A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Cootamundra on 28 July 1906 because of the resignation of William Holman (Labour).
John Norton blamed Holman for a series of articles in The Worker commenting on Norton's unnatural silence over the land scandals involving Paddy Crick and William Willis.
[1][3] The Surry Hills by-election was held the previous week.
John Norton was a candidate, however he was defeated and withdrew from the contest for Cootamundra.
[4] H. V. Evatt argues that the most likely explanation for Norton's attack was to remove Labour's best debater at a critical time.