Our First Half-Century Part 22

THE FIFTH PARLIAMENT: 16th November, 1870-21st June, 1871.

The fifth Parliament lived only seven months. It met in November, 1870, and pa.s.sed twenty-two Acts, among them being the University Act of 1870, giving the Governor in Council power to establish local examinations for degrees in connection with universities in Great Britain and Ireland. In this year an Act legalising the collection of border duties was pa.s.sed. An Act providing for a pension of 400 a year to the a.s.sembly's first Speaker also became law, but has not since been used as a precedent. By the Country Publicans Act a license for a house not within five miles of any town in which the Towns Police Act was in force was reduced to 15. The Gold Fields Homestead Act authorised the granting of agricultural leaseholds not exceeding forty acres on any proclaimed goldfield. A Wages Act enabled an employee to claim six months' pay from a mortgagee on taking over a property. In the session of 1871 only six Acts were pa.s.sed, one repealing the proviso to section 10 of the Const.i.tution Act of 1867 which required a two-thirds majority of both Houses to a bill altering the number or apportionment of members of the a.s.sembly. The other measures of this session demand no notice here.

THE SIXTH PARLIAMENT: 8th November, 1871-1st September, 1873.

The sixth Parliament met in November, 1871, and pa.s.sed six measures in its first session, none of them of more than temporary importance save the comprehensive Brands Act, which received the Governor's a.s.sent in the following year. The main session of 1872 was fertile in practical legislation, the Health Act and a Railway Act--providing for the fixing of compensation for land resumptions by a railway arbitrator, and empowering the Governor in Council to accept proposals for railway construction from private individuals or corporations--becoming law with twenty-four other measures. An Act of this year provided for the gradual abolition of the export duty on gold; another provided for homestead areas on liberal terms; and another for the sale of mineral lands. A number of legal measures, all of an amending character, also became law. And finally, a Loan Act, authorising the Government to raise 1,466,499 for railways from Ipswich to Brisbane and from Westwood to Comet River on the Central Railway, and other public works, gave a new impetus to development. In 1873 the Parliament met at the end of May, and after the session had lasted two months the Houses were prorogued for the purpose of a dissolution. Only six Acts were pa.s.sed during the session, and those of no permanent significance except, perhaps, an equally elaborate and Algerine Customs Act.

THE SEVENTH PARLIAMENT: 7th January, 1874-2nd October, 1878.

The seventh Parliament opened on 7th January, 1874, and the Palmer Government, being defeated on the election for the Speakers.h.i.+p, at once retired. After nearly three months' adjournment to enable the new Ministry to formulate its policy, the session was resumed at the end of March, and eighteen public and six private Acts were pa.s.sed. Among the most important was the Audit Act, which, among other provisions, altered the opening date of the financial year to 1st July, instead of 1st January, with the object of getting the work done during the cool weather. But the Act failed in this respect, for Governments seldom care to call Parliament together much before mid-July, in time to provide for the first Treasury payments of the new financial year.

On the other hand, the a.s.sembly members usually protract the sittings until close to Christmas week, at whatever date the session opens.

Among the other measures pa.s.sed in 1874 were the Insolvency Act, of which Mr. S. W. Griffith was the author; the Crown Remedies Act, providing for the conduct of suits on behalf of the Crown; a Supreme Court Act, making provision for the appointment of a third Judge to be stationed at Bowen, and fixing the salaries and pensions of the Judges at the amounts still payable; a comprehensive Goldfields Act; an Act for the protection of oysters and the establishment of oyster fisheries; and an Act to encourage the manufacture of sugar. In 1875 sixteen Acts were pa.s.sed, one of the two most important being the Western Railway Act, providing for the reservation of the land for fifty miles on either side of a straight line drawn from Dalby to Roma, and the sale of such lands to pay for the construction of a railway to connect the two towns. The other and great measure of the session, however, was the State Education Act, the scope of which is elsewhere explained.

In 1876 twenty-three Acts were pa.s.sed, two of them being temporary Supply Acts, measures which first became necessary with the alteration of the date of the financial year. A Crown Lands Alienation Act, pa.s.sed this year, is noticed elsewhere, as is also the Customs Duties Act, introducing a tariff incidentally protective. Mr.

