DOCSLIB.ORG

Papers of Sir Edmund Barton Ms51

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA PAPERS OF SIR EDMUND BARTON MS51 Manuscript Collection 1968-70, 1996 and last amended 2001 PAPERS OF EDMUND BARTON MS51 TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview 3 Biographical Note 6 Related Material 8 Microfilms 9 Series Description 10 Series 1: Correspondence 1827-1921 10 Series 2: Diaries, 1869, 1902-03 39 Series 3: Personal documents 1828-1939, 1844 39 Series 4: Commissions, patents 1891-1903 40 Series 5: Speeches, articles 1898-1901 40 Series 6: Papers relating to the Federation Campaign 1890-1901 41 Series 7: Other political papers 1892-1911 43 Series 8: Notes, extracts 1835-1903 44 Series 9: Newspaper cuttings 1894-1917 45 Series 10: Programs, menus, pamphlets 1883-1910 45 Series 11: High Court of Australia 1903-1905 46 Series 12: Photographs (now in Pictorial Section) 46 Series 13: Objects 47 Name Index of Correspondence 48 Box List 61 2 PAPERS OF EDMUND BARTON MS51 Overview This is a Guide to the Papers of Sir Edmund Barton held in the Manuscript Collection of the National Library of Australia. As well as using this guide to browse the content of the collection, you will also find links to online copies of collection items. Scope and Content The collection consists of correspondence, personal papers, press cuttings, photographs and papers relating to the Federation campaign and the first Parliament of the Commonwealth. Correspondence 1827-1896 relates mainly to the business and family affairs of William Barton, and to Edmund's early legal and political work. Correspondence 1898-1905 concerns the Federation campaign, the London conference 1900 and Barton's Prime Ministership, 1901-1903. Correspondence 1906-1920 relates mainly to Barton's family and to his work in the High Court. Correspondents include Alfred Deakin, Lord Forrest, Lord Hopetoun, Joseph Chamberlain, Sir Samuel Griffith, Sir William Lyne, Sir Henry Parkes, Lord Tennyson, Lord Jersey, George W.E. Russell, and Sir George Reid. There are also press cuttings relating to the Hastings-Macleay election, 1898, and to the activities of the Federation delegates in London, 1900; Commonwealth Constitution material, 1885-1901, some of it annotated in Barton's hand; family documents; commissions and honours. Extent 1.12 m (5 boxes and 16 security binders) + 11 over sized items (over 5,000 digital images) Arrangement This collection was originally numbered in a single sequence from 1-1298. A later addition to Series 1 was numbered 1/949a-1702a on the items, although the a's were omitted from the correspondence index. Additions to other series have also been inserted and numbered with a, b, c. Thus, for example, readers should carefully distinguish MS 51/990a, a letter from Richard O'Connor to Edmund Barton located in series 1, from MS 51/990, MS 51/990a and MS 51/990b, copies of a draft bill to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia located in series 6. Provenance The bulk of the collection was received from the co-executor of the Estate of Sir Edmund Barton, Sir David M. Maughan, who was also the husband of Barton's daughter, Jean Alice. The main Maughan consignment was transferred to the Commonwealth Library in June 1929, with subsequent transfers in April 1939, May 1940 and November 1955. Personal papers from the Barton Papers were separated from the pre-1955 consignments and sent to the Mitchell Library in Sydney. After Maughan's death, a consignment of papers held by the family was transferred by Maughan's son, David Wilfrid Barton Maughan in 1957. A final consignment was received from the family in 1996 (items 1703-1853). Small additions to the collection were also incorporated from other sources between 1933 and 1984. 3 PAPERS OF EDMUND BARTON MS51 Access Digital copies of the papers of Sir Edmund Barton are available through this guide. High resolution digital masters are also available on request to the Manuscript Librarian (http://www.nla.gov.au/ms/findaids/ms51/contact.html). This is a commercial service and a fee will be charged. The original papers may be consulted in the Manuscript Reading Room of the National Library. There are no access restrictions on the papers. The Reading Room is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm on weekdays. The papers have been microfilmed (http://www.nla.gov.au/ms/findaids/ms51/microfilms.html). The microfilm can be used in the Newspaper/Microcopy Reading Room of the Library, which is open from 9.00am to 9.00pm from Monday to Thursday and from 9.00am to 5.00pm on Friday and Saturday. The microfilm can also be borrowed on interlibrary loan through the Document Supply Services (http://www.nla.gov.au/dss/) of the Library. Restrictions on Use Although there are no restrictions on access to the Barton Papers, readers should be aware that under Australian law copyright subsists in nearly all the unpublished papers in the collection. The papers were digitised by the National Library with the permission of members of the Barton family. Copyright in the letters received by Barton is held by the heirs of the writers of the letters. In accordance with Copyright regulations, the Library placed a notice