 In the city council he was always anxious to improve the city and it was a result of his advocacy that Adelaide had its first tramways, King William Street was extended, and the Torrens Lake was formed.Smith entered parliament in 1871 as member for East Torrens in the South Australian House of Assembly, and except for a year while he was visiting England, continued to represent this constituency until he retired in 1893.Though an active member of parliament, he was not anxious for office, and only once was included in a government; he was Minister for Education in the Bray ministry from March to June 1884.