1939 United Australia Party leadership election (Redirected from United Australia Party leadership election, 1939)

United Australia Party
leadership election, 1939

← 1931 18 April 1939 1941 →
  Robert Menzies in 1939.jpg Billy Hughes 1939 (cropped).jpg
Candidate Robert Menzies Billy Hughes
First Ballot uncertain uncertain
Second Ballot uncertain uncertain
Third Ballot 23 19

  Richard Casey 1939 (cropped).jpg TW White (cropped).jpg
Candidate Richard Casey Thomas White
First Ballot uncertain uncertain
Second Ballot uncertain eliminated
Third Ballot eliminated eliminated

Leader before election

Joseph Lyons (deceased)

Elected Leader

Robert Menzies

The United Australia Party held a leadership election on 18 April 1939, following the death in office of Prime Minister Joseph Lyons on 7 April. Robert Menzies narrowly defeated Billy Hughes – a former Nationalist prime minister – on the third ballot, following the earlier elimination of Treasurer Richard Casey and Trade Minister Thomas White. Another former prime minister, Stanley Bruce, had also been considered a leadership contender, but for various reasons (including his position outside of parliament as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom) he was never nominated. Menzies was not sworn in as prime minister until 26 April.[1][2]

Newspaper endorsements

The press took a keen interest in the leadership contest, which was one of the first in which a party chose a new prime minister in an open fashion with multiple viable candidates. In Melbourne, The Age endorsed Menzies as the new prime minister on 8 April, only a day after Lyons' death.[3] The Argus endorsed Casey, arguing that had remained remain loyal to Lyons and the government where Menzies had not.[4] The Herald on 12 April stated a slight preference for Bruce, but observed that it would probably be too difficult to recall him from London and that Menzies was the only other alternative. It gave a more enthusiastic endorsement of Menzies two days later.[5] In Sydney, The Daily Telegraph supported Casey,[4] while The Sydney Morning Herald was an "earnest advocate of recalling Bruce".[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ The Argus, 19 April 1939.
  2. ^ The Adelaide Advertiser, 19 April 1939.
  3. ^ Martin 1993, p. 267.
  4. ^ a b Hudson 1986, p. 106.
  5. ^ Martin 1993, p. 268.
  6. ^ Martin 1993, p. 272.

Sources

  • Martin, Allan (1993). Robert Menzies: A Life. Vol. 1 (1894–1943). Melbourne University Press. ISBN 0522844421.
  • Henderson, Anne (2011). Joseph Lyons: The People's Prime Minister. NewSouth Books. ISBN 9781742231426.
  • Hudson, William James (1986). Casey. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195547306.



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