Members Of The Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1901–1904
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This is a list of members of the
Western Australian Legislative Assembly The Western Australian Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Western Australia, an Australian state. The Parliament sits in Parliament House in the Western Australian capital, Perth. The Legisla ...
between the 1901 election and the 1904 election, together known as the Fourth Parliament. The names of parliamentary groupings, which were not formalised parties, were established prior to the 1901 election, with Ministerialists being those sympathetic to former
Premier Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of governm ...
John Forrest Sir John Forrest (22 August 1847 – 2 SeptemberSome sources give the date as 3 September 1918 1918) was an Australian explorer and politician. He was the first premier of Western Australia (1890–1901) and a long-serving cabinet minister i ...
, and Oppositionists and Independents defined accordingly. With the exit of Forrest from state politics following his successful shift to the federal
Division of Swan The Division of Swan is an Australian electoral division located in Western Australia. Swan is a marginal electorate that has swung between both major political parties in the past two decades. It extends across the Swan River from central P ...
, the Ministerial group was defeated in the election and had no obvious choice of leader, but the Opposition, led by
George Leake George Leake (3 December 1856 – 24 June 1902) was the third Premier of Western Australia, serving from May to November 1901 and then again from December 1901 to his death. Leake was born in Perth, into a prominent local family. Studying l ...
, did not have sufficient numbers to govern in its own right. The failure of the Morgans Ministry in December 1901 after less than a month in office and the unprecedented defeat of three of its Ministers in ministerial by-elections allowed an Opposition-led government with Labour support to govern until the 1904 election with a reasonable level of stability. Therefore, the "Opposition" were in government and the "Ministerial" group was in opposition for most of the period. Bolton and Mozley (1961) introduce the terminology "Forrest party" and "Leake party", but these were not used by either the press or the groupings themselves.


