Robertson ministry (1877)

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

Fourth Robertson ministry
17th Cabinet of the Colony of New South Wales
Premier Sir John Robertson and the Colony of New South Wales (1863–1900)
Date formed17 August 1877 (1877-08-17)
Date dissolved17 November 1877 (1877-11-17)
People and organisations
MonarchQueen Victoria
GovernorSir Hercules Robinson
Head of governmentSir John Robertson
No. of ministers9
Member partyunaligned
Status in legislatureMinority government
Opposition partyunaligned
Opposition leader
History
Outgoing election1877
PredecessorSecond Parkes ministry
SuccessorFarnell ministry

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

There was no party system in New South Wales politics until 1887. The 1874–75 election had resulted in a challenging environment. Robertson was the leader of the government until March 1877 when he was unable to obtain supply and resigned, replaced by Henry Parkes.[1] The Parkes government however only lasted until 16 August 1877, when Parkes was in turn unable to obtain supply and resigned to be replaced by Robertson.[2]

Under the constitution, ministers were required to resign to recontest their seats in a by-election when appointed.[3] Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested however on this occasion a by-election was required for West Sydney (Sir John Robertson), East Sydney (John Davies), Orange (Edward Combes) and Central Cumberland (John Lackey and William Long). Each minister was comfortably re-elected. Only Thomas Garrett (Camden) and Ezekiel Baker (Goldfields South) were re-elected unopposed.[4]

Garrett had a disagreement with Robertson on the question of the Land Bill and resigned in October,[5] however the resignation was not accepted until 19 November 1877.[6] Garrett was succeeded by Baker, with Archibald Jacob replacing Baker as Secretary for Mines.[7] A by-election was required for The Lower Hunter, but Jacob was comfortably re-elected.[8]

This ministry covers the period from 17 August 1877 until 17 December 1877, when Robertson did not achieve a majority at the December 1877 election.[7][9] Parkes did not obtain a majority either and the subsequent government was formed by James Farnell as a compromise Premier.

Composition of ministry
Portfolio Minister Term start Term end Term length
Premier
Colonial Secretary 		Sir John Robertson 17 August 1877 17 December 1877 122 days
Colonial Treasurer William Long
Minister of Justice and Public Instruction John Lackey
Secretary for Lands Thomas Garrett 19 November 1877 94 days
Ezekiel Baker 20 November 1877 17 December 1877 27 days
Secretary for Mines 17 August 1877 19 November 1877 94 days
Archibald Jacob 20 November 1877 17 December 1877 27 days
Secretary for Public Works Edward Combes 17 August 1877 122 days
Attorney General William Dalley MLC
Postmaster-General John Davies
Vice-President of the Executive Council
Representative of the Government in Legislative Council 		Joseph Docker MLC

Ministers were members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.

See also

References
  1. "Legislative Assembly". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 March 1877. p. 5. Retrieved 18 February 2021 – via Trove.
  2. "In the Legislative Assembly". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 August 1877. p. 4. Retrieved 18 February 2021 – via Trove.
  3. Twomey, Anne (2004). The Constitution of New South Wales. Federation Press. pp. 442. ISBN 9781862875166. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  4. Green, Antony. "1874-75 by-elections". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  5. "Hon. Sir J. Robertson". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 October 1877. p. 6. Retrieved 10 July 2021 – via Trove.
  6. "Mr Thomas Garrett (1830-1891)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  7. "Part 6 Ministries since 1856" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  8. Green, Antony. "1877 Lower Hunter by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  9. Serle, Percival (1949). "Robertson, Sir John (1816–1891)". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson. Retrieved 20 March 2011.

 

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