Robertson ministry (1875–1877)

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Third Robertson ministry
15th Cabinet of the Colony of New South Wales
Sir John Robertson.jpg Australian states history 13.gif
Premier John Robertson and the Colony of New South Wales (1863–1900)
Date formed9 February 1875 (1875-02-09)
Date dissolved21 March 1877 (1877-03-21)
People and organisations
Head of state Queen Victoria (represented by Sir Hercules Robinson)
Head of government John Robertson
No. of ministers8
Member partyunaligned
Status in legislatureMinority government
Opposition partyunaligned
Opposition leader Henry Parkes
History
Predecessor First Parkes ministry
Successor Second Parkes ministry

The third Robertson ministry was the fifteenth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by John Robertson. It was the third of five occasions that Robertson was Premier. Robertson was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in March 1856.

Contents

The title of Premier was widely used to refer to the Leader of Government, but not a formal position in the ministry until 1920.

There was no party system in New South Wales politics until 1887. Under the constitution, ministers were required to resign to recontest their seats in a by-election when appointed. [1] Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested and on this occasion the ministers were all re-elected unopposed. [2]

In 1876 William Forster was appointed Agent-General for New South Wales in London and was replaced as Colonial Treasurer by Alexander Stuart. [3] In January 1877 Thomas Garrett was accused of bribery in relation to positions within the Department of Lands, and insobriety affecting his capacity to fulfill his responsibilities as minister. [4] Garrett resigned as minister and the government narrowly survived a censure motion by 29 votes to 26. [5] Ezekiel Baker replaced Garrett as Secretary for Lands. [3]

This ministry covers the period from 9 February 1875 until 21 March 1877, when Robertson was unable to obtain supply and resigned when Henry Parkes indicated that he was able to form a government. [3] [6] [7]

Third Robertson ministry 1875 New South Wales Ministry by Samuel Calvert - Illustrated Australian News (1875).jpg
Third Robertson ministry 1875

Composition of ministry

PortfolioMinisterTerm startTerm endTerm length
Premier
Colonial Secretary
John Robertson 9 February 187521 March 18772 years, 40 days
Colonial Treasurer William Forster 7 February 1876363 days
Alexander Stuart 8 February 187621 March 18771 year, 41 days
Minister of Justice and Public Instruction
Representative of the Government in the Legislative Council
Joseph Docker MLC 9 February 18752 years, 40 days
Secretary for Lands Thomas Garrett 5 February 18771 year, 362 days
Ezekiel Baker 6 February 187721 March 187743 days
Secretary for Public Works John Lackey 9 February 18752 years, 40 days
Attorney General William Dalley MLC [lower-alpha 1]
Secretary for Mines John Lucas
Postmaster-General John Burns

Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.

See also

Notes

  1. A member of the Government without a seat in the Executive Council.

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A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Orange on 30 August 1877. The by-election was triggered because Edward Combes had been appointed Secretary for Public Works in the fourth Robertson ministry. Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested however on this occasion, only Thomas Garrett (Camden) and Ezekiel Baker were unopposed. While the other ministers, John Robertson, John Davies, John Lackey and William Long were opposed, all were re-elected.

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Central Cumberland on 31 August 1877 because the seats of William Long and John Lackey were declared vacant as they had been appointed to positions in the fourth Robertson ministry. Long was appointed Colonial Treasurer, and Lackey was appointed Minister of Justice and Public Instruction. Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested however on this occasion, only Thomas Garrett (Camden) and Ezekiel Baker were unopposed. While the other ministers, John Robertson, John Davies and Edward Combes (Orange) were opposed, all were re-elected.

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of West Sydney on 15 July 1877 because Sir John Robertson was appointed Colonial Secretary, forming the fourth Robertson ministry. Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested however on this occasion a poll was required in Central Cumberland, East Sydney, Orange and West Sydney. Each minister was comfortably re-elected. Only Camden and Goldfields South were uncontested.

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Redfern on 9 March 1886 because Arthur Renwick was appointed Minister of Public Instruction in the ministry of Sir Patrick Jennings. Under the constitution, ministers in the Legislative Assembly were required to resign to recontest their seats in a by-election when appointed. Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested and on this occasion a poll was required for Redfern and Bathurst where Francis Suttor was easily re-elected. The 7 other ministers were re-elected unopposed.

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Northumberland on 12 February 1877 because Charles Stevens was insolvent. Stevens had left the colony on an expedition to recover valuable property, including 2,576 ounces of gold from the General Grant, which wrecked off Auckland Island.

References

  1. Twomey, Anne (2004). The Constitution of New South Wales. Federation Press. pp.  442. ISBN   9781862875166 . Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  2. Green, Antony. "1874-75 by-elections". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 "Part 6 Ministries since 1856" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  4. "Legislative Assembly: personal explanation". The Sydney Morning Herald . 31 January 1877. p. 2. Retrieved 10 July 2021 via Trove.
  5. "Legislative Assembly: vote of censure". The Sydney Morning Herald . 2 February 1877. pp. 2–4. Retrieved 10 July 2021 via Trove.
  6. "Legislative Assembly". The Sydney Morning Herald . 22 March 1877. p. 5. Retrieved 18 February 2021 via Trove.
  7. Serle, Percival (1949). "Robertson, Sir John (1816–1891)". Dictionary of Australian Biography . Sydney: Angus and Robertson. Retrieved 20 March 2011.

 

Preceded by
First Parkes ministry
Third Robertson ministry
1875–1877
Succeeded by
Second Parkes ministry