State Government of Tasmania beginning 14 June 1912 - period in office of Premier Solomon, Albert Edgar ending on 6 April 1914
Period in office of premier (see Glossary entry for 'period in office' and related terms)
Parliamentary support during period
Coalition partner 1
Minority
Loss at by-election
Number of ministers at beginning of period (this may vary during the period)
Assembly elections contested as premier or after which became premier (see Glossary entry for 'after election')
| Election | Premier at election | Premier's party | Premier after election | Premier's party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAS 23 January 1913 | Albert Edgar Solomon | Liberal Party | Albert Edgar Solomon | Liberal Party |
Previous period in this series for TAS | Next period in this series for TAS
Notes
Change of party leader: 'The Liberal party [parliamentary members] met on 5 June, clearly dissatisfied with Lewis's leadership. [N K] Ewing then challenged Lewis, who decided to resign without a contest. Solomon decided he was released from his pledge of loyalty [to Lewis], contested the ballot and defeated Ewing', Weller pp. 378, (see 'References', below). Solomon was then commissioned as Premier.
Defeat in parliament: 'Labor won the Denison by-election in January 1914, and thereafter the House was equally divided 15-15. Evans, the Liberal Speaker, resigned in March and the Labor Party supplied a new Speaker, Woods. Earle then moved a motion of no confidence which was carried 15-14 on 1 April, the Independent member, Whitsitt, now voting with Labor. Solomon sought a dissolution which was refused and then resigned on 3 April', Hughes and Graham, p. 257 (see 'Sources', below).
References: For a description of the style of parliamentary government in this period, see John Reynolds, 'Premiers and Political Leaders', in F C Green (editor), Tasmania: A Century of Responsible Government 1856-1956, pp 208-215, (Hobart: L G Shea, Government Printer, [1956]), and note Terry Newman, Tasmanian Premiers 1856-1988: A Biographical Handbook, (Hobart: Tasmanian Parliamentary Library, [1988]). For the emergence of political parties in Tasmania, see Patrick Weller, 'Tasmania' in P Loveday, A W Martin and R S Parker (editors), The Emergence of the Australian Party System, pp 355-382 (Sydney: Hale & Iremonger, 1977, ISBN 0908094035), and R P Davis, 'Tasmania', in D J Murphy (editor), Labor in Politics: The State Labor Parties in Australia 1880-1920, pp 389-445, (St. Lucia, Qld: University of Queensland Press, 1975, ISBN 0702209392).
For a survey of Solomon's career, see Scott Bennett, 'Solomon, Albert Edgar (1876 - 1914)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 12, p. 11 (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1990), on line at: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A120013b.htm
Sources
'Ministries: Names of the Members of Successive Ministries which have held Office in Tasmania since the inauguration of Responsible Government, together with the Dates of Appointment and Retirement', Journal of House of Assembly, Second Session of the Forty-Fifth Parliament of Tasmania, Anno LIII and LV Eliz II; Session 2 of the 45th Parliament, Volume 251, 2004-2006, (Hobart: Government Printer, Tasmania); Colin A Hughes and B D Graham, A Handbook of Australian Government and Politics 1890-1964, (Canberra: Australian National University Press, 1968, SBN 708102700), and the website of the Parliament of Tasmania, http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/