In 1951 he successfully contested the New Guinea Islands seat in the first elections to the Legislative Council. He was re-elected in 1954 with 78% of the vote, but was defeated by Dudley Jones in the 1957 elections. He contested the New Guinea Islands seat in the 1960 elections, and was returned unopposed. In the 1961 elections he won the new New Britain (European) constituency, running as a candidate of the United Progress Party. In 1963 he managed the Papua and New Guinea athletics team that competed at the first South Pacific Games.