Reid ministry (original) (raw)

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4th Australian government ministry

Reid ministry
4th Ministry of Australia
Group photo of the Reid ministry with Governor-General Lord Northcote.
Date formed 17 August 1904
Date dissolved 5 July 1905
People and organisations
Monarch Edward VII
Governor-General Lord Northcote
Prime Minister George Reid
No. of ministers 8
Member party Free Trade
Status in legislature Minority government (Protectionist support)
Opposition party Labour
Opposition leader Chris Watson
History
Legislature term 2nd
Predecessor Watson ministry
Successor Second Deakin ministry

The Reid ministry (Free Trade) was the 4th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 4th Prime Minister, George Reid. The Reid ministry succeeded the Watson ministry, which dissolved on 17 August 1904 after the Protectionist Party withdrew their support and Chris Watson was forced to resign. Due to having to rely on the Protectionists to retain office, half of the ministry was forced to accommodate conservative Protectionists - leading to the government to sometimes be referred to as the Reid-McLean Ministry. The ministry was replaced by the Second Deakin ministry on 5 July 1905 after the Protectionists withdrew their support and returned to office with the support of the Labour Party.[1]

James Drake, who died in 1941, was the last surviving member of the Reid ministry; Drake was also the last surviving minister of the Barton government and the First Deakin ministry. Sir Josiah Symon was the last surviving Free Trade minister.

Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
Free Trade Rt Hon George Reid KC (1845–1918) MP for East Sydney (1901–1909)
Protectionist Hon Allan McLean (1840–1911) MP for Gippsland (1901–1906)[a]
Free Trade Hon Sir Josiah Symon KCMG KC (1846–1934) Senator for South Australia (1901–1913)
Protectionist Rt Hon Sir George Turner KCMG (1851–1916) MP for Balaclava (1901–1906)[a]
Free Trade Hon Dugald Thomson (1849–1922) MP for North Sydney (1901–1910)
Protectionist Hon James McCay (1864–1930) MP for Corinella (1901–1906)[a]
Free Trade Hon Sydney Smith (1856–1934) MP for Macquarie (1901–1906)
Protectionist Hon James Drake (1850–1941) Senator for Queensland (1901–1906)[a]

  1. ^ a b c d McLean, Turner, McCay and Drake were conservative Protectionist Party members. Their acceptance of office in Reid's ministry, although it had Alfred Deakin's tacit approval, it effectively ended their connection with the Deakinite organisation.

  2. ^ "Ministries and Cabinets". 45th Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 19 February 2018.

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