Detailed Instructions: In this task, you're given a passage, further information available on a particular linked term from the statement, and an answer term. Your job is to generate a question that can use the information provided to obtain the given answer. You should use the information on both passage and link information to create the question. Note that the answer to the question should be exactly the given answer, and if the answer is none, the answer to the question shouldn't be obtainable from the passage or linked information.
Problem:Passage: Smith was born in Bridgetown, Western Australia, to Eliza (née Cain) and Joseph Smith. After leaving school, he worked as a tin miner in Greenbushes for eight years, and later became the licensee of a Bridgetown hotel. He also served on the Bridgetown Road Board, including as chairman for a period. Smith was president of the local branch of the Labor Party until 1917, when he left the party. He first stood for parliament at the 1917 state election, running as an "independent Labor" candidate, but was defeated by Francis Willmott (the sitting Country Party member) in the seat of Nelson. At the 1920 Legislative Council elections, he contested South-West Province as an independent, but was again defeated by a sitting member, Ephraim Clarke of the Nationalist Party. Smith eventually entered parliament at the 1921 state election, standing as an "independent Country" candidate and defeating Willmott (his earlier opponent) in Nelson.
 Link Information: none Answer: none
Solution:
How many years did Smith serve as president of his local branch of the Labor Party?