in the Government Gazette listing all the correspondents and announcing its intention to reproduce the letters on the World Wide Web. Readers using the Barton Papers may make print-outs for research purposes. You may download, display, print and reproduce this content for your personal or non-commercial use but only in an unaltered form and with the copyright acknowledged. However, anyone wishing to publish manuscript items in the Barton Papers should in the first instance seek the permission of the Manuscript Librarian (http://www.nla.gov.au/ms/findaids/ms51/contact.html) of the National Library. If necessary, the Library can then refer the request to the appropriate copyright holder. Preferred Citation To cite this collection use: Papers of Sir Edmund Barton, National Library of Australia, MS 51. (nla.ms-ms51) An example of the preferred style for a citation of a specific item in this collection: Papers of Sir Edmund Barton National Library of Australia, MS51 Series 2: Diaries, 1869, 1902-03 Item 949: Private diary recording daily social events and persons attending the functions. 1869-70 Part 1. (nla.ms-ms51-2-949-s1) 4 PAPERS OF EDMUND BARTON MS51 To link on-line to specific items in the collection use the web address located at the bottom of the display page, eg http://nla.gov.au/nla.ms-ms51-2-949-s1 links to the display page for the above example. The Library has adopted a naming scheme for persistent identifiers (http://www.nla.gov.au/nlaredirect/pi.html) and has a resolver service for linking to digital material no matter where on the Library's website it is currently located. The persistent identifier replaces any other numbers annotated on the item and should be used in preference in citations. 5 PAPERS OF EDMUND BARTON MS51 Biographical Note Sir Edmund Barton (1849-1920) was the first Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, having previously been a leading advocate of Federation and one of the draftsmen of the Australian Constitution. He served as Prime Minister from 1 January 1901 until 23 September 1903, and then resigned to become the senior puisne judge of the newly-established High Court of Australia. Edmund Barton was the fourth and youngest son of William Barton (1795-1881) and Mary Louisa, née Whydah, who had emigrated from England to New South Wales in 1827. An elder brother was the barrister, journalist and author George B. Barton (1836-1901). On 28 December 1877 Edmund Barton married Jane (Jean) Mason Ross (1851-1938). Their children were Edmund Alfred (b. 1879), Wilfrid Alexander (b. 1880), Jean Alice (b. 1882), Arnold Hubert (b. 1884), Oswald (b. 1888) and Leila Stephanie (b. 1892). Date Event 1849 Born in Glebe, Sydney, 18 January 1859-64 Attended Sydney Grammar School 1865-67 Attended University of Sydney 1870 Graduated as a Master of Arts 1871 Called to Bar in Sydney 1879-82 Member of Legislative Assembly (University of Sydney seat) 1882-87 Member of Legislative Assembly (seat of East Sydney) 1883-87 Speaker of the Legislative Assembly 1887-91 Member of the Legislative Council 1887 Attorney-General in the Dibbs Protectionist Ministry 1891 New South Wales delegate at the Federal Convention in Sydney 1891-94 Member of the Legislative Assembly (East Sydney) 1891-92 Attorney-General in the Dibbs Protectionist Ministry 1894 Defeated in the general election (seat of Randwick) 1894-97 Led the Federation movement in New South Wales 1897-98 New South Wales delegate at the Australasian Federal Convention and chairman of the drafting and constitutional committees 1897-98 1897-98 Member of the Legislative Council 1898 Defeated by George Reid in the general election (seat of Sydney (King Division)) 1898-1900 Member of the Legislative Assembly (seat of Hastings and Macleay) 1899 Leader of the Australian delegation to London 6 PAPERS OF EDMUND BARTON MS51 1900 Appointed first Prime Minister of Australia and Minister for External Affairs, 31 December 1901 Appointed a Privy Councillor, 24 January 1901-3 Member of the House of Representatives (seat of Hunter) 1902 Attended Colonial Conference and Coronation of King Edward VII 1902 Knighted (GCMG) 1903 Resigned as Prime Minister, 23 September 1903-20 Senior puisne justice of the High Court of Australia 1915 Visited England 1920 Died at Medlow Bath, Blue Mountains, 7 January 7 PAPERS OF EDMUND BARTON MS51 Related Material In addition to the Barton Papers, the National Library holds a few other Barton manuscripts which were received from various sources: • MS 1530 Two letters to Barton written by Henry Rose, 4 April 1901, and Alfred Verral, 30 May 1901 • MS 1608 Illuminated address presented to Barton by British fair traders and advocates of Imperial preferential trade, London, June 1902 • MS 1612 Address presented by citizens of Ottawa on occasion of visit by Barton to Ottawa, 10 April 1902 • MS 2133 Governor-General's speech at the opening of the first Federal Parliament, 10 May 1901: typescript draft with manuscript amendments by Barton A number of manuscript collections in the National Library contain letters, either original or copies, written by Edmund Barton.
Recommended publications
  • Notable Australians Historical Figures Portrayed on Australian Banknotes

