Legislative Assembly Hansard 1893

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Legislative Assembly Hansard 1893 Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly THURSDAY, 25 MAY 1893 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy Q U EENSLA.ND PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES. LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. FIRST SESSION OF THE ELEVEN'I'H PARLIAMENT. APPOINTED TO MEET AT BRISBANE ON THE TWENTY-FIFTH DAY OF MAY, IN THE FIFTY-SIXTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF HER MAJESCI.'Y QUEEN VICTORIA, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1893. LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. Samuel Grimes, Oxley. William Henry Groom, Toowoomba. Thursday, 25 May, 1893. William St. John Harding, Rockhampton Opening of Parliament.-Election of Speaker.-Ad­ North. journment. John Hoolan, Burke. Robert King, Maranoa. OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. John James Kingsbury, Brisbane North. THE House met at 12 o'clock this day, pursuant .Tohn Le11hy, Bulloo. to proclamation, and shortly afterwards pro­ Frederick Lord, Stanley. ceeded to the Legislative Council Chamber for William Lovejoy, Aubigny. the purpose of hearing the Commission opening John Macfarlane, Ipswich. Parliament read. O'n its return- John McMaster, Fortitude Valley. ; The CLERK read a Commisoion under the hand Charles William Midson, Brisbane South. · of His Excellency the Governor, authorisin~ the Arthur Morgan, Warwick. Hon. Sir Thomas Mcilwraith, K.C.M.G.~ the John Murray, Normanby. Hon. H. M. Nelson, and the Hon. T . .T. Byrnes Willi11m Henry Bligh O'Connell, Musgrave. to administer the oath to members elect. Andrew Lang Petrie, Toombul. Robert Philp, Townsville. The following members thereupon took the Thomas Plunkett., Albert. oath and subscribed the roll:- Charles Powers, Maryborough. Thomas Mcilwraith, Brisbane North. Robert Harris~n Smith, Bowen. Hugh Muir Nelson, Murilla. William Smyth, Gympie. Thomas J oseph Byrnes, Cairns. William Stephens, Woolloongabba. George Agnew, Nundah. Ernest J ames Stevens, Logan. William Allan, Cunning-ham. Lewis Thomas, Bundanba. John Thomas Annear, Maryborough. George Thorn, Fas;ifern. \Villiam Drayton Armstrong, Lockyer. Nicholas Edward Nelson Tooth, Burrum. Andrew Henry Barlow, Ip3wich. Horace Tozer, Wide Bay. Matthew Battersby, Moreton. Henry Turley, Brisbane South. J ames John Cadell, Burnett. John Watson, Fortitude Valley. Albert James Callan, Fitzroy. James Vincent Chataway, Mackay. ELECTION OF SPEAKER. William Henry Corfield, Gregory. Alfred Sandlings Cowley, Herbert. The PREMIER (Hon. Sir T. Mcilwraith) James Clarke Cribb, Rosewood. said: Mr. Bernays,-I move that Mr. Cowley James Crombie, Warrego. do take the chair of this House as Speaker. J ames Michael Cross, Clermont. Members of the late Parliament know Mr. David Hay Dalrymple, Mackay. Cowley very well. He is known to be a firm Henry Daniels, Cambooya. gentleman ; he is known also to be courteous ; Anderson Dawson, Charters Towers. and having had experience both as a Minister James Robert Dickson, Bulimba. and a member for many years, he has a thorough J ames George Drake, Enoggera. knowledge of the forms of the House. I know Michael Duffy, Bundaberg. that it is the unanimous opinion of all who are John Dunsford, Charters Towers. acquainted with Mr. Cowley that he will be a Andrew Fisher, Gympie. credit to the position, and command the respect John Fogarty, Toowoomba. of the House. Justin Fox Greenlaw Foxton, Carnarvon, HONOURABLE MEMBERS; Hear, hear ! 1893-B, 2 Election of Speaker. [ASSEMBLY.] Adjournment. The PREMIER: Those are qualities which elect a Speaker without giy~ng them an ?PPOrt':­ we seek for in a Speaker, and I have therefore nity to aspire to the pos1t10n, or to giVe the1r much pleasure in making this motion. vote if tbis side of the Rouse nominated anyone The HoN. J. R. DICKSON: I have much for it. It may look like a forlorn hope for this pleasure in seconding the nomination of Speaker side of the House to nominate anyone for the m the person of Mr. Cowley a< proposed by the position, but we are used to running forlor'? hopes Premier. I believe, from the manner in which and are ready to run one now, and to nommate a Mr. Cowley has discharged his duties in this gentleman from this side of the House. Therefore House in connection with Ministerial office, that I asked that the Government will explain the he will speedily acquire a thorough knowledge of matter, and if they are in an unsound positio_n, the duties of the chair, and perform such duties that they will have the courage to own up to 1t. with credit to himself and in such a way vV e are completely in the dark. I do not know as to reflect credit on the proceedings of what the legal members think about it, but to the House. I believe