Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/261

 Hon F.w Holder ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 235 master the intricacies of State finance with a will, and quickly got hold of the subject. Perhaps South Australia does not possess a more thorough, hardworking administrator, and it was seen by legislators that Mr. Holder had a firm grip on his department. The difficulties of others were to him matters of easy mastery. His first budget speech attracted no litde attention for its conciseness and lucidity, and also for its eloquence — the last an unusual feature in such a connection. Touching upon the various and complicated questions with rapidity, he delivered the whole address almost without consulting a single note, even when d(^aling with large figures. The Cockburn Government remained in office from June 27, 1889, to August 19, 1890, and no member of it gained such a reputation as Mr. Holder — not even the brilliant leader himself. While the succeeding Playford Government occupied the Treasury benches from August, 1890, to June, 1892, Mr. Holder took an active part in the; Opposition, and was eventually appointed Leader. He was also fully occupied in journalistic work, and on Royal Commissions and Select Committees. In these latter branches of political work he evinced great competency. During his first session in Parliament in 1887, he was appointed a member of the Royal Commission on the Land Laws, a subject in which he is as much at home as in finance. In 1888 he was a member of the Select Committee on the Star of Greece shipwreck disaster, and chairman of the Barrier Trade Select Committee. In 1890 he was chairman of the Royal Commission on Intercolonial F"ree Trade, and was a member of the Mails Commission. In 1891 he was appointed to the Pastoral Lands Royal Commission, and in 1892 to the Orroroo Railway Commission. In taking evidence on the.se Commissions, he travelled over a large tract of territory, and on behalf of the Pastoral Lands Commission penetrated into the interior. He was thus seldom disengaged. As Leader of the Opposition he defeated the Playford Ministr- in June, 1892, and on the 21st of the month took office as Premier and Treasurer. His colleagues were Dr. J. A. Cockburn (Chief Secretary), Mr. W. F. Stock (Attorney-General), the late Mr. P. P. Gillen (Commissioner of Crown Lands), Mr. A. D. Handyside (Commissioner of Public Works), and the Hon. J. H. Gordon, M.L.C. (Minister of Education). The state of parties at this time was particurlarly unstable, and the Holder Government had a short and uncomfortable period of office. On the 15th October following, .Sir John Downer became Premier, and Mr. Holder was once more in opposition A coalition of two parties was soon formed, and on Parliament assembling in 1893, Mr. Kingston carried a vote of want of confidence, and on June 16 assumed office, with Mr. Holder as Commissioner of Public Works. In April, 1894, however, Mr. Playford, the Treasurer, was appointed Agent-General, and Mr. Holder returned to his old department. The Kingston-Holder Cabinet continued in office until November 30. 1899, thus far outrunning the record span of .South Australian Governments. During the successive years of drought and depression which marked the term of this Ministry, the Treasurer managed the finances in such a manner as to win the praise and confidence of every side of the House ; and during this period made some useful innovations in the Treasury Department, while the thoroughness displayed in his first term of office has been maintained ever since. To Mr. Holder's initiation many of the reforms passed by the Kingston Government are due ; and he has .sponsored several important pieces of legislation. Q2