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| politics_the_post_office [2023/10/16 21:40] – [Other aspects of TLM-P's Political Career] judith | politics_the_post_office [2023/11/09 10:59] – judith |
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| TLM-P's periods as Postmaster-General are as follows:\\ | TLM-P's periods as Postmaster-General are as follows:\\ |
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| 1. **1862 - 1 March 1866**: TLM-P's formal notice of appointment appeared in the press in January 1863.((//The Courier//, 17 January 1863, p.6)) After taking up his appointment, he 'immediately set out on a tour of inspection' returning on 6 January 1862. After TLM-P served as Postmaster-General for four years, Parliament voted for the position of Postmaster-General to be again held by a politician. In order to retain his position, on 22 February 1866, the State Governor appointed TLM-P to Queensland's upper house, the [[wp>Queensland_Legislative_Council|Legislative Council]], which was dominated by conservative squatting interests. Such appointments were for life so he remained a member until his death in 31 December 1892.(({{https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/members/former/member-register|Qld parliament former members register}}))\\ | 1. **1862 - 1 March 1866**: TLM-P's formal notice of appointment appeared in the press in January 1863.((//The Courier//, 17 January 1863, p.6)) After taking up his appointment, he 'immediately set out on a tour of inspection' returning on 6 January 1862. After TLM-P served as Postmaster-General for four years, Parliament voted for the position of Postmaster-General to be again held by a politician. In order to retain his position, on 22 February 1866, the State Governor appointed TLM-P to Queensland's upper house, the [[wp>Queensland_Legislative_Council|Legislative Council]], which was dominated by conservative squatting interests. Such appointments were for life so he remained a member until his death in 31 December 1892.(({{https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/members/former/member-register|Qld parliament former members register}})) \\ |
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| | The concept of the Legislative Council was that the Legislative Councillors 'shall be a body of gentlemen of independent means and character, possessing a special aptitude for politics and inspired with a high sense of public duty. They are supposed ... [to be] the best possible substitutes for the hereditary claims to pre-eminence and the inherited capacity for statesmanship, [of the British peerage]'. The //Brisbane Courier// warned that, if they did not live up to this 'standard of political superiority' then they could not 'justify their continued political existence' in a democracy.((28 October 1885))\\ |
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| For a sample entry of one day of his 1862 diary about his work as Postmaster-General, see [[tlm-p_s_diaries|TLM-P's Diaries]]\\ | For a sample entry of one day of his 1862 diary about his work as Postmaster-General, see [[tlm-p_s_diaries|TLM-P's Diaries]]\\ |
| On 3 November 1888, TLM-P was waiting for Parliament to be prorogued. He joined around 20 members and former members for a lunch onboard a boat hosted by Thynne. To his surprise, [[https://www.sclqld.org.au/judicial-papers/judicial-profiles/profiles/csmein|Judge Mein]] 'got up and proposed my health, complimenting me on being in the Chair and other things. It is seldom I am brought prominently out, and felt very much as if it (poking fun) however returned thanks and proposed our host and leader Mr Thynne... very enjoyable day'.\\ | On 3 November 1888, TLM-P was waiting for Parliament to be prorogued. He joined around 20 members and former members for a lunch onboard a boat hosted by Thynne. To his surprise, [[https://www.sclqld.org.au/judicial-papers/judicial-profiles/profiles/csmein|Judge Mein]] 'got up and proposed my health, complimenting me on being in the Chair and other things. It is seldom I am brought prominently out, and felt very much as if it (poking fun) however returned thanks and proposed our host and leader Mr Thynne... very enjoyable day'.\\ |
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| In his 1888 diary (30 October) TLM-P contemplated becoming Chairman of Committees - a possibility due to the illness of 'poor old Roberts', ie [[https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Members/Former-Members/Former-Members-Register/Former-Member-Details?id=1815929287|Daniel Roberts]], who died in 1889. TLM-P mused, 'This would necessitate my return before next Session and if obtained would give me employment, a good reason to live in Brisbane, and salary £500 per annum for very small work; so far just suit me, but whether the restraint and giving up my last Summer in England is not paying dear for a chance.' By 31 July 1889, TLM-P had impressed his peers sufficiently to be appointed Chairman of Committees in the Legislative Council, a post he retained until his death. As Chairman, when Sir Arthur Palmer the President of the Council was absent, TLM-P 'frequently occupied' the position of the Council's President.((Matthew Fox, //The history of Queensland: its people and industries: an historical and commercial review descriptive and biographical facts, figures and illustrations: an epitome of progress//, Brisbane: States Publishing Company, 1919, vol.1, p.173))\\ | In his 1888 diary (30 October) TLM-P contemplated becoming Chairman of Committees - a possibility due to the illness of 'poor old Roberts', ie [[https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Members/Former-Members/Former-Members-Register/Former-Member-Details?id=1815929287|Daniel Roberts]], who died in 1889. TLM-P mused, 'This would necessitate my return before next Session and if obtained would give me employment, a good reason to live in Brisbane, and salary £500 per annum for very small work; so far just suit me, but whether the restraint and giving up my last Summer in England is not paying dear for a chance.' On 7 November 1888, he noted in his diary that 'Palmer seemed to like the idea of my being Chairman of Committees if I would take it, but said that I would have to be back at the opening, this is of course should I not be there another will be appointed and my chance gone in future.'\\ |
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| | Roberts eventually died, still in office as Chairman of Committees in the Legislative Council, on 26 July 1889. On 31 July 1889, TLM-P was subsequently appointed to the position, a post he retained until his death. As Chairman, when Sir Arthur Palmer the President of the Council was absent, TLM-P 'frequently occupied' the position of the Council's President.((Matthew Fox, //The history of Queensland: its people and industries: an historical and commercial review descriptive and biographical facts, figures and illustrations: an epitome of progress//, Brisbane: States Publishing Company, 1919, vol.1, p.173))\\ |
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| This elegant illuminated letter of condolence stressed his friendship with 'most' of his political colleagues, and his status as a Queensland pioneer.((Provenance: ?Glenn M-P?)) {{:mg_1678_copy_rotated.jpg?400|}}\\ | This elegant illuminated letter of condolence stressed his friendship with 'most' of his political colleagues, and his status as a Queensland pioneer.((Provenance: ?Glenn M-P?)) {{:mg_1678_copy_rotated.jpg?400|}}\\ |