Groom's Friendly Societies Act became law, as also did Mr. Griffith's Judicature Act, and the Fire Brigades Act. A Munic.i.p.ality Endowments Act provided a 2 for 1 endowment for munic.i.p.alities during the first five years after their establishment, and then 1 for 1. The Department of Justice was provided for, enabling a layman to hold the portfolio of Minister for Justice in a Ministry, and, so far as official practice was concerned, to qualify such Minister to discharge the duties of the Attorney-General.

In 1877, twenty-eight measures were placed on the Statute-book, including the Navigation Act, Bank Holidays Act, Chinese Immigration Regulation Act, an Act to punish disorderly conduct in places of religious wors.h.i.+p, the Victoria Bridge Act, and the first of a series of enactments for the destruction of marsupials and the protection of native birds. But the most important piece of legislation was the Railway Reserves Act, which, before it was finally repealed, caused considerable trouble in regard to the disposal of the moneys received from the sale of land within the reserves which were set apart in the various districts to provide funds for the construction of railways in the several reserves.

In 1878, the last session of the seventh Parliament, only a few measures were pa.s.sed, among them, however, being the Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Act, the Intestacy Act, a comprehensive Local Government Act, and a Volunteer Act. An Electoral Districts Act redistributed the electorates of the colony, and increased the number of members of the a.s.sembly from 43 to 55.

THE EIGHTH PARLIAMENT: 15th January, 1879-26th July, 1883.

In January, 1879, a new Parliament opened, and the ensuing five years contributed but a moderate number of Acts to the Statute-book. First in political importance was the Divisional Boards Act of 1879; then the Licensing Boards Act; the Orphanages Act; the Bills of Exchange Act; and the Life Insurance Act, providing among other things that after an insured person had held a policy for life a.s.surance, endowment, or annuity for three years his age, unless in the case of fraud, should be deemed to have been admitted by the company, and also protecting the interest of the a.s.sured in the event of his insolvency.

A short Act was pa.s.sed requiring all moneys received under the Western Railway Act and the Railway Reserves Act to be paid into the consolidated revenue fund; and a Loan Act for 3,053,000 was also placed on the Statute-book. The Local Works Loans Act, referred to elsewhere, was also pa.s.sed. The Rabbit Act, pa.s.sed on the initiative of a private member, Mr. E. J. Stevens, was the forerunner of several measures having for their object the extermination of this national pest. In 1880, out of the twenty-four Acts pa.s.sed, four were for appropriations, and four for private purposes. A new Pacific Island Labourers Act became law, providing for the engagement of all islanders under the inspection of a Government agent travelling in the recruiting vessel, restricting the employment of the islanders to tropical and semi-tropical agriculture, and making provision for their payment and treatment. The Post Card and Postal Notes Act provided for the issue of those instruments. The greatest political measure was the Railway Companies Preliminary Act, pa.s.sed with the view of inducing capitalists to undertake railway construction in consideration of land grants.

In 1881 fifteen Acts, exclusive of appropriations, were pa.s.sed, among which were the Macalister Pension Act, authorising the payment to the ex-Agent-General of a pension of 500 a year; the Pearl-sh.e.l.l and Beche-de-mer Fishery Act; the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, and the United Munic.i.p.alities Act. In 1882, with the exception of the Tramways Act, nearly all the measures pa.s.sed were amending Acts.

In 1883 only two measures were pa.s.sed--the Queensland Stock Inscription Act and an Appropriation Act--dissolution following upon the defeat of the Government on the second reading of the Transcontinental Railway Bill, which was introduced to ratify an agreement made with a company, represented by General Feilding, under the provisions of the Railway Companies Preliminary Act of 1880, for the construction of a railway from Charleville to Point Parker on the Gulf of Carpentaria.

THE NINTH PARLIAMENT: 7th November, 1883-4th April, 1888.

The ninth Parliament opened on 7th November, 1883, and the Government resigned after being thrice defeated. Mr. Griffith became Premier, and he at once set to work to reverse the policy of his rival in several respects. The a.s.sembly pa.s.sed a bill to repeal the Labourers from British India Acts of 1862 and 1882, but the Council rejected it. The pa.s.sage of the Chinese Immigrants Regulation Act (introduced by Mr.

Macrossan as a private Opposition member), which restricted the number of Chinese pa.s.sengers arriving by any vessel to one to every fifty tons register, and imposed a landing fee of 30 per head on such pa.s.sengers, had a salutary effect in limiting this form of Asiatic immigration. The Pacific Island Labourers Act Amendment Act further safeguarded the interests of white workers in Queensland. The Railway Companies Preliminary Act was repealed, and its repeal put a stop to the negotiations which had been going on in connection with the Transcontinental Railway under the previous Government.

