Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/392

 o 66 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Mr. v. l. soiomon Government Whip to the second Playford Administration. This office practically embraces the political secretarv.ship of the party in power, and is one of importance when the division bells are ringing on a critical question. The Whip holds the key to the Cabinet, and is responsible for the solidarity of its supporters. The Holder Government succeeded the Playford Ministry, and then, when Sir John Downer's Ministry was formed, Mr. Solomon again became Government Whip. At a later period he declined a portfolio. In June, 1899, he was elected Leader of the Opposition in the House of A.ssembly, and in the December following he was successful in bringing aljout the downfall of the long-lived Kingston Ministry, and himself became Premier, though only for the short period of eight days. His work in th(! Assembly has always been marked by thoroughness, and in debate he speaks with a forcible vigor that has won him many .idmirers. When the Federal elections took place, in March, 1897, Mr. Solomon's past performances, and his capabilities, won for him a place amongst the ten representatives of this Province. In the question of Federation he is uncommonly well versed. He had studied the subject for years, and was able to devote himself to it with a clear understanding. In his first election address he was a staunch advocate of intercolonial free trade. Mr. Solomon is thus one of the leading figures in the South Australian Assembly. A keen debater and a logical reasoner, he is not without repartee and witty retort, and both men and measures antagonistic to his views have often met with a telling attack from him. Sharp in summary, and quick to discern plans, he is a source of strength to his side. Of recent years Mr. Solomon has identified himself in Adelaide with mining and financial pursuits. He holds many interests in Northern Territory and Western Australian mining ventures. Mr. Clement Giles, M.P. THIS gentleman, who represents the farming class in the Parliament of the Province, was born in Adelaide in 1844, and his father, Mr. William Giles, was one of the most prominent men in South Australia, being one of the early managers of the historical South Australian Company, and a member of the first House of Assembly established under the new Constitution of re.sponsible government. After leaving school, Clement Giles for some years lived on pastoral stations in South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria. In 1868 he started farming near Mount Remarkable, in South Australia, and soon afterwards erected flourmills and wool-scouring .sheds in the same district. In 1882 he became partner in the firm of Giles & Smith, an old-established milling and merchandise business which had already possessed a history ranging over 40 years. In this connection he has pursued a successful business career. Mr. Giles took a prominent part in the formation of the South Australian Farmers' Association. He became Secretary to the body, an office which he holds with credit and dignity to this day. In 1886 he was elected a member of the House of Assembly for the District of Frome, and has been returned at each succeeding election. He was Chairman of the Royal Commission which sat some ten years ago and advised on land legislation, and largely led to the framing of the present laws. He was gazetteil a Justice of the Peace some 30 years ago