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Wednesday, 22 October 1919

Mr SINCLAIR (Moreton) .- I am pleased that the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Tudor) has changed his mind' with regard to the nomination of a substitute in the event of the death of a candidate. Ever since I came into this Parliament I have fought for the introduction of that system. In 1907, when the Deakin Government amended the Electoral Act, I moved an amendment to that end, but it was not accepted by the Government, who were supported by the members of the Labour party. Later, when Labour came into power, I again moved the same amendment, but without success, the only support accorded me on that occasion coming, from the present Postmaster - General (Mr. Webster). Later I made another attempt to have that reform introduced.

Mr Tudor - It was inserted in the Act of 1917.

Mr SINCLAIR - It was inserted by the Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes) at my request.

Mr Tudor - The amendment was made on account of the consequences attending the death of Senator McGregor while he was a candidate for re-election.

Mr SINCLAIR - That incident proved to the Labour party the necessity for amending the Act, and I regret very much that the Minister proposes to withdraw the reform then introduced. It is a fair provision, and should be allowed to remain in the Act.

The accusation by the Leader of the Opposition and the honorable member for Capricornia (Mr. Higgs) regarding the use of trickery in connexion with the soldiers' votes at the last election is a very serious reflection on QuartermasterSergeant McGrath, who was authorized by the Government to watch the interests of the Labour party in England and at the Front.

Mr Tudor - He was authorized by the Labour party to do so.

Mr Finlayson - And he was obstructed by the Government.

Mr Glynn - He cabled a message that everything connected with the voting and counting abroad was first class'.

Mr SINCLAIR - It was arranged that each party should nominate scrutineers, and Quartermaster - Sergeant McGrath represented the Labour party. He has stated over and over again that everything was " on the square." I assure honorable members that while the Government issued circulars to the soldiers, Quartermaster-Sergeant McGrath sent out tens of thousands of circulars in the interests of the Labour party, and used the machinery of the Defence Department in London for the purpose. 1 have seen some of those circulars. There was no misrepresentation by the National party, and there was no misunderstanding on the part of the soldiers. Every digger knew exactly for whom he was voting, and the parties to which the candidates belonged. It is misleading to say that the soldiers voted under a misapprehension, and that certain honorable members owed their election to that fact.

I hope that even now the Minister (Mr. Glynn) will see his way to re-insert the provisions relating to the nomination of a substitute in the event of the death of a candidate before polling day.

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