With the Labor and Liberal parties close to deadlock in the parliament, he granted an early election to the Liberal Premier of Tasmania, Albert Solomon. The Liberals gained an extra seat needed to retain power, but lost one in a subsequent by-election. Ellison-Macartney declined Solomon's request for another dissolution of parliament, and he called upon Labor's John Earle to form government, on the condition that an election be called. With Earle and his ministry sworn in, neither side desired to hold an election so parliament remained in session, with Ellison-Macartney's recommendations over-ridden by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Governor of Western Australia Like Sir Harry Barron before him, and Sir Francis Newdegate after him, Ellison-Macartney was transferred as governor from Tasmania to Western Australia. His term in Western Australia was not a happy one – his critical comments about Tasmanian politicians had made Western Australians wary of his attitude, and he had to deal with the state's post-First World War economic depression and continued objection to his Unionist stance from those supportive of Irish Home Rule. Ellison-Macartney returned to England after a three-year term. He died in Chelsea, London, aged 72. Freemasonry Ellison-Macartney was a freemason. He was initiated into the craft on 6 June 1872 in the Apollo University Lodge No. 357 the day before his twentieth birthday. In 1877, when he returned to Ireland, he became a member of the Lodge Cappagh No. 350 and then of the Concord Lodge No. 332. Finally, he became a founder of the new Border Lodge No. 482 on 25 April 1889. When he was appointed Governor of Tasmania, he agreed to become Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania and was installed on 19 February 1914. He was also made Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Western Australia during his term as the state's governor. He was also a member of the Apprentice Boys of Derry Parent Club, being initiated on the 12th of August 1877. Family Ellison-Macartney was the son of John William Ellison and Elizabeth Phoebe Ellison, née Porter. On 5 August 1897, he married Ettie Myers Scott at Holcombe, Somerset, and they had three children: a son and two daughters. Ettie was the sister of Robert Falcon Scott, the Antarctic explorer. References External links |- 1852 births 1924 deaths High Sheriffs of Antrim Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for County Antrim