1929 elections, 1926-1929

Component identifier:

Series 45

Content Summary:

Following the defeat of the Bruce-Page Government in Parliament on the Maritime Industries Bill, Parliament was dissolved and a general election was held on 12 October 1929. The Government was overwhelmingly defeated, losing 18 seats, including those of five Ministers.

Publications include Bruce's policy speech, Facts for the use of National Campaign workers: the dispute in the coal industry, extracts from Hansard of speeches by Latham, Bruce and Sir George Pearce on arbitration, Earle Page's 1929-1930 Budget speech, and leaflets. There are roneoed notes prepared by Ministers on various subjects, including the reduction of wages, the attitude of the Age to the Federal Arbitration Court, the withdrawal of the John Brown prosecution and the Governor-General's visits to the Islands. There are also some Country Party notes on arbitration. They are followed by handwritten notes for speeches, typescript speeches, Latham's statement on the reasons for the defeat (Item 232) and correspondence concerning arbitration, the campaign in Kooyong, the Nationalist Party platform, and the Government's defeat. There are also a few newscuttings.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The bulk of the collection was presented to the National Library by Sir John Latham in December 1963, a few months before his death. In November 1974 the Library purchased some further papers from a secondhand book dealer. They comprised family letters and photographs, some diaries and papers relating to the High Court. These papers have been amalgamated into the original collection.

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