    Notable Australians Historical Figures Portrayed on Australian Banknotes

    NOTABLE AUSTRALIANS HISTORICAL FIGURES PORTRAYED ON AUSTRALIAN BANKNOTES X X I NOTABLE AUSTRALIANS HISTORICAL FIGURES PORTRAYED ON AUSTRALIAN BANKNOTES Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are respectfully advised that this book includes the names and images of people who are now deceased. Cover: Detail from Caroline Chisholm's portrait by Angelo Collen Hayter, oil on canvas, 1852, Dixson Galleries, State Library of NSW (DG 459). Notable Australians Historical Figures Portrayed on Australian Banknotes © Reserve Bank of Australia 2016 E-book ISBN 978-0-6480470-0-1 Compiled by: John Murphy Designed by: Rachel Williams Edited by: Russell Thomson and Katherine Fitzpatrick For enquiries, contact the Reserve Bank of Australia Museum, 65 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000 <museum.rba.gov.au> CONTENTS Introduction VI Portraits from the present series Portraits from pre-decimal of banknotes banknotes Banjo Paterson (1993: $10) 1 Matthew Flinders (1954: 10 shillings) 45 Dame Mary Gilmore (1993: $10) 3 Charles Sturt (1953: £1) 47 Mary Reibey (1994: $20) 5 Hamilton Hume (1953: £1) 49 The Reverend John Flynn (1994: $20) 7 Sir John Franklin (1954: £5) 51 David Unaipon (1995: $50) 9 Arthur Phillip (1954: £10) 53 Edith Cowan (1995: $50) 11 James Cook (1923: £1) 55 Dame Nellie Melba (1996: $100) 13 Sir John Monash (1996: $100) 15 Portraits of monarchs on Australian banknotes Portraits from the centenary Queen Elizabeth II of Federation banknote (2016: $5; 1992: $5; 1966: $1; 1953: £1) 57 Sir Henry Parkes (2001: $5) 17 King George VI Catherine Helen
  • Justice Richard O'connor and Federation Richard Edward O

    Justice Richard O'connor and Federation Richard Edward O

    1 By Patrick O’Sullivan Justice Richard O’Connor and Federation Richard Edward O’Connor was born 4 August 1854 in Glebe, New South Wales, to Richard O’Connor and Mary-Anne O’Connor, née Harnett (Rutledge 1988). The third son in the family (Rutledge 1988) to a highly accomplished father, Australian-born in a young country of – particularly Irish – immigrants, a country struggling to forge itself an identity, he felt driven to achieve. Contemporaries noted his personable nature and disarming geniality (Rutledge 1988) like his lifelong friend Edmund Barton and, again like Barton, O’Connor was to go on to be a key player in the Federation of the Australian colonies, particularly the drafting of the Constitution and the establishment of the High Court of Australia. Richard O’Connor Snr, his father, was a devout Roman Catholic who contributed greatly to the growth of Church and public facilities in Australia, principally in the Sydney area (Jeckeln 1974). Educated, cultured, and trained in multiple instruments (Jeckeln 1974), O’Connor placed great emphasis on learning in a young man’s life and this is reflected in the years his son spent attaining a rounded and varied education; under Catholic instruction at St Mary’s College, Lyndhurst for six years, before completing his higher education at the non- denominational Sydney Grammar School in 1867 where young Richard O’Connor met and befriended Edmund Barton (Rutledge 1988). He went on to study at the University of Sydney, attaining a Bachelor of Arts in 1871 and Master of Arts in 1873, residing at St John’s College (of which his father was a founding fellow) during this period.
  • Edmund Barton and the 1897 Federal Convention

