He was defeated in the federal election of 13 December 1919, and thereafter spent some time in Adelaide working in advertising. By 1921 he was farming at Laanecoorie, Victoria, and the following year contested the Victorian seat of Eaglehawk without success. In 1927 he returned to Bendigo, spending eighteen months as organisation secretary for the Advance Bendigo and the North League.
He was beaten in the federal election on December 13, 1919, and subsequently worked as an ad executive in Adelaide. By 1921, he had begun farming at Laanecoorie, Victoria, and ran for the Victorian seat of Eaglehawk in 1922 without winning. In 1927, he returned to Bendigo and served as secretary for the Advance Bendigo and North League for eighteen months.