It will be seen that the business of Messrs. F. and C. Piesse expanded to enormous dimensions, and its tentacles seized every branch of country enterprise. They are now among the chief business men of the colony, and were the first to introduce the electric light into Western Australia for general use. Their stores, mills, factories, &c, are all served with electricity.
It is quite natural to suppose that a man helping in the founding of such a diversified business house as this would be eminently well adapted to infuse commercial spirit into any colonial Government department. The Hon. F.H. Piesse has long been interested in public matters, in one way or other. In 1880 he became a member of the Williams Roads Board, and was chosen chairman. The residents in the district and those served by this board have been evidently well satisfied with his services, for he continued to occupy the position of chairman on that board until 1889. After that he accepted and still occupies a similar position on the Katanning Roads Board. At the time that he took up his residence in the Williams district there were no local public schools, but chiefly through his advocacy there are now no fewer than fourteen, with seven distinct school boards and seven roads boards. He gave every assistance to agricultural matters in the district, and to assist in the dissemination of useful information among producers he became an active member and president of the Katanning Farmers' Association. He occupies a similar position on nearly all the racing and other clubs throughout the district. In 1889 he was gazetted a Justice of the Peace.
The following year saw the inauguration of responsible government, and as the Williams was created one constituency, Mr. Piesse, who had been so useful to the district, was asked to stand for the Assembly. Although he had several times been requested to enter the Legislative Council under the Crown Colony regime he refused, preferring to bide the time when he could be of more use under a new constitution. He was elected unopposed to the Williams constituency, and has represented the district in the House of Assembly ever since. At the general elections of 1894 his seat was contested, but he defeated his opponent by five to one. His Parliamentary career has been marked by quiet but useful work. By means of the interest which he has always taken in public matters, he is able to hold his own in any debate, and his advice on commercial matters commands respect. He was recognised as a thoroughly reliable member, and one who would prove of use to the colony. Early in 1896, when the Hon. Mr. Venn retired from the offices of Commissioner of Railways and Director of Public Works, the Premier, Sir John Forrest, sought to obtain a man of activity and commercial ability to fill the post. The career of Mr. Piesse had been distinguished by both these qualities, and considering his general qualifications for so important and difficult an office, Sir John requested Mr. Piesse to take the vacant portfolio. On the 1st April, Mr. Piesse took up his duties with the firm determination of introducing reforms in the Railways. He had always believed that Government railways should be run on purely commercial principles, just the same as a private business, and therefore he set about grasping all the details and ramifications of the department, and almost immediately initiated reforms. Since then he has worked day and night to place them on a firm foundation to facilitate production and commerce, and he has succeeded beyond expectation. The policy of the Government is a progressive one, and it is intended to lay railways over the goldfields and to the chief agricultural centres not yet served.
The Hon. Mr. Piesse married in 1878 Mary J., daughter of Mr. Thomas Chipper, of Kojonup. Mr. Piesse's duties are no sinecure, for every year sees some additions to the Western Australian Railways, and the interests of the Department are becoming gigantic. To cope with all this requires a big capacity for laborious work and much careful study. Mr. Piesse, however, is a man of energy and determination, and he has been a successful administrator. Whether in the Legislative hails or out of them he enjoys great popularity and respect.
[This sketch was written in 1896, since which Mr. Piesse has organised great improvements in his departments.—Ed.]
STEPHEN HENRY PARKER, Q.C., M.L.C.
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Photo by S.H. PARKER Q.C. M.L.C. Greenham & Evans. |
WESTERN Australia was the last of the Australasian colonies to be granted the privilege of governing her own affairs. Although she is the second oldest colony in the group, yet the original antique system of a Crown Colony regime was adhered to decades after every other Australian colony enjoyed responsible government. Many peculiar conditions contributed to this, and primarily, perhaps, the unreasonable stagnation of all industry and progressive development. Here was an immense
