As he had in his previous campaign for this seat a few
months earlier, Douglas again concentrated on land matters, calling for changes
to the Leasing Act so that squatters would no longer be the principal
beneficiaries.[5] In advocating a liberal land policy that
unlocked land reserves and encouraged small agriculturalists, he pitted himself
against squatter interests and their squatter candidate, a Mr Green of Goomburra.[6] Douglas, while a squatter himself, never
identified with the squattocracy. As he
himself once explained, “he had never during his political career acted with
the extreme squatting party … he was not one of them - he had never been one of
them, and he was not likely to be one of them.”[7] Douglas also observed how, as a young
aristocrat, he was influenced by liberal ideals:
When in Scotland, a mere youth, he was even then much impressed with a great gathering of tenantry to meet their landlord, Fox Maule, the present Lord Penmure, and in addressing them, that nobleman said that it was not of the extent of his landed property that he felt proud, but of the farmers and tenants whom he had been the means of raising up around him, and to support him.[8]Douglas wanted to use the Leasing Act to ensure that yeoman and small farmers would be able to purchase land for the benefit of themselves and the colony.[9]
The election took place amidst high excitement, as this
account of polling at Leyburn on the Darling Downs demonstrates:
This has been one of the most exciting days ever witnessed in this town; gaily decorated traps with their respective mottoes, and the partisans of the rival candidates were to be seen continually driving to and from the polling place, as usual on those occasions. Angry and not very complimentary epithets were freely exchanged.[10]Douglas won the election by a landslide.[11]
The day after the new parliament (with Macalister as
colonial secretary and Douglas secretary for public works) commenced, Robert
Ramsay Mackenzie moved a motion of want of confidence against the ministry.[12] Although it was defeated, the vote was so
close that the government declined to carry on.[13] Mackenzie formed a ministry, and once again,
Douglas found himself in opposition.[14] Douglas’s appointment as secretary of public
works in May 1867 had resulted in the downfall of the previous Macalister
Ministry and the calling of a general election.
On the resumption of parliament, the opposition had continued where they
had left off before the last election and attacked at length his appointment as
minister for works.[15]
A parliamentary opponent, Ratcliffe Pring, had attacked
Douglas personally, criticising him “for busying himself in various
philanthropic ways about orphans.”[16] In reply, Douglas had shown great dignity,
defending the government’s program and declining to stoop to Pring’s level of
personal vilification.[17] This attack on Douglas by the opposition
allowed them to attack the government through a perceived weakness in the
Macalister ministry. They detested the
government because of its land policies and, by targeting Douglas, an
aristocrat and squatter regarded by them as a ‘class traitor’ due to his
liberal views, they besmirched his reputation and brought down a government
intent on reducing the power of the squattocracy and opening up land for
selection.[18]
Because Douglas had held three ministerial positions in
only 18 months - that of postmaster-general, colonial treasurer, and public
works,[19]
he was unable to make a lasting contribution in terms of policy development and
legislation. Douglas found this deeply
frustrating, because he had entered politics to serve society. He had also made little impact regarding his
twin passions of land reform and improved transport infrastructure.
The loss of the postmaster-general position, through no
fault of his own, resulted in Douglas’s departure from parliament. Returning after being offered the treasury
portfolio, he moved to public works over a point of principle - an action that
resulted in the colony being forced to the polls. Despite the successful return of the
government, Douglas again found himself on the outer, as the ministry, of which
he was a senior member, lacked a sufficient majority to govern
effectively. Political factors ended each
of his ministerial positions while the loss of his ministerial salary
exacerbated his financial problems, and helped force the sale of Tooloombah.
Nonetheless, Douglas had won two elections in only four
months: one unopposed, the other by a
landslide. He was popular with his
constituents and had served two years in parliament, including leading the government
in the legislative council. Now 39 years
of age, Douglas was a very experienced politician.
[1] Queenslander,1
June 1867 . The election date
for Douglas’s now vacant seat of Eastern Downs
was set for 21 June 1867 . Despite his seat having been declared vacant
by parliament, Douglas insisted that: “he still held his seat according to the
constitutional law of the country.”
(“Mr. Douglas at Warwick 1 June 1867 , p. 7)
[1] Queenslander,
[2] In chronological order, they were Darling Downs, Camden ,
Port Curtis twice and Eastern Downs twice.
[3] Mr. Douglas at Warwick 1 June 1867 , p. 7
[4] Ibid.
[5] “Mr. Douglas at Warwick 1 June 1867 , p. 7
[6] Mason, p. 92; Warwick 28 May 1867 , p. 2
[7] “Mr Douglas at the School
of Arts Brisbane 31 October 1873 , p. 3
[8] “Mr. Douglas at Warwick 1 June 1867 , p. 7
[9] “Mr Douglas at the School
of Arts Brisbane 31 October 1873 , p. 3
[10] “Leyburn.” Queenslander, 29 June 1867 , p. 6
[11] Douglas ’s winning margin of 69
votes was a landslide, for of the 302 registered voters, only 223 (74 per cent)
voted. (“Warwick 6 July 1867 , p. 7; Statistical Register of Queensland
[12] Bernays, p. 43
[13] Queensland Government Gazette,
vol 8 no 51, 29 June 1867 :
Mason, p. 93
[14] Queenslander, 17 August 1867 , p. 7; Queensland Government Gazette, vol 8 no
66, 15 August 1867 ;
Bernays, p. 43. This was a double blow
for Douglas , demoted to the opposition benches
and losing his ministerial salary of £1,000 per annum.
[15] Brisbane 9
August 1867 , p. 3
[16] “Mr. Pring.” Queensland 8 August 1867 , p. 60. For information on Douglas’s advocacy of
orphanages in Queensland Queensland Queensland
[17] Hon. John Douglas. Queensland 8 August 1867 , p. 66.
[18]
Queenslander, 17
August 1867 , pp. 4 & 7
[19] The dates were; postmaster-general, March to July 1866, colonial
treasurer, December 1866 to May 1867, and public works, May to August 1867.
