Tasmanian Liberal League
Tasmanian Liberal League | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Elliott Lewis (1909–1912) Albert Solomon (1912–1914) Norman Ewing (1914–1915) Walter Lee (1915–1917) |
| Founded | 1909 |
| Dissolved | 1917 |
| Preceded by | Southern Tasmanian Progressive League |
| Succeeded by | Nationalist Party |
| Ideology | Liberalism Anti-socialism |
| Political position | Right-wing |
The Tasmanian Liberal League was a political party in the Australian state of
Background
Tasmania was the last Australian state to develop formal political parties, both in terms of
Formation
In March 1908, a Farmers' and Stockowners' Association (FSA) was founded with three members of the Legislative Council on its executive committee. In a letter to The Mercury in May 1909, its president Andrew Mansell argued that the National Association and Progressive League had failed due to their lack of support in country areas, and called for the formation of a new anti-Labor organisation.[6] The FSA received support from the local branch of the Australian Women's National League, as well as what remained of the Progressive League.[7] A public meeting chaired by William Burgess was held in Launceston on 20 July 1909, where it was resolved to form a statewide anti-socialist organisation. The meeting adopted the name "Tasmanian Liberal League", and subsequently put forward a seven-point platform and a draft constitution.[8] A second meeting was held in Hobart on 4 August, which elected a provisional state council that included three members of the House of Assembly.[9]
Organisational aspects
The new organisation received a boost when Premier Elliott Lewis accepted its presidency, effectively tying together the extra-parliamentary organisation with the anti-Labor parliamentary party. The Liberal League formally absorbed the Progressive League in September 1909. It appointed three professional organisers to tour the state, and by June 1910 was claiming the establishment of 103 branches. The first state conference in June 1911 was attended by delegates from 42 branches,[10] while a second conference in May 1912 was attended by 119 delegates from 86 of the party's 132 branches.[11] Each branch elected delegates to a divisional council, one for each of the five electorates in Tasmania. Each of the divisional councils then nominated four members of the state council, which functioned as the party's executive.[6] Prospective candidates were required to adhere only to the general principles of the party, rather than the entire platform.[10] The party's constitution forbade branches, divisional councils, and state council from putting forward an order of preferences for endorsed candidates. (Under the Hare–Clark system, there were multiple vacancies in each seat, requiring parties to endorse multiple candidates).[12]
Political and electoral aspects
The party faced its first electoral challenges in 1911, winning two by-elections and helping defeat the federal Labor government's
Ewing succeeded Solomon as leader of the Liberal League in October 1914, but was replaced by
Election results
Note: the changes in seats and votes in 1912 are in comparison with the government vote at the 1909 election.
| Year | Seats won | ± | Total votes | % | ±% | Position | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 | 15 / 30
|
 3
|
40,252 | 54.48% |  3.87%
|
Minority government | Elliott Lewis |
| 1913 | 16 / 30
|
1
|
36,157 | 52.58% | 1.90%
|
Majority government | Albert Solomon |
| 1916 | 15 / 30
|
1
|
35,939 | 48.23% | 4.35%
|
Minority government | Walter Lee |
References
- ^ Patrick Weller (1977). "Tasmania". In Peter Loveday; A. W. Martin; R. S. Parker (eds.). The Emergence of the Australian Party System. Hale & Iremonger. p. 361.
- ^ Weller (1977), p. 364.
- ^ Weller (1977), p. 365.
- ^ Weller (1977), p. 368.
- ^ Weller (1977), pp. 361-373.
- ^ a b Weller (1977), p. 374.
- ^ Peter Loveday (1977). "The federal parties". In Peter Loveday; A. W. Martin; R. S. Parker (eds.). The Emergence of the Australian Party System. Hale & Iremonger. pp. 447–448.
- ^ "Anti-socialist party: a Liberal League formed". The Examiner. 20 July 1909.
- ^ "Tasmanian Liberal League". The Mercury. 5 August 1909.
- ^ a b c Weller (1977), p. 375.
- ^ a b Weller (1977), p. 379.
- ^ Weller (1977), p. 377
- ^ Weller (1977), p. 378.
- ^ Scott Bennett (1986). "Lee, Sir Walter Henry (1874–1963)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
- ^ Loveday (1977), p. 444.
- ^ Max Bingham (2006). "The Liberal Party and its twentieth century predecessors". The Companion to Tasmanian History.
- ^ Weller (1977), p. 381.
