b'122Session 2 to work as a miner, becoming involved with the local labour movement as a union official. In 1891, Cook was elected to the Sunday 30 May, 11am (AEST) New South Wales Legislative Assembly as a representative of the Labor Party, becoming one of its first members of parliament. He was elected party leader in 1893, but the JOSEPH COOK PRIME MINISTER following year left Labor due to a disagreement over party discipline. He was then invited to become a government minister 685 under George Reid, and joined Reids Free Trade Party.A SPECTACULAR & IMPORTANT ILLUMINATEDIn 1901, Cook was elected to the new federal parliament PRESENTATION FOLIO TO JOSEPH COOK, M.H.R. representing the Division of Parramatta. He became deputy leader of the federal Free Trade Party (later renamed the Anti-A bi-fold, leather-bound presentation, with gilt embossedSocialist Party), again under George Reid, and in 1908 replaced decorations and addressed to THE HONOURABLE JOSEPHReid as party leader and Leader of the Opposition. In what COOK, M.H.R. on the front cover. Internally, a hand-painted andbecame known as the fusion, Cook agreed to merge his lettered two-page statement created On behalf of your manyparty with Alfred Deakins Protectionist Party in 1909, forming Friends and Supporters in the Parramatta Federal Electorate,a unified anti-Labor party for the first time. He became deputy dated Parramatta, April 1913 and signed by the Chairman,leader of the new Commonwealth Liberal Party, allowing Deakin Honourary Treasurer, Honourary Secretaries and Committeeto become prime minister again, and served as Minister for Members of the electorate. Defence until the governments defeat at the 1910 election.Dear Sir, To represent a Federal Constituency is no small honour,Cook replaced Deakin as leader of the Liberals in January 1913, but to be chosen as the Leader of the Liberals of the whole ofand a few months later won a one-seat majority over Andrew Federated Australia is an outstanding preferment to which few areFishers Labor Party at the 1913 election. His party failed to called, and the Parramatta Electorate desires to fittingly celebratesecure a majority in the Senate, making governing difficult, and as your accession to that high and responsible post. a result he engineered the first double dissolution. A new election As the member for Parramatta since the inception of thewas called for September 1914, at which the Liberals lost their Commonwealth in 1901 your services have ever, both within andmajority; Fisher returned as prime minister. Cook was unable to without the House. been directed to the best interests of yourpass much legislation during his time in office, but did oversee constituents without the slightest bias or political discriminationthe early stages of Australias involvement in World War I. He and we firstly congratulate you on such an honourable record. subsequently became Leader of the Opposition for a third time.34.5 x 54.5cm (open) In 1917, Cook was involved in a second party merger, joining PROVENANCE the Liberals with Billy Hughess National Labor Party to form The Cook family, by descent. the Nationalist Party. He became the de facto deputy prime Sir Joseph Cook, GCMG (18601947) served as the sixthminister under Hughes, serving as Minister for the Navy Prime Minister of Australia, in office from 1913 to 1914. He was(19171920) and Treasurer (19201921). He was a delegate to the leader of the Commonwealth Liberal Party from 1913 (histhe 1919 Paris Peace Conference, where he was a member of election to this position being the subject of this presentation) tothe committee that determined the borders of Czechoslovakia, 1917, after earlier serving as the leader of the Anti-Socialist Partyand along with Hughes was one of two Australians to sign the from 1908 to 1909. Treaty of Versailles. After leaving politics, Cook served as High Cook was born in Staffordshire, England, and began working inCommissioner to the United Kingdom from 1921 to 1927. He the local coal mines at the age of nine. He emigrated to Australiadied at the age of 86 as one of the last survivors of the first in 1885, settling in Lithgow, New South Wales. He continuedfederal parliament.$5,00010,000687'