Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/350

 324 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Hon. t. piayford al Norton's Summit he evinced an active interest in local government matters, and for 2 1 years was chairman of the East Torrens District Council. He was for three years a member of the Central Road Board, and for five years president of the Association of District Chairmen. The rugged strength of his views caused the electors of Onkaparinga ID return him to the House of Assembly in 1868; and then began one of the most useful and meritorious parliamentary careers enjoyed by any man in South Australia. He served Onkaparinga in two Parliaments, and then spent three years in retirement. In 1875 he was elected for East Torrens, a district which he continuously represented until 1887. In the latter year he was not returned, but was immediately elected for the district of Newcastle, which included Port Augusta. In 1890, however, he returned to his old love — P'ast Torrens — and sat for that constituency until April 17, 1894, when he accepted the appointment of Agent-Cieneral to the Province in London. Soon after his entry into Parliament Mr. Piayford figured as a liberal land reformer, and in this branch of legislation his largest and best work has been done. He actively assisted Mr. Strangways in passing the celebrated Land Bill which gave to farmers the opportunity of taking up land on deferred payments. Upon the retirement of the Hon. V. A. ¥.. West-P>skine, in P'ebiruary, 1876, he became Commissioner of Crown Lands in the Boucaut Administration ; and then followed a series of Ministerial responsibilities, of which, for the sake of reference, we give a connected list. Mr. Piayford was Commissioner of Crown Lands in three of Sir James Boucaut's Administrations — from Eebruary 2 to March 25, 1876; from March 25 to June 6, 1876; and from October 26, 1877, to September 27, 1878. He accepted the same portfolio in the succeeding Government of Sir William Morgan, which remained in power from September 27, 1878, to March 10, 1881 ; and from March 10 to June 24, 1881. He was Commissioner of Public Works under Sir John Colton from June 16, 1884, to February 4, 1885 ; and Commissioner of Crown Lands from February 4 to June 16, 1885. He was Premier and Treasurer from June 11, 1887, to June 27, 1889; and from August 19, 1890, to January 6. 1892; and Premier and Commissioner of Crown Lands from January 6, to June 21, 1892. When the Kingston Government assumed office, on June 16, 1893, he took the portfolio of Treasurer, which he held until his departure for I^ngland, in April, 1894. Altogether the Hon. Thomas Piayford held office for 3,556 days — nearly 10 years — being the longest period up to May 31, 1900, that any member of the .South Australian Parliament has served as a Minister of the Crown. His colleagues in the different ministries were — Right Hons. vSir S. J. Way, Bart., and C. C. Kingston, M.L.C. ; Sir A. Blyth, C.B. ; the Hon.s. Sir J. C. Bray, Sir J. Colton, Sir J. Coles, .Sir R. C. Baker, Sir J. P. Boucaut, Sir J. A. Cockburn, Alfred Catt, J. H. Gordon, G. C. Hawker, F. W. Holder, J. G. Jenkins, C. Mann, W. Morgan, J. G. Ramsay, W. B. Rounsevell. and E. Ward ; and Messrs. M. P. F. Ba.sedow, D. Bews. N. Blyth, W. Copley, W. Everard, H. Gawler, P. P. Gillen, R. Homburg, J. C. F. Johnson, and T. King. After the retirement of the Morgan Government, in 1881, Mr. Piayford, with the late Hon. G. C. Hawker, M.P., and His Honor Judge Bundey, had the title of "Honorable" conferred upon him for life. It is not possible to here give a detailed account of the many legislative successes of Mr. Piayford. They have been as diverse