The Land Bill of 1882 was the rock on which the Parkes-Robertson Ministry was wrecked. A general election resulted in Mr. (afterward Sir) Alexander Stuart coming to power which he held until October 1885, In 1888 another Chinese Restriction Act was passed. The poll tax was raised to 1100 per head. Chinese were not permitted to engage in mining and they were not qualified to be naturalized. A tonnage limitation was imposed on vessels bringing Chinese to New South Wales; they were not allowed to bring more than one Chinese pas senger to every 300 tons.
In February 1890, a Federal Conference, presided over by Sir Henry Parkes, was held in Melbourne, at which it was resolved that a National Australian Convention should be held to draft a constitution for the federation of the Australian colonies. In March 1891, the Con vention was held in Sydney and a draft con stitution was adopted. In October 1891, the last Parkes Ministry was defeated, being suc ceeded by that of Sir George Dibbs. In 1893 an Electoral Bill was passed embodying the prin ciple of "one man one vote." In August 1894, the Dibbs' Ministry, which had introduced protection in a modified form, gave way to a free trade ministry formed by George H. Reid. A new tariff on free trade lines, a land tax, an income tax, and homestead bills were passed under his leadership. Early in 1895 Mr. Reid attended a conference of premiers at Hobart at which the draft of an Enabling Bill to be introduced into the legis lature of each colony, providing for the election directly by the people of each colony of 10 rep resentatives to attend a Federal Convention to frame a constitution for the federation of the colonies, to be afterward submitted to a referendum of the people of each colony, was adopted. Subsequently the Parliament of New
South Wales, as well as the Parliaments of the other colonies, passed identical bills for the aforesaid purpose. It was under the authority of this legislation that the Commonwealth Con stitution was afterward framed and adopted. In 1897 an Immigration Restriction Act, based on the Natal Act, imposing an education test in order to exclude colored aliens, was passed. Legislation on similar lines was adopted in sev eral other colonies.
On 13 Sept. 1899, the Reid Ministry was de feated and Sir William Lyne formed a govern ment which succeeded in passing the Early Closing Act, the Navigation Act, the Old Age Pension Act, and the Women's Franchise Act. In March 1901, Sir William Lyne retired in order to take office as a Commonwealth Min ister. The ministry formed by Mr. (after ward Sir) John See succeeded it. One of the most important measures passed through its instrumentality was the Industrial Arbitration Act (1901) ; under which the principle of com pulsory arbitration and settlement of industrial disputes was established. A short-lived Wad :•dell Ministry was followed by one formed by Mr. Joseph Hector Carruthers, who resigned on account of ill health and was succeeded by Mt. Wade who held office until October 1910 when he was defeated and Mr. McGowen be came Premier until 30 June 1913 when he re signed and was succeeded by Mr. W. A. Hol man who is still in office November 1916.