Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/332

 306 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Hon. sir J. C. Bray Hill Sir John Bray's heart was in politics. He possessed the gifts of a clever parliamentary debater, with the powers of a leader and of a sturdy fighter. As a young man, he was so successful in debating societies that complimentary references were continually appearing in the press concerning his " promising career." In the year following his admission to the Bar he entered the House of Assembly as representative of East Adelaide, and he held the suffrage of that electorate for 20 successive years, in itself an incontrovertible indication of his reputation as a politician. From the first, Sir John won an established place as a debater ; and as his experience became more extensive, he gradually forged a way to the forefront. Four years after entering Parliament, in March, 1875, he became Minister of Justice and Education in the Blyth Administration, in succession to Mr. Justice Bundey. This was the beginning of his Ministerial career, and he aggregated over eight years in office. He held a position in six Cabinets, being Premier in one Government for about three years. As a Minister of the Crown, Sir John at once became popular, as well among the officers under him as among his colleagues and the private members of the House. Indeed, it might be said that those who were his most vigorous opponents were as much his friends as those who looked upon his politics as bound to save the country. Very soon after Mr. Bray had joined the Blyth Ministry, it was defeated by Mr. Boucaut (now Sir James Penn Boucaut) ; but in June, 1876, Mr. Boucaut retired, and Sir John Colton, who had been Treasurer in the Ministry of June, 1875, was entrusted with the task of forming a new combination. Sir John Bray became Attorney-General, and he held office from June 6, 1876, to October 26, 1877. Succeeding Sir John Colton as Premiers were Mr. Boucaut and Sir William Morgan. This was a period of political storm, and he who rode upon it the highest was the indefatigable and spirited Mr. Boucaut, whose initiative and example supplied fire and fierceness to the Parliamentary debates. In the storm and stress of Australian politics there are no clearly defined permanent parties as such are understood in old countries. The growth of population and the rapidity with which the conditions alter necessitate periodical changes of political tactics, and thus it comes about that those who may be of identical views in one year are, a year or two later, unrelenting opponents. Ministries are, as a rule, short-lived ; parties are quickly demolished, formed and re-formed, and the inveterate political enemies of to-day become the bosom friends of to-morrow. The Boucaut Cabinet lasted for twelve months, and then the Morgan Cabinet enjoyed nearly three years' term of office — a period of reaction after the previous stress. In March, 1881, Sir William Morgan's Ministry was reconstructed; in June it left office. Then followed unique circumstances in the Province, which resulted in Sir John Bray rising to the dignity of Premier. First the Hon. G. C. Hawker was asked to form a new Cabinet, and declined. Then Sir John Colton was approached, but he also refused, and advised that .Sir John Bray be entrusted with the task. Sir John accepted the undertaking, and on June 24, 1881, he entered into office as Premier and Chief Secretary, having as colleagues Sir John Downer, the Hon. Alfred Catt, the Hon. J. L. Parsons, and the late Hons. L. Glyde and J. G. Ramsay. Sir John Bray thus became the first native-born Premier of South Australia — a distinctive honor which was well deserved. He had already been the second South Australian to hold a seat in a Cabinet, Sir R. C. Baker in the Hart Administration being the first in this respect.