he will recognise that, the lay mind it is inexplicable and manifestly while perfect freedom of debate should be unfair, and as such I enter my solemn protest allowed under our Standing Orders, such against it. fr.eedom should not degenerate into license, Mr. COWLEY: I thank the hon. gentlemen and that he will guard the privileges and rights who have proposed and seconded me ati Speaker, of this House, so that they shall not suffer any and especially for the kindly and complimentary encroachment, but be maintained as fully and way in which they have spoken of me. I assure with as much dignity as has been clone by any of those hon. gentlemen and hon. members generally his predecessors. I have very much pleasure in that I am deeply sensible of the honour they pro­ seconding his nomination. pose to confer upon me. Mr. HOOLAN: There is a little matter in The hon. gentleman was then introduced to connection with this Asse!llbly and public the Chair by the mover and sfconder. matters generally that this side of the House The SPEAKER: I again thank hon. mem-. would like to have explained before proceeding bers for the high honour they have bestowed with business. I ri,;e as a matter of privilege. upon me by electing me as Speaker of this I claim my ri.5ht to spelk under Rule 42 of the honourable House. It will be my constant aim Standing Orders, and if I am not within my to do all in my power to merit the confidence rights you, Sir, will please tell me so. We would reposed in me, by acting at a]l times in an like an explanation from the Government con­ impartial manner, and I am convmced that hon. cerning the present position of the Assembly, members on both sides will not only assist me all and under what law or what regulations they can, but will vie with each other in main­ they decided to call the House together taining that higb standard of excellence for at this very early and inopportune period. which this House has been so renowned. Two members of the Assembly are not yet elected, and even allowing for the utmost The COLONIAL TREASURER (Hon. H. despatch of business in those distant electorates l'.I. Nelson): Following a very old precedent, they cannot be declared duly elected before next I desire on behalf of the House to tender Wednesday. Members and candidates for their congratulations to you on attaining the election were also informed that-- high position which you are about to occupy. The PREMIER: There is no privilege in the \V e have shown our confidence in you by electing question the hon. member has stated. The very you to one of the highest positions that anyone question he refers to will be explained to the can aspire to. Although the position is one of House by His Excellency the Governor to­ graat honour, it is also one which carries with morrow. The business now is to elect a Speaker; it very great responsibilities. I am sure you will until we have done that we cannot proceed with carry out those responsibilities in a manner that business, and no question of privilege can arise. will maintain not only your own dignity but also the dignity and reputation of this House. It is Mr. HOOLAN : I fail to see how we can quite possible you may have an arduous task legally elect a Speaker as the Assembly is con­ before you; upon your judgment to a very large stituted. It is an incomplete Assembly, and it extent depends the honour and reputation of is the duty of the Government to enlighten the this House, and your performance of your duties ignorance of this side of the House. There are will have a great effect upon the conduct of some members who may aspire to the position of business. At the same time, I am aware that Speaker, and they are not yet elected ; and in the the gentleman occupying your position cannot case of others who may aspire to the position carry on the busine.ss unless he is supported by it is practico,lly impossible for them to be here. the general body of the House. Of this I can It is one of the principles of the Constitution that assure you: that on all occasions, being assured the highest offices m the State are open to any­ of your impartiality and discretion and great one, and here we are entering upon an arrange­ common senRe, the members of this House will ment that practically prevents that. Surely the most gladly second your action as Chairman Government do not intend to run this Assembly of this Assembly. I congmtulate you most as a sort of Punch anclJudyshow? It looks some­ sincerely, and I am sure that when I do so I am thing like it. I quite understand the position of the echoing the sentiments of every member of the Government and all the difficulties that surround Chamber. them, and I have no desire to do anything unplea­ sant, or, to use a homely expression, "throw water HoNOURABLE MEMBERS : Hear, hear ! on drowning rats "; but I ask for fair play.