Notes

: Following the failure of the Throssell Ministry on 27 May 1901, a new six-member
Ministry Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian ...
comprising Opposition members led by
George Leake George Leake (3 December 1856 – 24 June 1902) was the third Premier of Western Australia, serving from May to November 1901 and then again from December 1901 to his death. Leake was born in Perth, into a prominent local family. Studying l ...
was formed. These members were therefore required to resign and contest ministerial by-elections. On 19 June 1901, all of them were returned unopposed. : On 20 June 1901, the Ministerial member for West Kimberley,
Alexander Forrest Alexander Forrest Order of St Michael and St George, CMG (22 September 1849 – 20 June 1901) was an explorer and surveying, surveyor of Western Australia, and later also a member of parliament. As a government surveyor, Forrest explored many ...
, died. At the resulting by-election on 23 July 1901, Ministerial candidate
Sydney Pigott Sydney Capel Pigott (25 April 1867 – 29 April 1927) was an Australian businessman and politician who was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1901 to 1904, representing the seat of West Kimberley. Pigott was born i ...
was elected to fill the vacancy. : On 19 September 1901, the Opposition member for North Perth, Richard Speight, died. At the resulting by-election on 5 October 1901, Opposition candidate
George McWilliams George Frederick McWilliams (10 November 1865 – 12 February 1907) was an Australian medical doctor, military surgeon, and politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1901 to 1904, representing the ...
was elected to fill the vacancy. : In mid-December 1901,
Cornthwaite Rason Sir Cornthwaite Hector William James Rason (18 June 1858 – 15 March 1927), better known as Hector Rason, was the seventh Premier of Western Australia. Early life Rason was born in Cleeve, Somerset, in England on 18 June 1858. He was the son ...
, Charles Harper and John Ewing switched allegiance from the Morgans Ministry to the supporters of Leake. (p.2234, Hansard) : The Leake Ministry, following a want of confidence motion moved on 31 October 1901 and passed on 9 November 1901, was replaced on 21 November by a new six-member
Ministry Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian ...
comprising mostly Ministerial members led by
Alf Morgans Alfred Edward Morgans (17 February 1850 – 10 August 1933) was the fourth Premier of Western Australia, serving for just over a month, from 21 November to 23 December 1901. Born in Wales, Morgans trained as an engineer, and supervised mining ...
. These members were therefore required to resign and contest ministerial by-elections. According to Brian de Garis (Stannage, p.348), Leake and his supporters set about "the best organised campaigning the state had ever witnessed" for the by-elections, and three of the ministers— Frank Wilson (
Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
), Legislative Councillor
Matthew Moss Matthew Lewis Moss KC (1 December 1863 – 28 February 1946) was a lawyer and politician who served in the Parliament of Western Australia on three separate occasions – in the Legislative Assembly from 1895 to 1897, and in the Legislative ...
( West Province) and
Frederick Moorhead Frederick William Moorhead KC (1863 – 27 November 1902) was an Australian barrister, politician, and judge. He was born in Ireland and emigrated to Western Australia in 1889. Moorhead was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Austr ...
( North Murchison) were defeated. William Purkiss won
Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
whilst Labour candidate John Holman won North Murchison. Morgans, Quinlan and Nanson retained their seats. : The Morgans Ministry resigned on 20 December 1901 and a new six-member
Ministry Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian ...
comprising Opposition members headed by
George Leake George Leake (3 December 1856 – 24 June 1902) was the third Premier of Western Australia, serving from May to November 1901 and then again from December 1901 to his death. Leake was born in Perth, into a prominent local family. Studying l ...
was appointed three days later. These members were therefore required to resign and contest ministerial by-elections—four of them for the second time in seven months. All were returned on 7 January 1902—Illingworth and Gregory unopposed, the others winning against independent candidates. : In May 1902, the Ministerial member for Claremont,
William Sayer William Frederic Sayer KC (3 December 1857 – 26 February 1943) was an Australian lawyer and politician who was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1901 to 1902. He was attorney-general in the short-lived governmen ...
, resigned. At the resulting by-election on 11 June 1902, Opposition candidate
John Foulkes John Charles Griffiths Foulkes (22 March 1861 – 4 December 1935) served in both houses of the Parliament of Western Australia, as a member of the Legislative Council from 1894 to 1896 and as a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1902 to ...
was elected. : On 24 June 1902, the
Premier Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of governm ...
and member for West Perth,
George Leake George Leake (3 December 1856 – 24 June 1902) was the third Premier of Western Australia, serving from May to November 1901 and then again from December 1901 to his death. Leake was born in Perth, into a prominent local family. Studying l ...
, died unexpectedly at the age of 45. The Independent candidate and former Ministerial member for East Coolgardie, Charles Moran, won the resulting by-election on 14 July 1902. : Following the death of Premier Leake, a new
Ministry Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian ...
led by Leake supporter
Walter James Walter may refer to: People * Walter (name), both a surname and a given name * Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968) * Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born 1 ...
was appointed on 1 July 1902. Most of the ministers under Leake continued, so only
Walter James Walter may refer to: People * Walter (name), both a surname and a given name * Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968) * Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born 1 ...
(
East Perth East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sunrise, Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from ...
) and James Gardiner ( Albany were required to resign and contest ministerial by-elections. Both were returned unopposed on 11 July 1902. : On 1 July 1902,
William James George William James George CMG (26 January 1853 – 10 March 1931) was an Australian engineer and politician who served in the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1895 to 1902 and from 1909 to 1930. He was a minister in the governments of ...
, the member for
Murray Murray may refer to: Businesses * Murray (bicycle company), an American manufacturer of low-cost bicycles * Murrays, an Australian bus company * Murray International Trust, a Scottish investment trust * D. & W. Murray Limited, an Australian who ...
, resigned. At the resulting by-election on 16 July 1902, Independent candidate William Atkins was elected. : On 29 September 1902, the Labour member for Hannans,
John Reside John Reside (19 August 1867 – 28 September 1902) was an Australian trade unionist and politician who was a Labor Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1901 until his death, representing the seat of Hannans. Res ...
, died. Labour candidate
Thomas Bath Thomas Henry Bath, CBE (21 February 1875 – 6 November 1956) was an Australian politician, trade unionist, newspaper editor, writer, and cooperativist. A member of the Labor Party, he served as a Member of the Western Australian Legislative ...
was returned unopposed in the resulting by-election on 15 October 1902. : On 17 February 1903,
John Marquis Hopkins John Marquis Hopkins (1870 – 3 July 1912) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, representing Boulder from 1901 to 1905 and Beverley from 1908 to 1910. He had been mayor of Boulder from 1 ...
, the member for
Boulder In geology, a boulder (or rarely bowlder) is a rock fragment with size greater than in diameter. Smaller pieces are called cobbles and pebbles. While a boulder may be small enough to move or roll manually, others are extremely massive. In c ...
, was appointed as Minister for Lands. He resigned to contest the ministerial by-election, but was returned unopposed on 25 February 1903. : On 12 February 1903, the Opposition member for
Pilbara The Pilbara () is a large, dry, thinly populated region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Aboriginal peoples; its ancient landscapes; the red earth; and its vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore. It is also a glo ...
,
Walter Kingsmill Sir Walter Kingsmill (10 April 1864 – 15 January 1935) was an Australian politician who served as a Senator for Western Australia from 1923 to 1935. He was President of the Senate from 1929 to 1932. Early life Kingsmill was born on 10 Ap ...
, resigned. At the resulting by-election on 18 March 1903, Independent candidate
James Isdell James Isdell (c. 1849 – 5 October 1919) was an Australian pastoralist and politician who was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1903 to 1906, representing the seat of Pilbara. Isdell was born in Victoria, and ca ...
was elected. : On 24 March 1903, the Ministerial member for
York York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...
,
Frederick Monger Frederick Charles Monger (25 January 1863 – 15 November 1919) was an Australian businessman and politician who was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1892 to 1903 and again from 1905 to 1914, representing the seat ...
, resigned. At the resulting by-election on 6 April 1903, Ministerial candidate R. G. Burges was elected. : In August 1903, the Ministerial member for
North Fremantle North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography. Etymology The word ''north'' is ...
,
Denis Doherty Denis Joseph Doherty (1861 – 23 October 1935) was an Australian businessman, pastoralist and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1897 to 1903, representing the seat of North Fremantle. D ...
, resigned from parliament and returned to England. At the resulting by-election on 26 August 1903, John Ferguson was elected, beating Labor rival James Ives by 6 votes. : On 30 November 1903, the Ministerial member for
Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...
and
Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly The Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly is the presiding officer in the Legislative Assembly. The office has existed since the creation of the Legislative Assembly in 1890 under the '' Constitution Act 1889''. The 31st and cur ...
, Sir
James George Lee-Steere Sir James George Lee Steere (4 July 18301 December 1903) was a Western Australian politician and a prominent member of the ''six hungry families''. Biography Early life James Steere was born on 4 July 1830 in Ockley, Surrey, England. He was t ...
, died. Ministerial candidate John Walter was returned unopposed in the resulting by-election on 11 December 1903. : Note - The Legislative seat of Mt Magnet was originally totally omitted from this list. The seat was occupied by Frank Wallace, previously MLA for the former seat of Yalgoo. - Some other websites in this series also have omitted Mt Magnet for the Electoral period 1901-1904, and have it commencing as an electoral district in 1904


Sources

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