term as Minister for Works, and from November 1914 he served as Minister for Lands and Agriculture. In the assembly, his proposal to build a railway line going North from Esperance, Western Australia rejected. In January 1915, he helped pass the Industries Assistance Act to help farmers whose livelihood had been jeopardized by the recent drought. However, he lost his ministerial portfolio as a result of the Nevanas affair. Moreover, he lost his seat in the assembly to Joseph Davies (1866-1954) as a result of his opposition to the conscription of Western Australians in the First World War. From 1924 to 1930, he served again as MLA for the Electoral district of Guildford in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, and from 1930 to 1940 as MLA for the Electoral district of Guildford-Midland. He also served as Speaker of the Assembly from August 1938 to August 1939, and as Chairman of the parliamentary party from 1924 to 1948. He was a 'state socialist' and rejected the proposed secession of Western Australia. He was a freemason. Personal life On 27 November 1901, he married Jessie Elizabeth Stewart, née McCallum, who had been recently widowed. They had a son and three daughters. Death He died on 26 January 1948, and he was buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth. References 1870 births 1948 deaths People from Whanganui People from Kalgoorlie Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly Australian Freemasons Burials at Karrakatta Cemetery Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Western Australia New Zealand emigrants to Australia