    Edmund Barton and the 1897 Federal Convention

    The Art of Consensus: Edmund Barton and the 1897 Federal Convention The Art of Consensus: Edmund Barton and the 1897 Federal Convention* Geoffrey Bolton dmund Barton first entered my life at the Port Hotel, Derby on the evening of Saturday, E13 September 1952. As a very young postgraduate I was spending three months in the Kimberley district of Western Australia researching the history of the pastoral industry. Being at a loose end that evening I went to the bar to see if I could find some old-timer with an interesting store of yarns. I soon found my old-timer. He was a leathery, weather-beaten station cook, seventy-three years of age; Russel Ward would have been proud of him. I sipped my beer, and he drained his creme-de-menthe from five-ounce glasses, and presently he said: ‘Do you know what was the greatest moment of my life?’ ‘No’, I said, ‘but I’d like to hear’; I expected to hear some epic of droving, or possibly an anecdote of Gallipoli or the Somme. But he answered: ‘When I was eighteen years old I was kitchen-boy at Petty’s Hotel in Sydney when the federal convention was on. And every evening Edmund Barton would bring some of the delegates around to have dinner and talk about things. I seen them all: Deakin, Reid, Forrest, I seen them all. But the prince of them all was Edmund Barton.’ It struck me then as remarkable that such an archetypal bushie, should be so admiring of an essentially urban, middle-class lawyer such as Barton.
  • Some Aspects of the Federal Political Career of Andrew Fisher

    Some Aspects of the Federal Political Career of Andrew Fisher

    SOME ASPECTS OF THE FEDERAL POLITICAL CAREER OF ANDREW FISHER By EDWARD WIL.LIAM I-IUMPHREYS, B.A. Hans. MASTER OF ARTS Department of History I Faculty of Arts, The University of Melbourne Submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements of the degr'ee of Masters of Arts (by Thesis only) JulV 2005 ABSTRACT Andrew Fisher was prime minister of Australia three times. During his second ministry (1910-1913) he headed a government that was, until the 1940s, Australia's most reformist government. Fisher's second government controlled both Houses; it was the first effective Labor administration in the history of the Commonwealth. In the three years, 113 Acts were placed on the statute books changing the future pattern of the Commonwealth. Despite the volume of legislation and changes in the political life of Australia during his ministry, there is no definitive full-scale biographical published work on Andrew Fisher. There are only limited articles upon his federal political career. Until the 1960s most historians considered Fisher a bit-player, a second ranker whose main quality was his moderating influence upon the Caucus and Labor ministry. Few historians have discussed Fisher's role in the Dreadnought scare of 1909, nor the background to his attempts to change the Constitution in order to correct the considered deficiencies in the original drafting. This thesis will attempt to redress these omissions from historical scholarship Firstly, it investigates Fisher's reaction to the Dreadnought scare in 1909 and the reasons for his refusal to agree to the financing of the Australian navy by overseas borrowing.
  • Andrew FISHER, PC Prime Minister 13 November 1908 to 2 June 1909; 29 April 1910 to 24 June 1913; 17 September 1914 to 27 October 1915

    Andrew FISHER, PC Prime Minister 13 November 1908 to 2 June 1909; 29 April 1910 to 24 June 1913; 17 September 1914 to 27 October 1915

