Henry Daglish

Henry Daglish (18 November 1866 – 16 August 1920) was an Australian politician who was the sixth premier of Western Australia and the first from the Australian Labor Party, serving from 10 August 1904 to 25 August 1905. Born in Ballarat, Victoria, Daglish studied at the University of Melbourne. In 1882, he worked as a mechanical engineer, but soon switched to working in the Victorian public service. He first stood for election in 1896, but was unsuccessful in winning the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Melbourne South. He then moved to Subiaco, Western Australia, gaining work as a chief clerk in the WA Police Department. In 1900, Daglish was elected to the Subiaco Municipal Council. On 24 April 1901, Daglish was elected as the member for the newly created seat of Subiaco, becoming one of six Labor members in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. He was elected by the party as its whip, and he tendered his resignation from the Subiaco council on 1 May 1901. On 1 December 1902, he was sworn in as mayor of Subiaco, having been elected the previous month.

Henry Daglish
6th Premier of Western Australia
In office
10 August 1904 – 25 August 1905
MonarchEdward VII
GovernorSir Frederick Bedford
Preceded bySir Walter James
Succeeded byHector Rason
Colonial Treasurer
In office
10 August 1904 – 25 August 1905
PremierHimself
Preceded byHector Rason
Succeeded byHector Rason
Minister for Education
In office
10 August 1904 – 7 June 1905
PremierHimself
Preceded byWalter Kingsmill
Succeeded byThomas Bath
Leader of the Opposition
In office
25 August 1905 – 27 September 1905
PremierHector Rason
Preceded byNew office
Succeeded byWilliam Johnson
Leader of the Labor Party in Western Australia
In office
8 July 1904 – 27 September 1905
Preceded byRobert Hastie
Succeeded byWilliam Johnson
Minister for Works
In office
16 September 1910 – 3 October 1911
PremierFrank Wilson
Preceded byFrank Wilson
Succeeded byWilliam Johnson
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for Subiaco
In office
24 April 1901 – 3 October 1911
Preceded byNew seat
Succeeded byBartholomew James Stubbs
Personal details
Born(1866-11-18)18 November 1866
Ballarat, Victoria, British Empire
Died16 August 1920(1920-08-16) (aged 53)
Subiaco, Western Australia, Australia
Resting placeKarrakatta Cemetery
NationalityBritish subject
Political partyLabor (1901–1905)
Independent Labour (1905–1908)
Liberal (1908–1911)
Spouse(s)Edith Ann (née Bishop)
Children2
Parent(s)William Daglish
Mary Ann (née James)
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne
OccupationMechanical engineer, public servant, trade union official, real estate agent[1]

At the 1904 state election, Labor won 22 out of the Legislative Assembly's 50 seats, making it the party with the most seats. On 8 July 1904, Daglish was elected by the Labor Party caucus as the party's leader. Daglish successfully moved a motion of no confidence in the government of Walter James on 10 August, and so James resigned as premier. Daglish was then sworn in as premier of Western Australia, colonial treasurer and minister for education by Governor Frederick Bedford. His keynote speech on 23 August was poorly received, with militant Labor supporters seeing him as giving up on Labor policies. In parliament, he struggled to get anything done due to a hostile Legislative Council, with his one major success being the passing of a new Public Service Act. A cabinet reshuffle in June 1905 decreased Daglish's popularity within the Labor Party, however he defeated a motion of no confidence later that month at a caucus meeting. He eventually resigned as premier on 22 August 1905 when his plan to buy the Midland Railway Company for £1.5 million was unsuccessful in passing parliament. Hector Rason succeeding him as premier on 25 August.

On 27 September 1905, Daglish resigned as leader of the Labor Party. He then left the party, becoming an independent. He was again elected Mayor of Subiaco on 5 June 1907, serving in the position until 1908. From 20 August 1907 to 16 September 1910, Daglish held the position of Chairman of Committees. From 16 September 1910 to 3 October 1911, he was the minister for works in Frank Wilson's Liberal government. At the October 1911 election, Daglish lost his seat in parliament to Labor candidate Bartholomew James Stubbs. He was unsuccessful in regaining the seat at the 1914 state election. Daglish died at his home in Subiaco on 16 August 1920. He has Daglish railway station and the suburb of Daglish, Western Australia, named after him.

