Elections 1929

EVERY HOUSEHOLD, IN HOTLY CONTESTED ELECTORATES, WAS BOMBARDED WITH EPHEMERA, and then texts, facebook posts, radio, tv and newspaper advertising and no doubt other social media unknown to this writer in her safe Greens’ seat. Apparently there was a version of a scratchie circulated in Kooyong.

Don’t forget that your state libraries, the National Library and the Museum of Democracy among others will want to collect the 2022 ephemera.

But we look back at older items for now. This How to Vote card is about the size of a tram ticket but on thin card rather than flimsy tram ticket paper.

Complaints that sectarian influence had been used against him were made by Cr. R. H. Morley, the Nationalist candidate, at the declaration of the St Kilda poll. The final figures announced by the returning officer (Cr. E. O’Donnell) were: —
GRAY, B. (Lib.) ……………13,253
MORLEY, R. H. (Nat.) . . 11,035
Majority for Gray………….. 2,218

Mr. Gray, proposing a vote of thanks to the returning officer, said that it was very gratifying to find that he had the support of 2000 more electors than in 1927. There were many grave problems to face, and he hoped that the Christmas recess would be brief. At the back of unstable government and political unrest was the feeling that the franchise was inequitable. He again pledged himself to make every effort towards a redistribution of seats…

[Mr. Morley said ] there was one incident on polling day of which I must complain. In going the round of the booths I saw men at the approach to each booth wearing a badge bearing the words ‘E.J.L.‘ I asked one man the meaning of it. He told me that it was no concern of mine. At another booth I asked the same question, and learned that the wearers represented a section of the Roman Catholic Church. Later I was told by one who displayed the badge that they were not interfering with the electors, but if anyone asked him for whom to vote he told them. He added, ‘I do not mind saying you are not the man.’ I said to him, ‘I do not know why the Roman Catholic Church should be in the field against me.’ He replied, ‘I do not know either, but I understand that Mr. Gray has pledged himself to vote for a grant to Roman Catholic schools.’ I object to the methods used by the Church. The Church has a perfect right to fight for a subsidy for its schools.’

Mr. Gray: I did not know anything about it.

Mr. Morley: I hope that the leaders of the Church will dissociate, themselves from such methods.

A Voice: One of your committee began it.

Mr. Morley: Who was it?

Concluding, Mr. Morley said that it was only a matter of time when the Liberal Party would be extinguished. (Hoots and applause).

It is understood that the letters ‘E J.L.’ on the badge referred to by Mr. Morley stand for the ‘Educational Justice League.’