march of empires war of lords alliance treasury

Reid then governed in an uneasy alliance with some Protectionists, notably not Alfred Deakin.Ī large man with a bushy moustache, Reid delighted cartoonists, who made much of his physical appearance and forceful debating style. Reid, who had crusaded against the bill’s ‘socialism’, was commissioned to form a government of Free Traders. The fall of the Watson government occurred when an amendment against its Arbitration Bill was passed. Reid was appointed Prime Minister on 18 August 1904, after the fall of Prime Minister Chris Watson’s minority Labor government, which had lasted just four months. However, dissatisfied with the performance of Reid’s government, Labor withdrew its support in August 1899 and he was forced to resign in September. Since losing electoral ground in July 1898 Reid had relied on Labor support to govern.

Key amendments related to the location of the federal capital and federal–state financial arrangements.ĭuring the period April–September 1899 referenda in all eastern colonies accepted the amended constitution and The Commonwealth Constitution Bill was subsequently passed. On 3–4 June 1898 referenda in South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria returned votes in favour of accepting the constitution, but in New South Wales the majority was insufficient for acceptance.įrom 29 January to 3 February 1899 Reid convened a meeting of premiers which negotiated six amendments to the draft constitution to make it acceptable to New South Wales. Beginning in 1897, the second Federal Convention met three times and completed drafting a federal constitution in 1898. In January 1895 the premiers met in Adelaide and decided to conduct a second Federal Convention. Reid acquired the nickname ‘Yes-No Reid’ for pointing out the draft constitution’s faults from a Free Trade perspective, while at the same time maintaining he supported it. Having reconsidered his views on Federation, in August 1894 he suggested the formation of a second Federal Convention to other colonial premiers. He then served as both Premier and Treasurer for the next five years. Having switched to the King electorate, Reid led the Free Trade group to electoral victory on 17 July 1894.

March of empires war of lords alliance treasury