George Thorn
was the new premier, yet there was little doubt that John Douglas was the
kingmaker, with the former beholden to the latter for advice and
assistance. This is evident when
observing the make-up of the new ministry.
Griffith, the attorney general, was clearly too young at this time to
play a pivotal role (his turn would come later.) The colonial treasurer, James Robert Dickson,
and Robert Muter Stewart, the colonial secretary, had both been in parliament
for less than three years, while Charles Stuart Mein, the postmaster general,
was appointed to the legislative council, the previous year. Thorn himself was first elected to parliament
some four years after Douglas.
It was no
wonder then that Governor Cairns observed that, “the ministry is not a strong
one, but it represents the strongest party.”[1] Douglas
received the position of secretary for public lands. This was considered the most challenging
portfolio “and in that sense it may be considered a post of honor.”[2] Furthermore, Douglas
was considered the “only element of stability or Liberalism” the ministry
possessed.[3]
The Thorn
ministry was constituted on 5
June 1876 , and parliament was immediately prorogued so that its
members could, hopefully, be re-elected.[4] In a speech to his electorate at Maryborough, Douglas focused on land policy, also hinting that the
government’s rail program would probably include the construction of a line
from Maryborough to Gympie, the cost being recouped by the sale of adjoining
land.[5] Being the only nominee, he was duly returned.
The Thorn
ministry faced difficulties throughout the session. Although it survived a vote of no confidence
against it by only three votes on 19 July 1876 , the following day William Henry Walsh
resigned as speaker, unable to “secure for the chair that proper amount of
respect which its occupant should always command.”[6] Not for nothing did Bernays refer to Thorn’s
ministry as “more or less as a humorous production,” while McIlwraith
contemptuously referred to the portly premier as “a lump of blubber.”[7] Short-lived entertainment it may have been,
but Douglas at least was to make the most of
the opportunity afforded him, comprehensively revamping the colony’s land laws.
[1] Governor Cairns to Colonial Office.
Despatch no. 10,188, 14
June 1876 , Australian
Joint Copying project (AJCP) CO
reel no. 1930. For a scathing analysis
of the inability of this ministry to adequately govern the colony, given their
collective lack of experience and business acumen, see the Brisbane Courier, 30
August 1876 , p. 2.
[2] Brisbane Courier, 5 June
1876 , p. 2
[3] Warwick
Argus, 29 June 1876 ,
p. 2
[4] The seats were declared vacant on 7 June 1876 and Douglas and all his ministerial
colleagues were successfully re-elected.
(Queensland Votes and Proceedings,
1876, vol 1, pp. 24 & 27
[5] “Mr. Douglas at
Maryborough.” Brisbane Courier, 26 June 1876 , p. 3; “Maryborough.” Brisbane
Courier, 21 June 1876 ,
pp. 2-3 & Brisbane Courier, 2
August 1876 , p. 2
[6] Joyce (1984), p. 44. Walsh
was replaced by Henry Edward King.
[7] Bernays, p. 79; Thomas McIlwraith to Robert Watson, 12 June 1876 . McIlwraith / Palmer Papers, John Oxley
Library, State Library of Queensland, OM 64-19/138
