South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Friday 26 May 1893, page 6


BIOGRAPHIES OF THE MEMBERS.

MR. V. L. SOLOMON.

The senior member for the Northern Terri-tory in the House of Assembly is one of the many native-born Australians who have by their ability, industry, and perseverance

attained to positions of influence in this young southarn land. Mr. Vaiben Louis Solomon is a son of the late Hon. Judah Moss Solomon, M.L.C., who for many years was a member of the Legislature of this colony, and Mayor of the City of Adelaide from 1869 to 1871. He is also a younger brother of Mr. M. J. Solomon, auctioneer, of this city, and of Major B. Solo-mon. Born in Waymouth-street, Adelaide, in May, 1853, and educated at the late Mr. J. L. Young's Educational Institution in this city, and at the Scotch College, Melbourne, Mr. Solomon was for some time engaged in brokering on the Adelaide Exchange, and before he attained his majority he accompanied a prospecting party to the Northern Territory. After twelve months' absence he returned to Adelaide, and it was not long before he went back to the Territory and settled at Palmers-ton. For a great many years he carried on a successful business as merchant, conducted the Northern Territory Times and Gazette, and was a prominent worker for the advancement of the place, being connected with almost every insti-tution in the chief town of the northern half of the province. To mining, in whrsh he still takes a great interest, he has devoted a great deal of his attention, and his ventures in this, agriculture, and other sources of development, have had a most vivifying effect on the in-dustries of the Territory. About five years ago Mr. Solomon travelled through the colonies lecturing against the immigration of Chinese, aud his views on the independence of the Northern Territory and on labour and other questions as affecting the Territory are very pronounced. An Act was passed in the Legislature constituting the Northern Terri-tory (formerly a portion of the District of Flinders) a separate electorate, and when the next general elections came round Mr. Solomon was returned to the Assembly to represent the new district with his well-known colleague, the Hon. J. L. Parsons. Financial difficulties led to Mr. Solomon's resignation a year or so later, but his constituents showed their unwavering confidence in him by re-electing him to the House by a large majority against two other candidates. Mr. Solomon's speeches have shown that he is thoroughly conversant with the requirements of, and alive to the necessity of doing his utmost for the welfare of his extensive, but as yet sparsely populated, district. When the Assembly decided in favour of the appointment of a Government Whip the choice of the Playford Government fell upon Mr. Solomon, and he continued in that office until the Ministry were defeated on a motion of no-confidence moved by Mr. Holder. When the Downer Ministry took office a few months later Mr. Solomon was again appointed to the post. Only a few weeks ago he was asked to join the Government, but he declined stating that he could serve the party better in his pre-sent position.