Holman ministry (1913–1916)

State of New South Wales (1911–1915)

The Holman ministry (1913 – 1916) or First Holman ministry or Holman Labor ministry was the 35th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 19th Premier, the Honourable William Holman, MLA.

Holman was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1898, serving until 1920, before being elected to the Australian House of Representatives. Holman, as Deputy Leader, managed the business of government during extended absences overseas by Premier James McGowen. When it became clear that McGowen was not prepared to continue as the Leader of the Australian Labor Party, Holman was elected Leader and was commissioned to form government by Sir Gerald Strickland, Governor of New South Wales.

The ministry covers the period from 30 June 1913 until 15 November 1916 when Holman formed a Nationalist coalition government with the leader of the opposition, Charles Wade, as a result of a split in the Labor Party concerning World War I conscription. In an unusual measure, Holman, as a Labor Premier and Leader, was expelled from the Labor Party for supporting conscription.

Composition of ministry

First arrangement

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Holman on 30 June 1913 and covers the period up to 29 January 1914, unless the Minister retains the portfolio for the full term. Ministers are listed in order of seniority.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Premier	Hon. William Holman, MLA		Labor	30 June 1913	15 November 1916	3 years, 138 days
Colonial Secretary Attorney General					29 January 1914	213 days
Colonial Treasurer	Hon. John Cann, MLA
Secretary for Lands	Hon. John Treflé, MLA a				11 January 1915	1 year, 195 days
Minister of Agriculture					29 January 1914	213 days
Minister for Public Works	Hon. Arthur Griffith, MLA				15 March 1915	1 year, 258 days
Minister of Justice	Hon. David Hall, MLC				15 November 1916	3 years, 138 days
Minister of Public Instruction	Hon. Ambrose Carmichael, MLA b				5 March 1915	1 year, 248 days
Secretary for Mines	Hon. Alfred Edden, MLA c				29 January 1914	213 days
Minister for Labour and Industry	Hon. James McGowen, MLA d
Minister for Public Health	Hon. Frederick Flowers, MLC				27 April 1915	1 year, 301 days
Vice-President of the Executive Council Representative of the Government in Legislative Council

^a Treflé died on 11 January 1915, while in office.

^b Carmichael resigned over concerns with preparations for World War I.

^c Edden resigned from the ministry, triggering the reshuffle.

^d McGovern resigned from the ministry, and was later appointed by Holman to the Legislative Council.

Second arrangement

Triggered by the resignation of Edden and the decision of McGowen to resign on the same date (with Holman agreeing to appoint McGowen to the Legislative Council), this arrangement covers the period from 29 January 1914 until 15 March 1915, unless the Minister retains the portfolio for the full term. Ministers are listed in order of seniority. Only changes in portfolios are shown below.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Colonial Treasurer	Hon. William Holman, MLA		Labor	29 January 1914	15 November 1916	2 years, 291 days
Solicitor General				19 January 1915	6 February 1915	18 days
Minister of Public Instruction				6 March 1915	15 March 1915	9 days
Colonial Secretary	Hon. John Cann, MLA			29 January 1914	15 March 1915	1 year, 60 days
Secretary for Mines
Attorney General	Hon. David Hall, MLA e				15 November 1916	2 years, 306 days
Secretary for Lands	Hon. William Ashford, MLA			12 January 1915	15 November 1916	1 year, 308 days
Minister of Agriculture				29 January 1914	23 February 1915	1 year, 25 days
	Hon. George Black, MLA			23 February 1915	15 March 1915	20 days
Minister for Labour and Industry	Hon. John Estell, MLA			29 January 1914	31 October 1916	2 years, 276 days
Minister without portfolio	Hon. Henry Hoyle, MLA

^e Hall transitioned from the Legislative Council to the Legisliative Assembly in 1913, elected as the Member for Enmore.

Third arrangement

This arrangement covers the period from 15 March 1915 until 15 November 1916, when Holman reconstituted his ministry in coalition with the Nationalist Party, due to a split in the Labor Party over conscription. Only changes in portfolios are shown below.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Colonial Secretary	Hon. George Black, MLA		Labor	15 March 1915	15 November 1916	1 year, 245 days
Minister for Public Works	Hon. John Cann, MLA
Minister for Public Instruction	Hon. Arthur Griffith, MLA f				7 November 1916	1 year, 237 days
Secretary for Mines Minister for Labour and Industry	Hon. John Estell, MLA				31 October 1916	1 year, 230 days
	Hon. Henry Hoyle, MLA f			31 October 1916	15 November 1916	15 days
Minister for Public Health	Hon. George Black, MLA f			27 April 1915		1 year, 202 days
Minister for Agriculture	Hon. William Ashford, MLA			15 March 1915	1 June 1915	78 days
	Hon. W. C. Grahame, MLA			1 June 1915	15 November 1916	1 year, 167 days
Minister without portfolio				15 March 1915	1 June 1915	78 days
Vice President of the Executive Council Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council	Hon. John Fitzgerald, MLC			27 April 1915	15 November 1916	1 year, 202 days

^f Resigning over Holman's position of supporting conscription were Griffith (7 November 1916) and Hoyle and Black (15 November 1916). Holman commenced negotiations with Wade, and defected to the Nationalist Party, retaining the title of Premier.

See also

• William Holman - 19th Premier of New South Wales
• Second Holman ministry
• Federation of Australia
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1910–1913
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1913–1917