Recommended publications
  • Margaret Klaassen Thesis (PDF 1MB)
    AN EXAMINATION OF HOW THE MILITARY, THE CONSERVATIVE PRESS AND MINISTERIALIST POLITICIANS GENERATED SUPPORT WITHIN QUEENSLAND FOR THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA IN 1899 AND 1900 Margaret Jean Klaassen ASDA, ATCL, LTCL, FTCL, BA 1988 Triple Majors: Education, English & History, University of Auckland. The University Prize in Education of Adults awarded by the Council of the University of Auckland, 1985. Submitted in full requirement for the degree of Master of Arts (Research) Division of Research & Commercialisation Queensland University of Technology 2014 Keywords Anglo-Boer War, Boer, Brisbane Courier, Dawson, Dickson, Kitchener, Kruger, Orange Free State, Philp, Queensland, Queenslander, Transvaal, War. ii Abstract This thesis examines the myth that Queensland was the first colonial government to offer troops to support England in the fight against the Boers in the Transvaal and Orange Free State in 1899. The offer was unconstitutional because on 10 July 1899, the Premier made it in response to a request from the Commandant and senior officers of the Queensland Defence Force that ‘in the event of war breaking out in South Africa the Colony of Queensland could send a contingent of troops and a machine gun’. War was not declared until 10 October 1899. Under Westminster government conventions, the Commandant’s request for military intervention in an overseas war should have been discussed by the elected legislators in the House. However, Parliament had gone into recess on 24 June following the Federation debate. During the critical 10-week period, the politicians were in their electorates preparing for the Federation Referendum on 2 September 1899, after which Parliament would resume.
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • Register of Tabled Papers
    REGISTER OF TABLED PAPERS ALL SIX SESSIONS OF THE EIGHTH PARLIAMENT January 1879 to July 1883 Register of Tabled Papers — First Session — Eighth Parliament Papers received in the recess prior to the First Session Undated 1 Writ for Joshua Peter Bell as a Member for the Electoral District of Northern Downs. 2 Writ for Peter McLean as a Member for the Electoral District of Logan. FIRST SESSION OF THE EIGHTH PARLIAMENT 14 January 1879 3 Commission to administer the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to Members. 22 Writ and Oath for George Morris Simpson as the Member for the Electoral District of Dalby. Writ and Oath for William Lambert Forbes as the Member for the Electoral District of Clermont. Writ and Oath for John Scott as a Member for the Electoral District of Leichhardt. Writ and Oath for Francis Tyssen Amhurst as the Member for the Electoral District of Mackay. Writ and Oath for Archibald Archer as the Member for the Electoral District of Blackall. Writ and Oath for William Henry Baynes as the Member for the Electoral District of Burnett. Writ and Oath for Joshua Peter Bell as the Member for the Electoral District of Northern Downs. Writ and Oath for Samual Grimes as the Member for the Electoral District of Oxley. Writ and Oath for John Hamilton as the Member for the Electoral District of Gympie Writ and Oath for John Deane as the Member for the Electoral District of Townsville. Writ and Oath for Charles Lumley Hill as the Member for the Electoral District of Gregory. Writ and Oath for Henry Rogers Beor as the Member for the Electoral District of Bowen.