The chief measure pa.s.sed in the regular session of 1884 was the Crown Lands Act, which has been dealt with elsewhere. A comprehensive Defence Act established the principle of compulsory service in time of war. Among other measures pa.s.sed were a comprehensive Health Act, a Bills of Exchange Act, a Wages Act, a Pharmacy Act, and the Native Birds Protection Act; also the Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks Act.

Many of the other Acts were legal measures, but one may be mentioned as of interest--the New Guinea and Pacific Jurisdiction Contribution Act, which provided for the amount of annual contribution by Queensland in the event of a British Protectorate being established over Eastern New Guinea and other islands in the Western Pacific. An Act of interest to civil servants was that which required all fees thereafter received by them to be paid into the Treasury. The Acts of this single session--the first of Mr. Griffith's Premiers.h.i.+p--extended over 405 pages of the then quarto Statute-book.

The Officials in Parliament Act--pa.s.sed to create an additional Minister, to readjust the division of portfolios between the two Houses, and to render officers in the Imperial and Queensland military and naval forces eligible to sit in the Legislative a.s.sembly--had the effect of bringing about an innovation not intended at the time the Act was pa.s.sed, and which had no parallel in parliamentary government in the Empire. The pa.s.sage of section 3 involved the repeal of sections 5 and 6 of the Legislative a.s.sembly Act of 1867, the latter of which made it obligatory for members of the a.s.sembly to submit themselves for re-election upon taking office as Ministers. Curiously enough, the effect of this repeal was not discovered until certain Ministerial changes were made in 1893. The members of the McIlwraith Government in 1888 and the members of the Griffith-McIlwraith Coalition in 1890 went before their const.i.tuents for re-election; but since the latter year the practice has ceased, and the electors have now no opportunity of showing by their votes whether they approve or disapprove of Cabinet changes.

The session of 1885 was also productive of much legislation. There were a new Licensing Act containing local option provisions, a Federal Council (Adopting) Act, and an Undue Subdivision of Land Prevention Act, making the minimum width of new streets 66 feet, and of lanes 22 feet, and buildings were not to be erected within 33 feet of the middle line of a lane; while suburban or country lands could not be sold in areas of less than 16 perches. This measure put a stop to subdivisions which could only be regarded as a grave abuse. The law relating to parliamentary elections was consolidated and amended.

Another Act prohibited the introduction of Pacific Islanders after 31st December, 1890. Altogether eighteen measures, irrespective of appropriations, were pa.s.sed. During this and the following session a series of conflicts arose over the power of the Legislative Council to amend bills dealing with appropriation and taxation. In 1884 a bill was introduced which made provision for granting to members of the a.s.sembly payment of expenses at the rate of 2 2s. per sitting day, with a maximum amount of 200 per annum, and in addition payment of travelling expenses to and from electorates once a year at the rate of 1s. 6d. per mile. The bill was laid aside by the Council. It was reintroduced in 1885, and again laid aside by the Council.

The Government thereupon included a sum of 7,000 in the annual Appropriation Bill for the payment of members' expenses, and the Council took the extreme step of amending the Appropriation Bill by omitting this vote. After communications had pa.s.sed between the two Chambers, it was agreed to submit to the Imperial Crown Law Officers two questions to settle whether the Council possessed co-ordinate powers with the a.s.sembly in the amendment of all bills, including money bills, and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council decided against the Council. The following year, the Members' Expenses Bill was pa.s.sed by the Council without any attempt at amendment. The Council having also amended the rating clauses of a Local Government Bill in 1885, the bill was laid aside by the a.s.sembly. It was reintroduced next year, and again amended by the Council. Warned by the fact that a Divisional Boards Bill had been laid aside by the Council because the a.s.sembly claimed that the Upper House had no power to amend rating clauses, the a.s.sembly accepted the Council's amendments, but at the same time a.s.serted their sole power of altering taxation provisions.

In the year 1886 no less than thirty-two Acts, exclusive of appropriations and private measures, were pa.s.sed. Among them was the Elections Tribunal Act, which gave to a Supreme Court Judge, a.s.sisted by a panel of members of the a.s.sembly acting as a.s.sessors, the decision of election pet.i.tions, as the trying of such pet.i.tions before an Elections and Qualifications Committee consisting of members of the a.s.sembly had proved unsatisfactory. The Members' Expenses Bill was also pa.s.sed. The important Justices Act was a measure of this session.

