First Australian Elections

This is the second half of our selection Australian Confederation Proclaimed
from Australasia Old and New by J. Grattan Grey published in 1901.

For works benefiting from the latest research see the “More information” section at the bottom of these pages.

Previously in Australian Confederation Proclaimed.

Time: January 1, 1901
Place: Sydney

The Federation Act passed by the Imperial Parliament gives to the Australian Commonwealth the most extensive powers of self-government, while retaining to the various States of the union absolute control over their own local and internal affairs. It is in all essential particulars the measure adopted by overwhelming majorities of the people in Australia and Tasmania, and their mandate to the delegates taking the measure to Westminster was “the Bill, the whole Bill, and nothing but the Bill.” With one exception, these delegates loyally adhered to their trust — a trust confided to them by the voice of a free and enlightened people desiring the fullest measure of self-government. The public of Great Britain and of Australia are fully acquainted with the persistent attempts made by Mr. Chamberlain and others to weaken that measure of self-government and know that these attempts were defeated one after another by the uncompromising attitude of Mr. Barton, of New South Wales, Mr. Deakin, of Victoria, and some of the other delegates. Had they not been successful, a very awkward situation might have arisen, because the people of Australia were determined upon having their bill, and they viewed with considerable indignation the efforts in the Imperial Parliament to weaken it in a way that would have so materially curtailed their rights and powers of self-government.

It is much to be regretted that anything should have happened to cause friction at the installing stages of the Commonwealth. Everybody in Australia was pleased when Lord Hopetoun was appointed as its first Governor- General. He had been Governor of Victoria for a term and was very popular with the people there. It was believed, therefore, that he would be equally successful and popular in the higher office to which the British Government appointed him; but no one was prepared for the initial mistake he made when he reached Australia to enter upon his new functions. Opinion was unanimous that Mr. Barton, by his strenuous exertions on behalf of federation, and his loyalty to the wishes of the people while in London, had established a claim far above that of anyone else to be entrusted with the formation of the first Federal Government. It was decreed otherwise, and it will take a great deal of explanation to remove the impression in Australia that he was purposely passed over because of the uncompromising attitude he had taken during the passage of the Commonwealth Bill through the Imperial Parliament. Be that as it may, and whether or not Lord Hopetoun acted upon his own. motion or by instructions from the Colonial Office, the public were taken by surprise when Lord Hopetoun sent for Sir William Lyne, and entrusted him with the task of forming the first Federal Ministry.

Sir William Lyne had been one of the strongest opponents of federation, and why he should be the first one sent for to form a cabinet no one could understand, except for the reasons already stated. It is true that he happened at the time to be the Premier of the “mother colony,” as New South Wales is called, and that fact is urged as an ample justification of Lord Hopetoun’s action in the matter. Sir William Lyne had no hand in the business. He recognized at once that Mr. Barton’s claims were superior to his own and lost no time in recommending Lord Hopetoun to send for that gentleman. Mr. Barton was sent for accordingly, and soon succeeded in forming the first Federal ministry. This was composed as follows: Rt. Hon. Edmund Barton, Prime Minister and Exterior Affairs; Hon. Sir W. Lyne, Home Affairs; Hon. Alfred Deakin, Attorney- General and Minister for Justice; Rt. Hon. G. Turner, Treasurer; Rt. Hon. C. C. Kingston, Trade and Customs; Rt. Hon. Sir J. Forest, Postmaster- General; Hon. Sir J. R. Dickson, Minister for Defense.

In forming his Cabinet Mr. Barton selected two Ministers from New South Wales (himself and Sir William Lyne); two from Victoria (Right Hon. Sir G. Turner and the Hon. Alfred Deakin), one from South Australia (Right Hon. C. C. Kingston), one from Queensland (Hon. Sir J. R. Dickson), and one from Western Australia (Right Hon. Sir J. Forest). The Hon. N. E. Lewis, Premier of Tasmania, was included in the Cabinet without portfolio.

The Hon. J. R. Dickson died soon after the formation of this first Federal Ministry. The Hon. J. G. Drake, Queensland’s Postmaster- General and Minister of Education, was appointed Federal Postmaster- General, and in a rearrangement of port folios Sir J. Forest became Minister for Defense.

The birth of the Australian Commonwealth was celebrated amid great rejoicings at Sydney on January 1, 1900 — one hundred twelve years after the arrival of Governor Phillip in Botany Bay. The elections for the Senate and the House of Representatives were held in the various States in accordance with the electoral laws in force in each. The first Parliament met in Melbourne at the beginning of May. The act provides that the capital shall not be situate less than one hundred miles distant from Sydney.

It was Mr. Barton’s intention to postpone consideration of the fiscal policy until a later period, but the free-traders of New South Wales, led by Mr. G. H. Reid, forced the issue, and consequently the first elections, which took place on the 29th and 30th of March, 1901, were upon the question of protection or free trade. Mr. Reid favored a free-trade policy and an arrangement of the tariff for revenue only. Mr. Barton supported a policy of moderate protection, for the establishment and encouragement of local industries as well as those already in existence. Mr. Bar ton also advocated a “white” Australia, meaning that it should be settled by a white population, and that the importation of colored labor from the islands should be discontinued after sufficient notice of its intended discontinuance shall be given to the planters in Queensland and other parts of the continent. This declaration secured for him the support of the labor party; but it is difficult to see how white men will be able to work in tropical parts of Australia, where the heat in summer is very intense.

In analyzing the results of the federal elections, it appears that in the Senate the Government has a majority of about five. In the House of Representatives Mr. Barton secured a solid majority of about a dozen. Even in the free-trade stronghold, New South Wales, the low- tariff members are only six more than those who support a high tariff; while in Victoria (the protectionist State par excellence) the victory of the high-tariff candidates was pronounced, only four out of the twenty-three seats being secured by the free-traders. The most remarkable feature of the elections is the success of the labor party. For the Senate its candidates won eight seats out of a total of thirty- six, and for the House of Representatives sixteen seats out of seventy-five.

The Australian Commonwealth was established under conditions that give promise of a marvelous development and prosperity. The natural resources of Australia are so great and varied, and its mineral wealth apparently so inexhaustible, that it cannot fail to progress by leaps and bounds. It offers so extensive a field for settlement, for farming and pastoral pursuits, and for industrial and commercial enterprise in all their branches, that its present population of four million and a half is certain to be trebled in half the time it has taken it to reach these figures; and, no matter from what standpoint it is regarded, Australia is apparently destined to become one of the great nations of the earth. What stands Australia in good stead on setting out upon its new career of practical independence is that a great spirit of colonial patriotism animates its people; that its public men are able, broad-minded, and progressive, well qualified in every way to assist in the work of nation-building which has begun so auspiciously.

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