PRICE, THOMAS

born Jan. 19, 1852, Brymbo, Denbighshire, Wales died May 31, 1909, Hawthorn, South Australia, Australia Australian statesman who as premier of South Australia (1905-09) was the first long-term Labor Party premier of an Australian state. A stonecutter in England, Price emigrated to South Australia in 1883, continued his trade, and served as secretary of the masons and bricklayers union (1891-93). At one time he worked in Adelaide on the Parliament buildings in which he later served as premier. He entered the House of Assembly in 1893 and soon played an important role in passing labour protection legislation. Price became head of the South Australia Labor Party in 1901 and premier of the state in 1905, concurrently serving as commissioner of public works and minister of education. During his administration he unified the public transportation system in Adelaide, created wage boards, liberalized the voting franchise, and initiated the transfer of the Northern Territory to the commonwealth.