The Labourers from British India Acts were repealed, the repealing measure having been rejected by the Council in the 1883-4 session, thus closing the door to the long-desired importation of coolie labour for pastoral holdings. Two measures of great importance to workers which were placed on the Statute-book in this session were the Employers Liability Act and the Trade Unions Act. The Offenders Probation Act embodied a new departure in the treatment of first offenders, which has since been copied by many other countries.

Another Act which proved of material a.s.sistance to the working cla.s.ses was the Building Societies Act. Several of the measures were amendments of the work of former Parliaments.

The session of 1887, though less fruitful than the three preceding sessions, was by no means barren. Twenty-one bills were pa.s.sed, one of which made provision for a contribution to the British New Guinea civil list. The Divisional Boards Bill, which had been laid aside by the Council in 1886, was reintroduced. The taxation clauses were this year embodied in a separate bill--the Valuation Bill--and both measures became law. An Electoral Districts Bill was also pa.s.sed, increasing the number of members of the a.s.sembly to 72. No change has since been made in the representation of the State. The pa.s.sage of this bill was urged as a reason for not pa.s.sing the Australasian Naval Force Bill, the Opposition contending that no important legislation should be attempted after Parliament had agreed to a redistribution of seats, and Sir S. W. Griffith was in this way prevented from giving legislative force to the agreement which he had drafted, and which was pa.s.sed into law in all the other colonies before its author finally succeeded in securing its pa.s.sage in Queensland in the year 1891. The session closed in December, 1887, but the a.s.sembly was not dissolved until four months later.

THE TENTH PARLIAMENT: 12th June, 1888-5th April, 1893.

The tenth Parliament opened on 12th June, 1888, and the Griffith Ministry gave place to that of Sir Thomas McIlwraith. Only ten public measures were pa.s.sed, however, exclusive of appropriations.

The struggle of the session arose on the Customs Bill, imposing protectionist duties, and increasing the complexity of the tariff. On entering Parliament in 1874, Mr. Macrossan had earnestly demanded, on behalf of the Northern miners, effectual anti-Chinese legislation, but the att.i.tude of the Imperial Government compelled the Queensland Parliament to proceed warily. In 1877 an Act was pa.s.sed requiring the master of any s.h.i.+p to pay 10 for each Chinese pa.s.senger landed, and forbidding more than one to every 10 tons burthen, a penalty of 10 being imposed in each case of breach. In 1884 the number to be introduced was further restricted to one Chinese for each 50 tons, with a landing payment of 30, and 30 penalty for each landed in excess of the prescribed number. In 1888 the representatives of the various Australasian Governments met at Sydney, as, owing to the unwillingness of the Imperial Government to give the Royal a.s.sent to the legislation desired, there was doubt as to whether a measure pa.s.sed by an individual colony would be a.s.sented to. The conference agreed to a bill, and the Queensland Parliament pa.s.sed it in 1888, but it did not become law until February, 1890. It placed the limitation at one Chinese pa.s.senger to every 500 tons registered, made the penalty on the master 500 for every Chinese landed in excess of the number, and, in default of payment, twelve months' imprisonment, and 100 for a master failing to report at the Customs. For failure to supply a correct list of Chinese pa.s.sengers the master rendered himself liable to a penalty of 200 for each act of default, and 30 for permitting Chinese to land without payment of the landing tax. A Chinaman landing illegally, either overland or by s.h.i.+p, was himself liable to a penalty of 50, and, in default of payment, to six months'

imprisonment. A comprehensive Railways Act was pa.s.sed, its main object being to entrust the control of the railways to three Commissioners.

The other measures were not of permanent interest.

The session of 1889, under the Morehead Administration, was more productive. The Totalisator Restriction Act was among the measures pa.s.sed, as was also the Trustees Act. The Civil Service Act, which embodied superannuation provisions on the basis of a 4 per cent.

contribution from salary, was pa.s.sed, but the superannuation sections were repealed in 1894 chiefly because of the representations of junior officers who alleged that the system was unjust. The Payment of Members Act repealed the Members' Expenses Act of 1886, and under it members were paid an annual salary of 300. The session was also notable by reason of the pa.s.sage of the Defamation Act, introduced by Sir S. W. Griffith as a private member, by which journalists were relieved of the Algerine law under which their profession had previously been carried on.

