Chief Justice of Victoria

In early 1918, the National Farmers Organization formally asked Billy Hughes to support preferential voting, but the Prime Minister left for Europe without a reply.

A by-election for the Victorian seat of Flinders was due to be held in May 1918 after Sir William Irvine was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria.

In addition to the Nationalist and Labor candidates, the Victorian Farmers Union nominated a candidate, John Hall.

The acting Prime Minister, William Watt, tried to convince Hall not to stand by promising that he would introduce a bill on preferential voting.