Early life

Henry Daglish was born in Ballarat, Victoria, on 18 November 1866, to Mary Ann (née James) and William Daglish, an engine driver. He studied in Geelong and then attended the University of Melbourne in 1881. He then gained a mechanical engineering apprenticeship at a foundry in 1882,[2][1][3] but a year later, he left engineering to join the public service as a clerk in the Victorian Police Department.[2][1][4]

On 20 August 1894, Daglish married Edith May Bishop in Carlton, Victoria, with whom he had one son and one daughter.[2][1] With an increasing interest in the labour movement, Daglish was the secretary of the United Public Service Association by June 1895. In September 1895, he went into business.[2][1]

In 1895 and 1896, Daglish was a member of the Anti-Sweating League, a group campaigning against the poor conditions endured by sweatshop workers.[5][6] In 1896, Daglish stood in a by-election for the seat of Melbourne South in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, receiving just 34 of the 2,192 total votes.[4][7] Later the same year, Daglish moved to Western Australia after taking an offer of £200 to resign from the recession hit Victorian public service, settling in the working class suburb of Subiaco, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) west of the capital Perth.[8]: 116  He wrote a letter to Premier John Forrest requesting work in the WA public service. He was offered and accepted a position as assistant to the chief clerk in the WA Police Department in 1897.[2][1][4] He eventually resigned, and entered business as an auctioneer, accountant and legal manager.[2][4]

Political career

In November 1899, Daglish unsuccessfully stood for election to the Central Ward of the Subiaco Municipal Council.[9] The following year, he was elected unopposed to the South Ward of the Subiaco Municipal Council,[10] his term starting on 1 December 1900.[2]

Daglish resigned from the public service in 1901 in order to contest as a Labor Party candidate the newly created seat of Subiaco in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, the lower house of the Parliament of Western Australia.[1][3] On 24 April 1901, Daglish was elected to that seat with the largest majority in the state, and he became the whip of the Labor Party. The party had only six members and, aside from Daglish, all represented seats in the Goldfields region and had no administrative experience.[1] Daglish tendered his resignation from the Subiaco council on 1 May 1901.[11]

One of Daglish's successes in his first term is the carrying of his motion in favour of an eight hour working day for the Railway Department.[5][6] He was also successful in stopping the spending of money to help public servants immigrate from England, instead spending the money on assisting Western Australian workers migrate their families over from the eastern states. He has also advocated for the non-alienation of crown lands and the introduction of a comprehensive system of old age pensions.[5]

In November 1902, Daglish was elected unopposed as the Mayor of Subiaco.[12] He was sworn in on 1 December 1902 by Walter James, the premier of Western Australia. The Premier had beforehand made a speech exhibiting much praise on Daglish.[13] He was elected Mayor unopposed again the following year.[14]

Daglish was appointed to the Kings Park Board in his capacity as the member for Subiaco in October 1902.[15] In January 1903, Daglish joined the Perth Hospital Board, the board in charge of managing the Perth Public Hospital (now known as Royal Perth Hospital).[16] On the board, he "earned a reputation for shouldering the real or fancied troubles of dissatisfied ex-patients".[5] He was also a member of the Lake Monger Board and the Karrakatta Cemetery Board.[5]

Premier of Western Australia

In August 1903, the Labor Party withdrew support for the ministry of Premier Walter James. A state election occurred in July 1904, at which the Labor Party won 22 out of a possible 50 seats in the Legislative Assembly, making it the party with the most seats there.[1] However, the party did not have any members in the Legislative Councill (the upper house).[17]: 18  Daglish was re-elected with 79% of Subiaco's vote.[4] James, who was not a member of any party, continued on as premier following the election.[1] On 8 July 1904, Daglish was elected by the Labor Party caucus as the party's leader, with the previous leader Robert Hastie declining to nominate as leader. Daglish's only opponent in the poll was George Taylor, and newspapers reported that the vote was almost unanimously for Daglish.[18] The party did not decide at the meeting whether it was going to seek office.[19] When Daglish was elected Labor leader, the Sunday Figaro, a newspaper in Kalgoorlie, said he was "certainly one of the best debaters in the Legislative Assembly. He is a quiet, deliberate speaker, given more to argument than declamation, bearing in this respect a likeness to [Prime Minister Chris Watson]".[6]

Daglish successfully moved a motion of no confidence on 10 August, and so James resigned as premier. Daglish was then sworn in as premier of Western Australia, colonial treasurer and minister for education by Governor Frederick Bedford.[20] He was the first premier of Western Australia from the Labor Party,[4] and at 37 years of age, the youngest premier of Western Australia at the time and the fourth youngest to this day.[21] The rest of Daglish's Cabinet was sworn in the same day, with his party granting him the freedom to choose his own cabinet.[20] Due to requirements that at least one minister be from the Legislative Council, Daglish invited John Drew, an unaligned politician, into the ministry, resulting in criticism from within his own party.[17] Despite becoming premier, Daglish did not move from Subiaco to a more well off area like many other premiers.[8]: 116  Immediate problems that presented themselves to Daglish were the state's poor financial situation and an inexperienced cabinet made up of unions hostile to each other.[1]