    [Show full text]
  • The Politics of Expediency Queensland
    THE POLITICS OF EXPEDIENCY QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT IN THE EIGHTEEN-NINETIES by Jacqueline Mc0ormack University of Queensland, 197^1. Presented In fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts to the Department of History, University of Queensland. TABLE OP, CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION SECTION ONE; THE SUBSTANCE OP POLITICS CHAPTER 1. The Men of Politics 1 CHAPTER 2. Politics in the Eighties 21 CHAPTER 3. The Depression 62 CHAPTER 4. Railways 86 CHAPTER 5. Land, Labour & Immigration 102 CHAPTER 6 Separation and Federation 132 CHAPTER 7 The Queensland.National Bank 163 SECTION TWO: THE POLITICS OP REALIGNMENT CHAPTER 8. The General Election of 1888 182 CHAPTER 9. The Coalition of 1890 204 CHAPTER 10. Party Organization 224 CHAPTER 11. The Retreat of Liberalism 239 CHAPTER 12. The 1893 Election 263 SECTION THREE: THE POLITICS.OF EXPEDIENCY CHAPTER 13. The First Nelson Government 283 CHAPTER Ik. The General Election of I896 310 CHAPTER 15. For Want of an Opposition 350 CHAPTER 16. The 1899 Election 350 CHAPTER 17. The Morgan-Browne Coalition 362 CONCLUSION 389 APPENDICES 394 BIBLIOGRAPHY 422 PREFACE The "Nifi^ties" Ms always" exercised a fascination for Australian historians. The decade saw a flowering of Australian literature. It saw tremendous social and economic changes. Partly as a result of these changes, these years saw the rise of a new force in Australian politics - the labour movement. In some colonies, this development was overshadowed by the consolidation of a colonial liberal tradition reaching its culmination in the Deakinite liberalism of the early years of the tlommdhwealth. Developments in Queensland differed from those in the southern colonies.
    [Show full text]
  • Legislative Assembly Hansard 1876
    Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly TUESDAY, 11 JULY 1876 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy Vacancies, Etc. [11 JULY.] Adjournment. 145 That, upon being satisfied of the occurrence of each of the said vacancies, he had issued his writ for the election of a member to fill the same; and that, of such writs, the follow­ ing had been duly returned to him, with certificates respectively endorsed thereon, of the election of the following gentlemen, namely:- 1. The Honorable George Thorn, Esquire, for the Electoral District of Ipswich. 2. James Johnston, Esquire, for the Electoral District of Bulimba. The SPEA.KER also reported that he had received the writ issued for the election of a member to serve in that House for the new electoral district of Cook, with a certificate endorsed thereon, of the election of William Edward Murphy, Esquire. NEW MEMBERS. The following members having taken the oath and subscribed the roll, took their seats respectively for the electorates set against their names, viz. :-The Honorable George Thorn, Esquire, as member fo1· the electoral district of Ipswich; the Honorable Robert Muter Stewart, Esquire, as member for the electoral district of :Brisbane ; the Honorable J ames Robert Dick son, Esquire, as member for the electoral district of Enoggera ; the Honorable Samuel Walker Griffith, Esquire, LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. as member for the electoral district of Oxley; Tuesday, 11 July, 1876. the Honorable John Douglas, Esquire, as member for the electoral district of Mary­ Vacancies during the .A.djournn1ent.-~ew }fembers.­ Adjournment.-Ministeral Explanation. borough ; J ames J ohnston, Esquire, as mem­ ber for the electoral district of :Bulimba; VACANCIES DURING THE ADJOURN­ William Edward Murphy, Esquire, as mem­ MENT.
    [Show full text]
  • Brisbane Grammar School Magasine
    Vol. XV. APRIL, 1918. No. 45. BRI S HANEN Ej GRAMMAR SCHOOL MAGAZIN E. 9.I 4 ritbanr : i: OI-TKI;I.;- I'RIN'ING CO., LTD.-98 Ul'K*'-N 8TREKT 1913. |i III I . ,II, I I I TheSel-tilling Outridge 5/- A Genuine I Fountain Pen. Time Save I__ Simle yrtagel Actieon, Actual alegth It inches. 14ct. Gold Nib. Masutactured Ipecially for Outridge Printing Co. Ltd. SPECIAL OFFER t IPrea Trial and Guarastee. 9le Sket Time O ly. This Pen will be lent you P etagel Paid on receipt of Postal Note for 5f- (Stamps winl be accepted if more convlient). You will be Pleased with the pen but we guarantee to send your Mosey back If you are not ktidiedt , rovided you return it within 7 days. ow to r -Just cut out this order, sign it, sad y r rees, sad send it to us with postal order. The Pen will be in your hands by the next mail; but you must Orier Neow as this offer will only lst a few days. Outridge Printing Com pany Ltd @S9 Qqe 8teeIt. ',Iebae.. U - Brisbane Grammar School Magasine. 8 Sehool Institutions. School Committee. SPORTS' MASTER ... ... ... MR. S. STEPHENSON HON. TREASURER ...... ... MR. R. E. HIIWAITES CRICKET CAPTAIN ... ... ... M. D. GRAHAM COMMITTEE ... Mi. W. R. IOWMAN, A. F. PA'TON, R C. TROUT, G. C. C. WII.so DEI.EGATE TO Q.L.T.A. ... ... MR. H. PORTEnR OTHER CAPTAINS 2nd W1RENCH ; 3rd BARN:S, C. G ; 4 th FRASER, K. B.; 5 th BRADFIEI.D, C. A.; 6th KIl ROE Librarians.-N.