The session of 1890 was marked by the formation of the Griffith-McIlwraith Ministry, and the pa.s.sing of twenty-seven Acts, many of importance, one of them being the Married Women's Property Act. The dividend duty was first imposed in this session, and sketching fortifications was made a penal offence; but the more important measures of this year are elsewhere noticed.

In the session of 1891 a comprehensive Water Authorities Act, which is still in force, became law. An Act permitting solicitors to do work for their clients by agreement was pa.s.sed, as was also an Act for the better protection of women and girls. In all thirty-eight measures, many of them of a legal character, became law in this session. The one of greatest importance was the Australasian Naval Force Act, to which allusion has already been made.

In 1892 thirty-nine Acts were pa.s.sed, among which was one for the treatment and isolation of lepers; others provided for strengthening the law penalising bakers for selling bread under weight; for subsidising railway construction by grants of land; for the establishment of harbour boards, and the levy of harbour dues; for penalising the publication of indecent advertis.e.m.e.nts; for making a person accused of an indictable offence and the wife or husband of such accused person a competent but not a compellable witness for the defence; for raising the Chief Justice's salary to 3,500 with a view to securing the services of Sir S. W. Griffith; for reducing the payment of members of the a.s.sembly to 150 per annum; and for taxing the receipts of totalisators on racecourses, a duty being imposed of sixpence in the pound of money pa.s.sed through the totalisators. A new principle in rabbit legislation was introduced by an Act encouraging pastoral lessees to destroy the pest by granting them an extension of their leases as compensation for their outlay. The Pacific Island Labourers (Extension) Act reversed the decision of Parliament in 1885, and permitted the reintroduction of islanders for work in the sugar industry. The recruiting continued from this date until terminated by the Commonwealth legislation of 1901. This session proved a very long one, the Houses sitting from March till November.

THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT: 26th May, 1893-22nd February, 1896.

The eleventh Parliament was opened on 26th May, 1893, Sir Thomas McIlwraith being then Premier. A Ministerial crisis was produced on the Railway Border Tax Bill, which imposed a duty of 2 10s. per ton on every bale of Queensland wool taken across the border. Ministers tendered their resignations, but the Governor, Sir Henry Norman, declined to accept them. In a minute read in the a.s.sembly, His Excellency expressed the opinion that the vote in question did not const.i.tute a vote of want of confidence in Ministers, and he gave it as his belief that on most questions of importance likely to arise they would have the support of a substantial majority of members of the a.s.sembly. Consequently Sir Thomas McIlwraith continued in office, and both Houses pa.s.sed the bill. It was a retaliatory measure against the New South Wales Railway Commissioners because of the preferential rates conceded by them to draw traffic to Sydney that legitimately belonged to Brisbane. The Meat and Dairy Produce Act became law in this year; also the Sugar Works Guarantee Act, and the Co-operative Communities Land Settlement Act, which proved an utter failure in spite of the pa.s.sing of amending Acts in the two succeeding years.

Various financial measures noticed elsewhere were also pa.s.sed, these last being rendered imperative by the banking crisis which then paralysed industry and commerce. At the end of the session, Sir Thomas McIlwraith's health failing him, he retired from the Premiers.h.i.+p, which was taken by Sir Hugh Muir Nelson.

In 1894 the session opened on 17th July, and one of the most hotly contested measures was the Peace Preservation Bill, introduced in consequence of the disturbances connected with the shearers' strike in the West in 1891, and the apprehension that they would be repeated unless drastic legislation was enacted. Its pa.s.sage was strenuously opposed by the Labour Opposition, and it was only forced through the a.s.sembly by the application of the closure. Violent scenes culminated in the suspension of eight Labour members, the suspension being followed by an appeal by the ejected members to the Supreme Court, when that court decided that Parliament was the only tribunal for determining matters affecting its own jurisdiction. In all thirty-six measures were pa.s.sed, but the majority were either financial or designed to amend existing statutes which caused friction in operation. The effort at this time seemed to be rather to pa.s.s practicable laws than enact measures embodying so-called advanced principles. The most noteworthy of these laws was the Agricultural Lands Purchase Act, which authorised the purchase by the Government of large estates at a cost not exceeding 100,000 in any one year, and the subdivision of the land into farms.

