a majority of 2000 to 200. It was a fair indication of how the next elections were going. (Applause) It showed whether the Government had treated the soldiers rightly or wrongly. (Applause) It showed the feeling on the question on the price of foodstuffs, and it also showed that unrestricted profiteering must discontinue. (Applause) If he were lucky enough to be selected next time, then, on the 1919 roll, he was pretty certain he was going to displace Major Shillington. His supporters accorded Mr Olde a further round of cheers as he closed his speech. There were calls for Mr Croal, but he was announced to be absent, proceedings closing with a vote of thanks to the returning officer, and with cheers for Labour, at the instance of somebody in the crowd.

MR HOLMAN’S COMMENTSUNDER NO ILLUSIONS

The Premier, referring to the by-election results last night, said the Government was under no illusions about the significance of the figures. “The result, though not entirely unexpected is intensely disappointing to the National party.” “The outstanding fact,” he said, “is that the majority of 2000 of two years ago has been reduced to 256 to-day. This is not, however, due to any marked increase in the Labour vote, which has risen slightly but solely to differences in the Nationalists’ ranks. “Clearly, returned soldiers, their relatives, dependents, and others who are influenced by them, know full well that the Labour party is their enemy. They are not received by protestations as to the abandonment of the One Big Union and the I.W.W. Organisations like the Soldiers and Citizens’ Federation, which aimed at “breaking the machine” because they appeal to those who are supporters of the National party. Such organisations cannot break in or any way affects the Labour machine because they do not in any way control or appeal to supporters of the Labour party. Similarly the action of the farmers and settlers (who are behind Captain Wilson) affects the National organisation but leaves the Labour organisation intact. “These organisations can only make effective appeals in seats which are already National seats. The Soldiers and Citizens’ Federation, for example, could not dream of going into strongholds like West Sydney and Surry Hills, and there running candidates with the slightest hope of success. They can only entertain hopes of success in unquestionable seats like Petersham. Their political activities are thus purely subsidiary to those of the National party. They can only display themselves in territory which has already been won for the National cause. They are not capable of carrying the banner into the territory of the common enemy. “Petersham is a well-known National stronghold, and the last Nationalist member was elected by two to one. In Petersham the effect of the activity of the Soldiers and Citizens’ Federation, backed by the Farmers’ and Settlers, has been to almost hand it over to the Labour man. The Labour vote has actually grown by 124 over last election in Petersham. This is not a substantial increase, but negatives the idea that the new organisations have affected it. The sole result has been to injure the National party. “Similar activities carried out during the next 12 months may have the same effect all over the State. The National party can be rent into a dozen or more fragments, and the homogeneous and rigidly organised Labour party will not be affected. The final result will be a Labour victory, and return of a

Government representing the disaffected and extreme elements. I do not suggest that the Soldiers and Citizens’ Federation desire this, but this their action and course of policy will certainly produce. “Members of the National Government see the situation with perfect clearness, and are under no illusion as to the present state of affairs. They will continue to carry out their duties while supported by a majority of the community. If, however, supporters are rent by continuous tactics, the prospect of defeat at the next election and the return of Mr Storey and his colleagues must be faced. This is for the people to determine, and particularly for those who, under the pretence of helping the soldier, are in reality helping the Bolshevik element.”

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