    [Show full text]
  • This Sampler File Contains Various Sample Pages from the Product. Sample Pages Will Often Include: the Title Page, an Index, and Other Pages of Interest
    This sampler file contains various sample pages from the product. Sample pages will often include: the title page, an index, and other pages of interest. This sample is fully searchable (read Search Tips) but is not FASTFIND enabled. To view more samplers click here www.gould.com.au www.archivecdbooks.com.au · The widest range of Australian, English, · Over 1600 rare Australian and New Zealand Irish, Scottish and European resources books on fully searchable CD-ROM · 11000 products to help with your research · Over 3000 worldwide · A complete range of Genealogy software · Including: Government and Police 5000 data CDs from numerous countries gazettes, Electoral Rolls, Post Office and Specialist Directories, War records, Regional Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter histories etc. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK www.unlockthepast.com.au · Promoting History, Genealogy and Heritage in Australia and New Zealand · A major events resource · regional and major roadshows, seminars, conferences, expos · A major go-to site for resources www.familyphotobook.com.au · free information and content, www.worldvitalrecords.com.au newsletters and blogs, speaker · Free software download to create biographies, topic details · 50 million Australasian records professional looking personal photo books, · Includes a team of expert speakers, writers, · 1 billion records world wide calendars and more organisations and commercial partners · low subscriptions · FREE content daily and some permanently Groom's Darling Downs Almanac and Directory 1900 Ref. AU4030-1900 ISBN: 978 1 921461 84 2 This book was kindly loaned to Archive CD Books Australia by the University of Queensland Library www.library.uq.edu.au Navigating this CD To view the contents of this CD use the bookmarks and Adobe Reader’s forward and back buttons to browse through the pages.
    [Show full text]
  • Potter V. Minahan: Chinese Australians, the Law and Belonging in White Australia
    University of Wollongong Research Online Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts - Papers Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities 1-1-2018 Potter v. Minahan: Chinese Australians, the law and belonging in White Australia Kate Bagnall University of Wollongong, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.uow.edu.au/lhapapers Part of the Arts and Humanities Commons, and the Law Commons Recommended Citation Bagnall, Kate, "Potter v. Minahan: Chinese Australians, the law and belonging in White Australia" (2018). Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts - Papers. 3628. https://ro.uow.edu.au/lhapapers/3628 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] Potter v. Minahan: Chinese Australians, the law and belonging in White Australia Abstract This article tells the story of James Minahan, the Melbourne-born son of a Chinese father and a white Australian mother who was arrested as a prohibited immigrant under the Immigration Restriction Act in 1908. Minahan had been taken to China by his father as a five-year-old boy in 1882 and failed the Dictation Test on his return to Australia 26 years later. After Minahan defeated the charge in the lower courts, the Commonwealth appealed to the High Court - an appeal they lost on the grounds that, despite his years overseas, Minahan had remained a member of the Australian community. Although the case is well known in historical and legal scholarship on Australian immigration and citizenship, existing work has focused primarily on the High Court judgements.
    [Show full text]
  • Register of Tabled Papers
    REGISTER OF TABLED PAPERS ALL FIVE SESSIONS OF THE TENTH PARLIAMENT June 1888 to November 1892 Register of Tabled Papers — First Session — Tenth Parliament FIRST SESSION OF THE TENTH PARLIAMENT 12 June 1888 1 Writ and Oath for Thomas Plunkett as the Member for the Electoral District of Albert. Writ and Oath for James Campbell as the Member for the Electoral District of Aubigny. Writ and Oath for Boyd Dunlop Morehead as the Member for the Electoral District of Balonne. Writ and Oath for Frank Reid Murphy as the Member for the Electoral District of Barcoo. Writ and Oath for Robert Harrison Smith as the Member for the Electoral District of Bowen. Writ and Oaths for Sir Thomas McIlwraith, K.C.M.G. and Sir Samuel Walker Griffith, K.C.M.G. and as the Members for the Electoral District of Brisbane North. Oath for Henry Jordan as the Member for the Electoral District of Brisbane South. Oath and Writ for John Donaldson as the Member for the Electoral District of Bulloo. Writ and Oath for John Frances Buckland as the Member for the Electoral District of Bulimba. Writ and Oath for Walter Adams as the Member for the Electoral District of Bundaberg. Writ and Oath for Thomas Glassey as the Member for the Electoral District of Bundanba. Writ and Oaths for William Oswald Hodgkinson and Ernest Charles James Hunter as the Members for the Electoral District of Burke. Writ and Oath for George Hall Jones as the Member for the Electoral District of Burnett. Writ and Oath for Charles Powers as the Member for the Electoral District of Burrum.
