THE FEDERAL PRIME MINISTER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 119, 17 June 1909, Page 4

THE FEDERAL PRIME MINISTER

Mr. Alfred Deakin. now Prime Jliaister of Australia for the third time, has been barrister, journalist, orator, and politician, with conspicuous brilliance in all departments, lie is a. native of Victoria, was l)nrn on lird August, 185(1, and was educated at the Church of Jingland (irannnar School. .Melbourne and Melbourne Inivcrsity. lie was called to the Victorian liar in 1877. and soon became a ■prominent politician. l-'.lcctcd as M.L.A. in 18711. lie was Minister of Public Works in the Victorian Cabinet— J KM, Chief Secretary 18SU-UII, Minister for Health 18IHI, ami afterwards Solici-tor-General, lie made a study of the irrigation question, ami in 1887 visited Kngl.-md a, a Victorian iepresen tali vial, the Colonial Conference, lie strongly advocated the Federation cause, and pursued his profession as a barrister ivitli mai-ked success. In 11)00 he ag;iin vi»ited England, representing Victoria during the passage of the Commonwealth Act. lie became Attorncy-den-eial in the lirsl Coinmonwealtli Ministry under Sir Kdmutid Harton as Prime Minister, and on the retirement of the latter in HUM Mr. Den kin succeeded him. LI its administration was defeated in April. IHII4. but he again became Prime Jli-.iis.icf in .Inly. 1!K).">. and represented the Coinmonwealtli at Hie, Imperial Conference in 11HI7. In November, iillW, tile Labor Prime Minister. Jlr. fisher, succeeded Mr. IVakin. .Now Jlr. JJeakin succeeds Mr. l-'isln-r.