On the Monday after the 1949 federal election, some of the dust had settled and readers of The Canberra Times woke to the news that the Liberal-Country Party coalition had secured a majority in every state.
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In the fledgling capital, 10,867 people voted at 14 polling places throughout the territory, with independent Dr Lewis Windermere Nott expected to win the newly created division of the Australian Capital Territory.
"From figures so far released it would appear that in the ACT and in all other electorates that the voters seemed more determined than ever to rely on a party machine. Despite all this, however, I do not think it is to the greatest advantage of Canberra that we should be tied to a party," Dr Nott said.
"So far as the conduct of the campaign in the ACT, I would like to pay tribute to all the other candidates. I bear no ill will and the election was fought on an excellent basis. Being a good democrat, I naturally bow to the decision of the electors. If I win, I will not exult; if I lose, I will not squeal."
Dr Nott went on to represent the ACT in Federal Parliament until April 1951, when the seat fell to Labor.