    [Show full text]
  • Imagereal Capture
    QUEENSLAND JUDGES ON THE HIGH COURT? Is there something different about Queensland? Is it more than a State but a condition? It remains, according to Bolton and Waterson, a 'long and profitless debate amongst historians whether Queensland is different'.' Certainly visitors have remarked, even before federation, that Queensland was different from the rest of Australia. As the poisoned pen of Beatrice Webb noted in 1898, as the federation movement was in full flight, '[iln short, in Queensland one finds at every turn, a most peculiar reminiscence of the bad manners, sullen insolence, and graspingness of the "man in possession"'.2 Sidney Webb was less scathing than his acerbic wife, but interestingly declared that 'the politicians and the newspapers are in fact, the best product of ~ustralia'.~ Notwithstanding Bolton and Waterson's warning of a 'long and profitless debate' it is worth considering whether Queensland's legal history deserves closer attention in contrast to the rest of the country.4 The publication of Queensland Judges on the High Court provides a vehicle to consider this and many other questions. It is well known that Queensland played a reluctant part in the deliberation of the Commonwealth Constitution. After a promising start at the 1891 Convention Queensland's formal involvement was not until the second referendum in 1899. The bulk of the drafting and politiclung of the 1897 and 1898 Convention had to take place in Queensland's absence. Even after its decision to join the federal movement, its delegate to London, James Dickson, was the first to jump ship under pressure from the imperious Joseph Chamberlain and colonial interests at home.
    [Show full text]
  • 557 Some Lesser Members of Parliament in Queensland
    557 SOME LESSER MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IN QUEENSLAND [By ALLAN A. MORRISON, M.A.] (Read before the Meeting of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, on October 27, 1960.) Colonial Parliaments in Australia during the 19th century were markedly different in one way at least from those to which we are now accustomed. To-day the rule of party is strong, and woe betide the indi­ vidual member who flouts the orders of his party leaders. It is true that an energetic member or group of members from the back-benches may sometimes force re-consideration of particular issues, as for example occurred recently in the Federal Senate, or during the Suez crisis in England, but in general such revolts are rare. It is also true that the back-bencher has his say during discussions in the party room, but once a decision is reached there he is bound to it and may not diverge from it, at risk of losing party endorsement in the next election. Whether this is right or wrong, necessary or unnecessary, I do not propose to discuss here. My sole purpose is to remind you — if a reminder be necessary, in view of fairly recent events in Queensland politics — of the present day strength of party rule. No Strong Party Organisation But in the last century the dominating feature of politics was the lack of strong party organisation. Men held ideas that were often very much their own, so much so that it is extremely difficult to see how men with such differing views could ever be combined into anything like a modern party.
    [Show full text]
  • Selected Australian Political Records
    RESEARCH PAPER SERIES, 2013–14 UPDATED 5 MARCH 2014 Selected political records of the Commonwealth Parliament Martin Lumb and Rob Lundie Politics and Public Administration Contents Introduction ................................................................................................ 6 Governor-General ....................................................................................... 6 First Governor-General..................................................................................... 6 First Australian-born Governor-General .......................................................... 6 Prime Ministers ........................................................................................... 6 First Prime Minister .......................................................................................... 6 First Leader of the Opposition .......................................................................... 6 Youngest person to become Prime Minister .................................................... 6 Oldest person to become Prime Minister ........................................................ 6 Longest serving Prime Minister ........................................................................ 6 Shortest serving Prime Minister ....................................................................... 6 Oldest serving Prime Minister .......................................................................... 6 Prime Ministers who served separate terms as Prime Minister ...................... 6 Prime Ministers who
    [Show full text]