 Notably, as the first non-Labor speaker for fourteen years, he chose to wear the traditional dress associated with the position, including horsehair wig.Despite having held Claremont for 32 years, North was outpolled by two other Liberal candidates at the 1956 election, finishing with only 24.96% on first preferences as Harold Crommelin was elected in his place.North died at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in September 1979.