James Ashton (politician)

James Ashton (8 May 1864 – 6 August 1939) was an Australian politician.

He was born at Ashby near Geelong, Victoria, to coffee-roaster James Ashton and Mary Ann Kinsman Brittan (1824-1870). He attended Sandhurst Grammar School before leaving at the age of ten to work in a printing office. He moved to Echuca at the age of thirteen and then to Hay, New South Wales. He spent a period working as a station agent, and then as a journalist and part-owner of The Riverine Grazier.^[1][2] He sold his interest in 1892 and bought the Narrandera Argus. On 6 March 1899 he married Helen Willis, with whom he had four sons.^[1]

A Free Trader, he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the member for Hay in 1894 and re-elected in 1895.^[3] One of the major issues at the time was the question of federation. While Ashton supported federation, he opposed the convention bill, particularly equal representation of the States in the Senate (which he thought should be proportional), that the constitution should not be amended without the support of all of the states, and that a national referendum should be used to break deadlocks between the houses of parliament.^[1] Despite Ashton's opposition, the convention bill was overwhelmingly supported in his electorate.^[4][5] He decided to contest Goulburn at the 1898 election, where he was successful and served until 1907.^[6] He was unsuccessful as the Free Trade candidate at the 1901 election for the federal division of Riverina.^[7] The Sydney Morning Herald attributed his narrow loss to his views on federation,^[5] while his biographer Martha Rutledge attributed it in part to him expressing sympathy for the Boers in the South African War;^[1] he gave a speech in parliament opposing sending NSW troops, describing it as "the wickedest war of modern times".^[8] While in parliament he studied law, passing his exams in 1902 and qualifying for the bar, but did not seek admission, deciding to continue working as a land agent.^[5]

He was appointed Secretary for Lands in the Carruthers ministry on 29 August 1904, serving until 1 October 1907. The highest profile issues during his tenure were allegations of bribery made against former minister Paddy Crick, which resulted in the appointment in 1905 of Justice William Owen to conduct a Royal Commissioner to investigate the administration of the Lands Department.^[9] The Royal Commission concluded that Crick, but not any officer of the department, had received corrupt payments; and that the department's administration should be conducted by a non-political Board of Commissioners.^[9] Crick was charged, but the jury could not agree on a verdict and Crick was ultimately expelled from parliament. Ashton attempted to implement the appointment of a Board of Commissioners, but the bill lapsed.^[1]

Ashton retired at the 1907 election,^[10] and was appointed to the Legislative Council.^[11] He was a minister without portfolio in the Wade ministry from 2 October 1907 until he resigned with effect on 25 June 1909,^[11] due to the pressure of private business.^[12] He continued to serve on the Legislative Council until 1934, when the council was reformed by members indirectly elected by the Parliament.^[1]

In 1910 he made a successful investment with Sir Samuel McCaughey in the Coreena Pastoral Co, which owned sheep and cattle stations.^[1]

Ashton died at Double Bay on 6 August 1939(1939-08-06) (aged 75).^[11]