West Sydney - 1887 (Roll: 11,523) - 4 to be elected
Elected - Free Trade (4)
Nominations: Thursday, 3 February 1887, Polling: Saturday, 5 February 1887
Candidate
Party
Votes
Votes %
Abigail, Francis (Re-elected 1)
Free Trade
3,688
19.85
Kethel, Alexander (Re-elected 2)
Free Trade
3,450
18.57
Merriman, George (Elected 3)
Free Trade
3,049
16.41
O'Connor, Daniel (Re-elected 4)
Free Trade
2,988
16.08
Pritchard, William
Free Trade
972
5.23
Young, John Douglas (Defeated)
Protectionist
2,246
12.09
Nelson, Arthur David
Protectionist
1,212
6.52
Westman, William
Protectionist
977
5.26
Formal Votes
18,582
Informal Votes
189
1.01
Total Votes / Estimated Turnout
18,771
41.96
Persons Voting / Turnout
7,429
64.47
Notes: There were five Free Trade candidates, and the Free Trade Association advertising simply instructed voters to vote for 4 of the 5 candidates. Advertising urging a vote for Abigail, Kethel, Merriman and Pritchard appeared through the campaign, but the Free Trade Association disassociated itself from this, SMH 3 February, p.5 col.1. At the nomination speeches, O'Connor spent considerable time on the role of the Independent MP, different from the other candidates who stressed the fiscal issue.
Source: Report of nominations, SMH 4 February 1887, p.5 col.3-5, results from SMH 7 February, p.3 col.2, republished in election summary, 28 February, p.11 col. 2 but including box details. Year-Book of Australia (1888) recorded O'Connor with 2983 votes.