 In 1918, as a prominent protectionist in the tariff debate then raging, became founding editor and part-owner of the Australian Industrial and Mining Standard to 1927.He was involved in companies mining for tin in Malaya and Siam.With retirement from journalism, he became involved with keeping Australian fauna in the Melbourne Zoological Gardens, being president 1921–36 of the Zoological and Acclimatization Society of Victoria, and later vice-chairman of the Zoological Society of Victoria.