Menzies’ Govt. Wins Critical By-Election

Northern Advocate, 26 May 1941, Page 4

Menzies’ Govt. Wins Critical By-Election

ADELAIDE, May 25. The electors voted decisively against any change in the Federal Government by returning the Government candidate (Dr. Grenfell Price) in the vital Boothby by-election on Saturday with a large majority over Mr. T. E. Lawton (Labour). The voting was as follows: Price (Government) .. 3-1,210 Lawton (Labour) 26.786 Informal 1,302 Majority for Price .... 7,424 When postal and absentee votes are counted. Dr. Price is expected to have a majority of about 8000. Evenly Divided The strength of the parties in the House of Representatives will now be as follows: — Government 36 ' Labour 36 Independent 2 Dr. Frice, who stood as a Liberal Country League candidate, is a master Of St. Mark’s University College, Adelaide. Mr. Lawton is a bus driver, and has been prominent in the trade union movement for many years. “Let’s Get on With Job” The National Government became a major issue in the campaign. Dr. Price, his supporters and the Adelaide Press brought it forward as the one and only issue. “The result is no surprise to me,” said the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr. Fadden) in Sydney last night. “It is a solid vindication of the Government's war policy, and it emphasises the demand for a National Government. By-elections can’t be avoided, but, now that it is over, let us forget about it and get on with the job.”