1887 South Australian colonial election

Colonial elections were held in South Australia from 19 March to 21 April 1887.[1] All 52 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election.

1887 South Australian colonial election

19 March−21 April 1887

All seats in the South Australian House of Assembly

Since the inaugural 1857 election, no parties or solid groupings had been formed, which resulted in frequent changes of the Premier. If for any reason the incumbent Premier of South Australia lost sufficient support through a successful motion of no confidence at any time on the floor of the house, he would tender his resignation to the Governor of South Australia, which would result in interested members declaring their intent to run for the vacant position. A parliamentary ballot would then take place, resulting in the member with the most votes being sworn in by the Governor as the next Premier.

However, from this election there began a growing informal division between groups of members who were loosely described as ‘conservative’ and ‘radical’ by the press. The ‘conservatives’ found their leaders in John Cox Bray and John William Downer, while the ‘radicals’ were led by John Colton, Thomas Playford and John Cockburn. The leaders often contested government against their reported allies in loose alliances, producing an element of political ‘structure’ which continued the previous term's trend toward increased government stability. The United Labor Party would be formed in 1891, while the National Defence League would be formed later in the same year.

John DownerFrederick HolderThomas Playford IIJohn Cockburn (Australian politician)Thomas Playford IIJohn DownerJohn Colton (politician)John Cox BrayWilliam Morgan (Australian politician)James BoucautJohn Colton (politician)James BoucautArthur BlythHenry AyersArthur BlythJohn Hart (South Australian colonist)Henry StrangwaysHenry AyersJohn Hart (South Australian colonist)Henry AyersJames BoucautJohn Hart (South Australian colonist)Henry AyersFrancis DuttonArthur BlythHenry AyersFrancis DuttonThomas Reynolds (Australian politician)Richard Hanson (Australian politician)Robert TorrensJohn Baker (Australian politician)

See also

Notes

  1. "Statistical Record of the Legislature, 1836 to 2009" (PDF). Parliament of South Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-03-27. Retrieved 2 February 2016.

References

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