A speech delivered by Daglish on 23 August at Kings Hall, Subiaco, was poorly received, with militant Labor supporters seeing him as giving up on Labor policies. He said the state's finances were in a bad position and so expenditure was to be reduced. His use of the phrase "mark time policy" was later made fun of by newspapers and so his government became known as the "mark time government".[1][17]: 18  In the same speech, Daglish proposed for a referendum on abolishing the Legislative Council, a bill to introduce old age pensions for those over 60 years old and who had lived in the state for 10 years, the introduction of land tax with exemptions for properties valued below £1,000 (with the land value determined by the owner), granting greater job security for public servants, establishing a Department of Labor for the administration of workplace relations legislation, amending the Truck Act, and amending the Companies and Mining legislation so that there is at least two local directors for all companies conducting business in Western Australia and to prevent monopolies. Concerns with Daglish's speech included that he had not stated a clear policy for unemployment and that the tax exemption for land worth below £1,000 was a "violation of the Labor platform".[17]: 18 [22] A few days later, Daglish said that "we have never, as a Labor Party advocated the abolition of the Legislative Council"[23]

The Legislative Council prevented much of what Daglish wanted to get done, with the government's one major change being the passing of a new Public Service Act.[1] Daglish did not contest the November 1904 Subiaco municipal election, and he was succeeded as Mayor by John Henry Prowse.[24]

Daglish reshuffled his cabinet on 7 June 1905, making Thomas Bath the minister for education, leaving himself with the roles of premier and colonial treasurer. Patrick Lynch was also added to cabinet, with George Taylor and John Holman demoted in a clumsily executed manner. The cabinet reshuffle caused a split in the Labor Party, with Daglish's opponents saying that he acted towards his colleagues in a high handed and humiliating manner.[25][26] On 18 June, The Sunday Times wrote that "it has taken the Labor Party in politics–and in Parliament–nearly a year to find out that its leader is not in every particular, fully qualified to hold responsible office".[27] Daglish defeated a motion of no confidence 14–3 at a meeting of the Labor caucus on 26 June.[28]

After this, the government created a plan to buy the Midland Railway Company for £1.5 million, but opponents criticised the price for being too high. Daglish was unsuccessful in getting approval from parliament on 17 August.[1] On Monday, 22 August, the Daglish Ministry resigned. The governor gave Hector Rason until the end of the week to form a cabinet.[29] On 25 August, the governor accepted the resignations of Daglish and his ministry, and appointed Hector Rason and the Rason Ministry to replace them.[30]

After premier

On 27 September, Daglish resigned as leader of the Labor Party.[31] William Johnson was elected leader of the Labor Party on 4 October.[32] Daglish subsequently left the Labor Party,[33] styling himself as an Independent Labor politician.[2][1] Rason called an early election for 27 October 1905. At the election, the Labor Party lost eight seats. Daglish, however, narrowly won his seat.[1] The failure of Daglish's government caused the Labor Party to be more careful in selecting candidates and use more discipline.[34]

On 5 June 1907, Daglish was again elected Mayor of Subiaco,[35] following the resignation of the previous Mayor, Austin Bastow.[36] He was sworn in on 12 June 1907.[37] He was re-elected unopposed in November 1907,[38] and did not re-contest in 1908.[39]

From 20 August 1907 to 16 September 1910, Daglish held the position of Chairman of Committees. From 16 September 1910 to 3 October 1911, he was the minister for works in Frank Wilson's Liberal government.[2][3] At the October 1911 election, Daglish lost his seat in parliament to Labor candidate Bartholomew James Stubbs. At the following election in 1914, Daglish stood unsuccessfully for the seat of Subiaco.[2]

Outside politics

From c. 1902 to 1906, Daglish was the president of the Subiaco Football Club. He served as president of the Subiaco Football Club again in 1911.[40][41] From 1912, Daglish worked as an estate agent. In March 1912 he was appointed the employers' representative in the Court of Arbitration, in which he continued with until his death.[2][1][3]

Death and legacy

Having been ill for several months, Daglish travelled to Melbourne in 1920 for further medical treatment. There, he had an operation and was told that he had malignant cancer.[42] He returned to Perth, arriving on 12 August. Daglish died at his home in Subiaco on 16 August 1920,[1][3] and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.[1] He was survived by his wife Edith, who died on 28 May 1946, aged 71, and his two children.[43][44]

Daglish railway station, which opened in 1924 on the western edge of Subiaco, was named after Daglish.[45][46]: 32  The suburb of Daglish, adjacent to the railway station, was also named after Daglish. The Subiaco house in which Daglish lived in from 1908 is heritage listed.[47]