    5 Andrew FISHER, PC Prime Minister 13 November 1908 to 2 June 1909; 29 April 1910 to 24 June 1913; 17 September 1914 to 27 October 1915. Andrew Fisher became the 5th prime minister when the Liberal- Labor coalition government headed by Alfred Deakin collapsed due to loss of parliamentary Labor support. Fisher’s first period as prime minister ended when the new Fusion Party of Deakin and Joseph Cook defeated the government in parliament. His second term resulted from an overwhelming Labor victory at elections in 1910. However, Labor lost power by one seat at the 1913 elections. Fisher was prime minister again in 1914, as a result of a double-dissolution election. Fisher resigned from office in October 1915, his health affected by the pressures of political life. Member of the Australian Labor Party c1901-28. Member of the House of Representatives for the seat of Wide Bay (Queensland) 1901-15; Minister for Trade and Customs 1904; Treasurer 1908-09, 1910-13, 1914-15. Main achievements (1904-1915) Under his prime ministership, the Commonwealth Government issued its first currency which replaced bank and State currency as the only legal tender. Also, the Commonwealth Bank was established. Strengthened the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Introduced a progressive land tax on unimproved properties. Construction began on the trans-Australian railway, linking Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie. Established the Australian Capital Territory and brought the Northern Territory under Commonwealth control. Established the Royal Australian Navy. Improved access to invalid and aged pensions and brought in maternity allowances. Introduced workers’ compensation for federal public servants.
  • The Making of White Australia

    The Making of White Australia

    The making of White Australia: Ruling class agendas, 1876-1888 Philip Gavin Griffiths A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of The Australian National University December 2006 I declare that the material contained in this thesis is entirely my own work, except where due and accurate acknowledgement of another source has been made. Philip Gavin Griffiths Page v Contents Acknowledgements ix Abbreviations xiii Abstract xv Chapter 1 Introduction 1 A review of the literature 4 A ruling class policy? 27 Methodology 35 Summary of thesis argument 41 Organisation of the thesis 47 A note on words and comparisons 50 Chapter 2 Class analysis and colonial Australia 53 Marxism and class analysis 54 An Australian ruling class? 61 Challenges to Marxism 76 A Marxist theory of racism 87 Chapter 3 Chinese people as a strategic threat 97 Gold as a lever for colonisation 105 The Queensland anti-Chinese laws of 1876-77 110 The ‘dangers’ of a relatively unsettled colonial settler state 126 The Queensland ruling class galvanised behind restrictive legislation 131 Conclusion 135 Page vi Chapter 4 The spectre of slavery, or, who will do ‘our’ work in the tropics? 137 The political economy of anti-slavery 142 Indentured labour: The new slavery? 149 The controversy over Pacific Islander ‘slavery’ 152 A racially-divided working class: The real spectre of slavery 166 Chinese people as carriers of slavery 171 The ruling class dilemma: Who will do ‘our’ work in the tropics? 176 A divided continent? Parkes proposes to unite the south 183 Conclusion
  • Personal Injury Law 2011

    Personal Injury Law 2011

    Event pricing (please tick your selection) EXAMPLE One day conference 1 $ 900 + GST = $ 990 $990 Personal Injury Law 2011 Essential strategies and case law updates for assessing and managing injury claims 16 November 2011, The Grace Hotel Sydney 23 November 2011, Stamford Plaza Melbourne Speakers Sydney: • The Honourable Justice Margaret Beazley AO, New Program highlights South Wales Court of Appeal • Richard Seton SC, Barrister, Maurice Byers Chambers • Interpretation of Section 5D of the Civil Liability Act in Personal Injury Cases • Kellie Edwards, Barrister, Denman Chambers • Raj Kanhai, Long Tail Claims Manager, QBE Insurance • Psychological injuries in workers compensation claims • Colin Purdy, Barrister, Edmund Barton Chambers • Managing claims and approaching dispute resolution in • Gaius Whiffin, Partner, Turner Freeman the current environment: an insurer’s perspective • Liability of principal contractors Melbourne: • His Honour Judge Philip Misso, County Court of • Personal Injury and the regulator Victoria • Assessing damages for catastrophic injury: key • Dorothy Frost, Director-Return to Work Division, considerations and recent trends WorkSafe Victoria • Disease provisions in workers’ claims • Raj Kanhai, Long Tail Claims Manager, QBE Insurance • Identifying the evidence needed to successfully bring • Anne Sheehan, Barrister, Douglas Menzies Chambers medical negligence claims • Jacinta Forbes, Barrister, Owen Dixon Chambers East • Sasha Manova, Barrister, Isaacs Chambers Claim 6 CPD/MCLE points Product of: Early bird discount
  • Paolo Giorza and Music at Sydney's 1879 International Exhibition