In 1895 thirty-five Acts were the product of the session, and they were generally characterised by the same adaptation of means to ends that was noticeable in the preceding year. In fact, during these two years the colonies were all suffering a recovery which did not incite to heroic legislation for securing the rights of man, including woman.

Deserving of special mention are the Suppression of Gambling Act, and the Railways Guarantee Act which made provision for local authorities guaranteeing the State against loss in connection with the construction and working of railways built under the Act. In consequence of friction between the three Railway Commissioners, an Act was pa.s.sed in this year reducing the number of Commissioners to one, Mr. Mathieson, the Chief Commissioner, being retained. A short measure of considerable value was the Standard Time Act, the object of which was to place Queensland in line with New South Wales and Victoria by adopting the time of the 150th meridian of east longitude as the standard time for the three colonies.

[Ill.u.s.tration: BARRON GORGE, CAIRNS RAILWAY, NORTH QUEENSLAND]

THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT: 17th June, 1896-15th February, 1899.

In 1896 there was a general election, and the new Parliament opened on 17th June. Public confidence had been fairly restored after the financial crisis of 1893, and thirty-five Acts were pa.s.sed, not one of which was of a highly contentious political nature. Even the Factories and Shops Act, introduced by the Government, was supported by the Labour party; indeed, no party or section opposed it, although the compulsory closing of shops at 1 p.m. on Sat.u.r.days throughout an area within the radius of ten miles of the General Post Office excited much individual opposition. Mr. Mathieson having accepted the position of Chief Commissioner of the Victorian railways, an amending Railways Act was pa.s.sed empowering the Governor in Council to appoint a Commissioner for three years, reducing the salary from 3,000 to 1,500, and providing for the appointment of a Deputy Commissioner.

Mr. R. J. Gray, one of the three original Commissioners, was appointed Commissioner, and Mr. Thallon, the present Commissioner, became his deputy. A measure of some importance repealed the existing Payment of Members Act, and made the new Act an integral part of the Const.i.tution, the salary being fixed at 300 a year. The object, as stated by the Government, was to stop the incessant agitation that was carried on in political circles on the one hand for an increase, and on the other for a reduction of the salary.

In the session of 1897, Sir Hugh Nelson being still Premier, thirty Acts were pa.s.sed. There was again a remarkable absence of measures of a party character, most of them being useful amendments of existing laws. Of these the Elections Consolidating Act was important. The Home Secretary, Mr. J. F. G. Foxton, deserves credit for introducing this session the Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act, the first measure for the preservation and care of our fast-disappearing aboriginal blacks. It must be recorded with shame that the Government of Queensland should have allowed so many years to pa.s.s before taking steps to protect the race who had been dispossessed of their heritage from some of the curses attendant on our civilisation. Since 1897 the stigma no longer rests on our fair fame, everything possible being done now to save the natives from extinction. In this year, too, the Mareeba to Chillagoe Railway Act, which has proved very beneficial to the Cairns hinterland, became law.

A comprehensive Land Act, occupying 110 pages of the Statute-book, was pa.s.sed, and also an amending and consolidating Trustees and Executors Act.

The session of 1898--the last of the Parliament--opened on 26th July, and closed on 30th December. The princ.i.p.al work of this session was the pa.s.sage of an amending Mining Act which greatly improved the condition of the working miners. Other measures were an Act to incorporate the Brisbane Technical College, and the Game and Fishes Acclimatisation Act, providing for the proclamation of districts, for an open season, for the issue of game licenses, and the appointment of guardians. Sir Hugh Nelson, in consequence of the death of Sir A.

H. Palmer, had been translated to the Presidency of the Legislative Council, and the Premiers.h.i.+p was a.s.sumed by Mr. T. J. Byrnes on 13th April. Mr. Byrnes died in the following September, and was succeeded by Mr. (afterwards Sir) J. R. d.i.c.kson.

On 1st December, 1899, Mr. d.i.c.kson and his colleagues resigned in consequence of a vote of the a.s.sembly, and for seven days the Dawson Labour Ministry held office, but they were defeated immediately on the rea.s.sembling of the House. In the meantime Mr. Philp had been chosen leader of the Opposition, and on 7th December he returned to power as Premier with most of his old colleagues.

THE THIRTEENTH PARLIAMENT: 16th May, 1899-4th February, 1902.