See also

References
  1. Gibbney, H. J. (1981). "Daglish, Henry (1866–1920)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  2. "Henry Daglish". Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  3. "Death Of Mr. H. Daglish". Western Mail. 19 August 1920. p. 16. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Premiers - Constitutional Centre of Western Australia exhibition". Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  5. "The New Labour Leader". The West Australian. 12 July 1904. p. 3. Retrieved 7 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Labor Ministers". Sunday Figaro. 14 August 1904. p. 5. Retrieved 7 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Intercolonial News". The Daily News. 8 June 1896. p. 6. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. Spillman, Ken (1985). Identity Prized : A History of Subiaco. University of Western Australia Press. ISBN 0-85564-239-4.
  9. "Subiaco". The Inquirer And Commercial News. 24 November 1899. p. 13. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Municipal: The Annual Elections". The Daily News. 20 November 1900. p. 2. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Subiaco Municipal Council". The West Australian. 3 May 1901. p. 6. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "Subiaco". Western Mail. 15 November 1902. p. 18. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "Subiaco". Western Mail. 6 December 1902. p. 10. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. "Municipal Elections". The West Australian. 11 November 1903. p. 5. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. "Personal". The West Australian. 13 October 1902. p. 5. Retrieved 7 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. "News And Notes". The West Australian. 16 January 1903. p. 4. Retrieved 7 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. Oliver, Bobbie (2003). Unity is strength : a history of the Australian Labor Party and the Trades and Labor Council in Western Australia, 1899-1999. API Network, Australia Research Institute, Curtin University. ISBN 1920845011. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  18. "The Political Situation". The West Australian. 9 July 1904. p. 7. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. "Interview With Mr Daglish". Western Mail. 16 July 1904. p. 15. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. "The Political Situation". The West Australian. 11 August 1904. p. 5. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. Black, David (2014). "The Western Australian Parliamentary Handbook" (PDF). Parliament of Western Australia. p. 240. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016.
  22. "Policy Speech Points". Western Mail. 27 August 1904. p. 32. Retrieved 21 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. "Policy Points". The North Coolgardie Herald. 31 August 1904. p. 10. Retrieved 21 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. "Subiaco". The Guardian : Suburban And Municipal Recorder. 19 November 1904. p. 2. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. Reid, G.S.; Oliver, M.R. (1982). The premiers of Western Australia, 1890-1982. Nedlands, W.A.: University of Western Australia Press. pp. 33–34. ISBN 0855642149.
  26. "The Daglish Ministry Reconstructed". The Southern Cross Times. 10 June 1905. p. 3. Retrieved 6 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. "The Discovery Of Daglish". The Sunday Times. 18 June 1905. p. 4. Retrieved 7 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. "A Labour Crisis". The Register. 28 June 1905. p. 6. Retrieved 7 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. "Political". Bunbury Herald. 23 August 1905. p. 2. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. "The Political Outlook". The West Australian. 26 August 1905. p. 7. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. "Labor Caucus". The Southern Cross Times. 30 September 1905. p. 2. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. "The Labour Party". Western Mail. 7 October 1905. p. 33. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  33. "Mr. Daglish". Coolgardie Miner. 10 October 1905. p. 3. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  34. Gregory, Jenny; Gothard, Jan (2009). Historical Encyclopedia of Western Australia. University of Western Australia Press. p. 111. ISBN 9781921401152.
  35. "Personal". Coolgardie Miner. 8 June 1907. p. 3. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  36. "Mayor Bastow and Councillor Vickers". The Guardian : Suburban And Municipal Recorder. 18 May 1907. p. 3. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. "Personal". The Evening Mail. 13 June 1907. p. 2. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  38. "Municipal Elections". The Sunday Times. 1 December 1907. p. 5. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  39. "Subiaco Sanitary Site". The West Australian. 3 December 1908. p. 3. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  40. "Past Club Staff - Subiaco FC". Subiaco Football Club. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  41. "Subiaco Oval". inHerit. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  42. "Personal". Daily Telegraph And North Murchison And Pilbarra Gazette. 29 July 1920. p. 2. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  43. "Mrs. Daglish Dies". The Daily News. 29 May 1946. p. 12. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  44. "Woman's Realm". The West Australian. 29 May 1946. p. 3. Retrieved 21 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  45. "Photo F. W. Flood". Western Mail. 3 July 1924. p. 29. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  46. Bizzaca, Kristy (February 2014). "City of Subiaco Thematic History and Framework" (PDF). City of Subiaco. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  47. "House". inHerit. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
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