    Paolo Giorza and Music at Sydney's 1879 International Exhibition

    ‘Pleasure of a High Order:’ Paolo Giorza and Music at Sydney’s 1879 International Exhibition Roslyn Maguire As Sydney’s mighty Exhibition building took shape, looking to the harbour from an elevated site above the Botanic Gardens, anxiety and excitement mounted. This was to be the first International Exhibition held outside Europe or America and musical entertainment was to be its greatest attraction.1 An average of three thousand people would attend each week day and as recent studies have shown, Sydney’s International Exhibition helped initiate reforms to education, town planning, technologies, photography, manufacturing and patronage of the arts, music and literature.2 Although under construction since January 1879, it was mid May before the Exhibition’s influential Executive Commissioner Patrick Jennings3 announced the appointment of his friend, Milanese composer Paolo Giorza4 as musical director: [H]is credentials are of such a nature both as a conductor, composer and artist, that I could not justly pass them over. I think that he should also be authorised to compose a march and cantata for the opening ceremony … Signor Giorza offers to give his exclusive services as composer and director and performer on the organ and to organise a competent orchestra of local artists for promenade concerts, and to conduct the same.5 The extent of Jennings’s personal interest in Exhibition music is evident in this report publicising Giorza’s appointment. It amounts to one of the colony’s most interesting cultural documents for the ideas, attitudes and objectives it reveals, including consideration of whether an ‘Australian School of Music, as distinguished from any of the well-defined schools’ existed.
  • Orme) Wilberforce (Albert) Raymond Blackburn (Alexander Bell

    Orme) Wilberforce (Albert) Raymond Blackburn (Alexander Bell

    Copyrights sought (Albert) Basil (Orme) Wilberforce (Albert) Raymond Blackburn (Alexander Bell) Filson Young (Alexander) Forbes Hendry (Alexander) Frederick Whyte (Alfred Hubert) Roy Fedden (Alfred) Alistair Cooke (Alfred) Guy Garrod (Alfred) James Hawkey (Archibald) Berkeley Milne (Archibald) David Stirling (Archibald) Havergal Downes-Shaw (Arthur) Berriedale Keith (Arthur) Beverley Baxter (Arthur) Cecil Tyrrell Beck (Arthur) Clive Morrison-Bell (Arthur) Hugh (Elsdale) Molson (Arthur) Mervyn Stockwood (Arthur) Paul Boissier, Harrow Heraldry Committee & Harrow School (Arthur) Trevor Dawson (Arwyn) Lynn Ungoed-Thomas (Basil Arthur) John Peto (Basil) Kingsley Martin (Basil) Kingsley Martin (Basil) Kingsley Martin & New Statesman (Borlasse Elward) Wyndham Childs (Cecil Frederick) Nevil Macready (Cecil George) Graham Hayman (Charles Edward) Howard Vincent (Charles Henry) Collins Baker (Charles) Alexander Harris (Charles) Cyril Clarke (Charles) Edgar Wood (Charles) Edward Troup (Charles) Frederick (Howard) Gough (Charles) Michael Duff (Charles) Philip Fothergill (Charles) Philip Fothergill, Liberal National Organisation, N-E Warwickshire Liberal Association & Rt Hon Charles Albert McCurdy (Charles) Vernon (Oldfield) Bartlett (Charles) Vernon (Oldfield) Bartlett & World Review of Reviews (Claude) Nigel (Byam) Davies (Claude) Nigel (Byam) Davies (Colin) Mark Patrick (Crwfurd) Wilfrid Griffin Eady (Cyril) Berkeley Ormerod (Cyril) Desmond Keeling (Cyril) George Toogood (Cyril) Kenneth Bird (David) Euan Wallace (Davies) Evan Bedford (Denis Duncan)
  • The New South Wales Legal Profession in 1917

