1874 Victorian colonial election

none 1874 Victorian colonial election Victoria 1870 parliamentary no 1871 Victorian colonial election 1871 1877 Victorian colonial election 1877 25 March to 22 April 1874 All 78 seats in the Victorian Legislative Assembly40 seats needed for a majority 150x150px James Francis Constitutionalist CEF2CE Richmond 31 27.47 150x150px James Grant Liberal Avoca F7E894 37 24.8 Premier James Francis Constitutionalist James Francis Constitutionalist The 1874 Victorian colonial election was held from 25 March to 22 April 1874 to elect the 8th Parliament of Victoria. All 78 seats in 49 electorates in the Legislative Assembly were up for election, though eleven seats were uncontested.The Eighth Parliament Elected 25 March to 22 April 1874 http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/states/vic/historic/1874assembly.txt Psephos: Adam Carr's Electoral Archive There were 24 single-member, 21 two-member and 4 three-member electorates. The Premier James Francis fought the 1874 general election on a proposition for constitutional reform to settle disputes between the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council by joint sittings.Geoffrey Bartlett (1972), James Goodall Francis (1819–1884), Australian Dictionary of Biography website, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 18 December 2023. After the inconclusive election results became known, the editorial in The Argus commented: "In no one case does it appear that the proposed scheme of constitutional reform exercised any material effect upon the decision of the constituencies".Editorial, The Argus (Melbourne), 23 April 1874, page 4. Although Francis continued as Premier after the election, the results precluded any prospect of passing the constitutional reform he had advocated.Editorial, The Herald (Melbourne), 23 April 1874, page 2. Results With no formal party structure, elected members were mainly classified as 'Ministerial', 'Opposition' or 'Doubtful', with unelected candidates given no classification. 'Ministerial' members were considered to be supporters of the government of the previous parliament, 'Opposition' members were those "opposed to the Government either on general grounds or on the special reform proposition". Those members whose views were unknown were classified as 'Doubtful'.The General Election, The Argus (Melbourne), 23 April 1874, pages 5 and 6. + Legislative Assembly (FPTP) Party / Grouping Votes % Swing Seats Change   Ministerial 34,672 27.47 31   Opposition 31,307 24.8 37   Doubtful 7,012 5.55 8   Liberal 4,792 3.8 2   Constitutional 2,526 2.0 0   Unclassified 45,922 36.38 0  Totals 126,231 78 Aftermath After early attempts at passing a reform bill failed, Francis resigned in late July 1874 due to a serious bout of pleurisy.The Late M. J. G. Francis, The Age (Melbourne), 26 January 1884, page 9. He was succeeded as Premier by the Attorney-General George Kerferd, who accepted that constitutional reform in the existing parliament would not be possible.Margot Beever (1974), George Briscoe Kerferd (1831–1889), Australian Dictionary of Biography website, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 18 December 2023.The Political Situation, Ballarat Courier, 31 July 1874, page 2. Kerferd made only one change to the ministry, with James Service replacing Edward Langton as treasurer. The Local Government Act was passed in December 1874, but very little else was achieved due to continual political obstruction.Bills Assented To, The Argus (Melbourne), 26 December 1874, page 9. In late July 1875 the government's budget was carried in the parliament by a just single vote. In response Kerferd requested a dissolution, which was refused by the Acting-Governor, Sir William Stawell, prompting the resignation of Kerferd and his ministry.The Victorian Budget, Evening Journal (Adelaide), 31 July 1875, page 2.The Crisis, Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth), 5 August 1875, page 4. The liberal politician, Graham Berry, then met with the acting-governor and undertook to form a ministry.Telegraphic Despatches, Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth), 5 August 1875, page 2. As Premier, Berry also took on the role of treasurer. He submitted a protectionist budget to the Legislative Assembly in September 1875, a significant part of which was a land tax.Geoffrey Bartlett (1969), Sir Graham Berry (1822–1904), Australian Dictionary of Biography website, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 10 December 2023. However Berry lacked a majority in parliament after a moderate liberal faction led by James McCulloch had refused to join his ministry.Sir William Stawell as Acting-Governor, Colac Herald, 19 May 1876, page 3; originally published as 'Our Melbourne Correspondent...', The Times (London), 22 March 1876, page 11. Berry's revenue-raising land tax proposal provoked a political backlash. In October McCulloch's faction joined with Kerferd's supporters to carry a resolution for more general direct taxation measures. Berry responded to the defeat in parliament by requesting that the acting-governor grant a dissolution, but Stawell again refused the request. Berry resigned and McCulloch, who had been Premier on three previous occasions, returned to office.Geoffrey Bartlett (1974), Sir James McCulloch (1819–1893), Australian Dictionary of Biography website, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 10 December 2023. McCulloch then brought in a budget with generalised taxation features, without singling out the landholding class. Berry's subsequent attempts to block supply were to no avail, and McCulloch's ministry remained in office until the May 1877 elections. By means of political agitation and mass meetings, Berry consolidated his leadership of a radical opposition by polarising the parliament and branding McCulloch a reactionary. His land tax proposal became the central plank of his liberal protectionist movement to contest the election in 1877. See also Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, 1874–1877 References Category:Elections in Victoria (state) Category:History of Australia