authorised private railway construction in the state, but remained in office, supported by Philp's conservative grouping. In late 1908, presaging the Fusion in the Commonwealth Parliament, Kidston's and Philp's parties merged into one anti-Labor force. After several of his former supporters deserted him, Kidston called another election in October 1909, which his Liberal Party won comfortably. After lengthy negotiations, Kidston succeeded in ensuring amendments to the Commonwealth Constitution to provide the States with returned customs and excise revenue. He enacted further electoral reform by redistributing electorate boundaries, abolishing dual-member electorates, and entrenching one vote one value, though that would later be undone through malapportionments by subsequent governments. , he remains the last person to make a comeback as Premier of Queensland after losing the position. In 1911, he resigned to take up a position as President of the Land Court, which he maintained until 1919. He died in October that year in Coorparoo and was buried in South Rockhampton Cemetery. References Further reading Murphy, D J. William Kidston: A Tenacious Reformer. In Murphy D, Joyce R, Cribb M, and Wear, R (Ed.), The Premiers of Queensland pp. 30–69. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press. . Ross McMullin, The Light on the Hill: The Australian Labor Party 1891-1991 External links 1849 births 1919 deaths Premiers of Queensland Scottish emigrants to colonial Australia People from Rockhampton Leaders of the Opposition in Queensland Treasurers of Queensland Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Queensland Australian booksellers 19th-century Australian businesspeople