    The New South Wales Legal Profession in 1917

    Battles Overseas and At Home: The New South Wales Legal Profession in 1917. The Symposium 24 March 2012 Tony Cunneen [email protected] Comments welcome Synopsis: This paper focuses on the events of 1917 and is a part of a series on Lawyers in the First World War. Other papers in the series cover lawyers on Gallipoli and in 1916 as well as related topics may be accessed on the website of the Francis Forbes Society for Australian Legal History on http://www.forbessociety.org.au/ or by contacting the author directly at the above email address. Introduction: The activities of lawyers in the first decades of the twentieth century in general and the First World War in particular have received scant attention. The need to examine this area lies in lawyers’ importance in defining the early forms of Australian life after Federation and their leadership of many war related activities. The period of 1914-1918 was a time when the country was determining just how it would operate as an independent Federation yet also a full member of the British Empire – which was increasingly being seen as an international community of nations. An investigation of lawyers’ activities during the war challenges any stereotypes of a remote, isolated profession 2 and reveals a vibrant, human community steeped in shared values of service and cooperation and determined to play an active part in shaping the nation. war service, whether on the battlefield or the Home Front was seen as an essential part of that process. The development of the protectorate of Papua was part of that process.
  • John Christian WATSON Prime Minister 27 April to 17 August 1904

    John Christian WATSON Prime Minister 27 April to 17 August 1904

    3 John Christian WATSON Prime Minister 27 April to 17 August 1904 Chris Watson became the 3rd Prime Minister when the government of Alfred Deakin, a Protectionist, fell due to Labor’s refusal to support the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill. Member of Australian Labor Party 1900-16; Nationalist Party 1917-c1922. Member for Bland (NSW) in House of Representatives 1901-06 and for South Sydney 1906-10. Treasurer 1904. Prior to 1901 he was the Member for Young in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly 1894-1901. Watson was replaced as prime minister by George Reid, of the Free Trade Party, when Labor’s amended Conciliation and Arbitration Bill failed to win support in parliament. Watson resigned after unsuccessfully seeking a double dissolution election. Main achievements (1904) Headed the world’s first national Labor government. The main achievement of Watson’s prime ministership was the advancement of the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, which was eventually passed in December 1904 under the Reid government. Personal life Born 9 April 1867, Valparaiso, Chile, son of Johan Christian Tanck and his wife Martha. Became Watson when Martha remarried in 1869. Reared in New Zealand. Died 18 November, 1941, Sydney. Limited formal education in New Zealand. Worked as nipper on railway construction at age of ten and on father’s farm. Became a compositor with New Zealand newspapers, active in the union, and migrated to Sydney after losing his job in 1886. Worked as compositor on Sydney newspapers and active in the Typographical Association of New South Wales. Delegate to the NSW Trades and Labor Council 1890.
  • CHAPTER SI1 IF the Prime Minister's Assertion of The

    CHAPTER SI1 IF the Prime Minister's Assertion of The

    CHAPTER SI1 THE LAST MONTHS OF THE WAR IF the Prime Minister’s assertion of the intention of his Government-to “ decline to take responsibility for the conduct of public affairs ” unless given power to secure re- inforcements by compulsion-had been less emphatic, and had contained a convenient conditional phrase, the political predicaiiient caused by the referendum of 1917 would have been avoided. But it was a peculiarly hard and fast declara- tion, without the semblance of a limitation. Similar declara- tions were made by other members of the ministry. hir. Hughes’s “ Merry Christmas,” at his country home in the Dandenong Ranges a few days after the referendum, was therefore marred by the prospect of having to carry out his pledge by placing his resignation in the hands of the Governor-General. Ministers and members of Parliament spent the traditional Season of “peace and good will,” both of which were con- spicuously deficient at this time, at their homes, but in the first week of a hot Melbourne January they began to gather at the seat of government. Parliament was to meet in the second week of that month. Speculation as to what would happen kept political circles agog. Would Mr. Hughes resign after all ? Would the Nationalist party insist upon keeping him to his undertaking? Would the whole ministry retire and give place to a fresh combination? If so, who would succeed as Prime Minister? During the opening days of thc new year there glimmered upon the horizon a streak which seemed to preqage storm. Sir John Forrest was reported--and the report was not afterwards denied--to be in disagreement with his colleagues, and there were com- mentators in the Nationalist journals who expressed doubts about Mr.