Guide 3 to NSW State Archives relating to Responsible Government - OCR - Flipbook - Page 185
A Guide to New South Wales State Archives relating to Responsible Government
Legislative Council elections, 1933-53 (File 50/771)
This file comprises papers relating to elections of Members of the
Legislative Council by Members of both Houses of the State
Parliament under the Constitution (Legislative Council Elections)
Act, 1932 as amended. They commence with the first group of four
elections (of fifteen Members each) in 1933 consequent upon the
re-construction of the Legislative Council, followed by the first
triennial election in 1936 up to the sixth election in 1951. The
triennial elections were held for the filling of the seats of those
Members whose terms had expired/were about to expire.
CGS 12061,
[9/4021]
Included are papers relating to the payment of expenses
associated with the elections, from the payment of overtime or
bonuses to officers (both Parliamentary and of the Public Service)
employed after ordinary office hours. These contain requests that
the services of certain Public Service officers be provided for
Council elections and lists of staff engaged on electoral duties for
the elections.
Other papers are: draft writs; writs of election; papers re the
erection and dismantling of voting compartments or booths; the
matter of exhibiting the names of the nominators of candidates for
election to the Council; copies of the Returning Officer's certificate
of election; copies of Government Gazettes; procedures for filling a
vacancy consequent upon death of a Member of the Council;
memorandum for Cabinet consideration; minutes of Cabinet
approvals; extracts from the Parliamentary Debates, Minutes of
proceedings of the Legislative Council, and from the Votes and
Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly; proofs of Questions and
Answers in the Legislative Assembly; newspapers cuttings; minute
papers for the Executive Council; and advisings from the Crown
Solicitor are to be found in this file.
Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act: Redistribution
of boundaries and proposed amendments to the Act, 193439 (File A38/3145)
CGS 12061,
[9/3835.3]
This bundle comprises papers associated with the amendment of
the Parliamentary Electorates and Electorates Act, particularly in
relation to the reduction in the number of Members and the
redistribution of electorate districts, although other issues are
canvassed including procedural errors (non-initialled ballot papers
by Presiding Officer) causing informal ballots, the nomination form
of candidates standing for election to include a declaration that
they are qualified to be nominated, and electoral enrolment
safeguards. 1938 proposed amendments to the electoral
legislation which were discussed by Cabinet included confinement
of postal voting to New South Wales; that the list of authorised
witnesses to postal votes be enlarged to agree with those
prescribed under the Commonwealth Electoral Act; the abolition of
the special absent voters' ballot paper; verification of claims for
enrolment or transfer of enrolment by the Police; accompaniment
into the booth of a blind voter by a friend and marking of ballot
paper by the latter; and, the prohibition of organised canvassing,
distribution of how to vote cards or political literature or the
establishment of any party booth or office on polling day.
182
State Records Authority of New South Wales
