PROPSTING, WILLIAM BISPHAM (1861-1937), politician,

son of Henry Propsting, was born at Hobart on 4 June 1861. He was educated at the Derwent school, Hobart, and going to South Australia in 1879 entered the education department as a pupil teacher. He studied at the training college and at Adelaide university, and rose to be first assistant at the Sturt-street school, Adelaide. He returned to Tasmania in 1886, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1892. In February 1899 he entered politics as member for Hobart in the house of assembly, and in August 1901 was elected leader of the opposition. He became premier and treasurer on 9 April 1903, his party being known as the liberal democratic party. He succeeded in re-organizing the education department and established a training college at Hobart, but most of his party's attempts to bring in democratic legislation were blocked by the legislative council. Propsting resigned on 11 July 1904 and was leader of the opposition until December 1905. He was then elected a member of the legislative council, and in May 1906 joined the (Sir) John W. Evans ministry as attorney-general and minister for education. This ministry resigned in June 1909. From April 1916 to August 1922 Propsting was attorney-general and minister for railways in Sir W. H. Lee's ministry, and was attorney-general in the Hayes ministry which succeeded it until August 1923. He was elected president of the legislative council in July 1926 and held this position with distinction until his death at Hobart on 3 December 1937. He married (1) in 1893, Caroline Emma Coles, (2) in 1925, Lilias Macfarlane, who survived him with a son and two daughters of the first marriage. He was made a C.M.G. in 1932. A fluent and persuasive speaker Propsting made his mark early in his parliamentary career. He worked for federation and subsequently frequently represented his state at federal conferences. He was a good administrator who earned a reputation for his earnestness, integrity and sound judgment.