 He was elected to the Legislative Assembly at the 1904 state election for Macquarie, at which time he resigned as Labour Council secretary.However, he was defeated by 65 votes at the 1907 election by Liberal candidate Charles Barton.He then served as secretary of the Dubbo and Gilgandra-based Western Timber Getters Association and its successor the Western Timber Cutters and Carters Association from 1907 to 1910.