Mair–Bruxner ministry
Mair–Bruxner ministry | |
|---|---|
 49th Cabinet of the State of New South Wales | |
 Premier Alexander Mair | |
| Date formed | 5 August 1939 |
| Date dissolved | 16 May 1941 |
| People and organisations | |
| Monarch | George VI |
| Governor | The Lord Wakehurst |
| Premier | Alexander Mair |
| Deputy Premier | Michael Bruxner |
| No. of ministers | 12 |
| Member party | UAP/Country coalition |
| Status in legislature | Majority government |
| Opposition party | Labor |
| Opposition leader | Jack Lang/William McKell |
| History | |
| Election | 1938 New South Wales election |
| Outgoing election | 1941 New South Wales election |
| Predecessor | Third Stevens-Bruxner ministry |
| Successor | First McKell Ministry |
The Mair–Bruxner ministry or Mair ministry was the 49th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 26th Premier, Alexander Mair, in a United Australia Party coalition with the Country Party, that was led by Michael Bruxner. The ministry was the only occasion when the Government was led by Mair, as Premier; and fourth and final occasion where Bruxner served as Deputy Premier.
Mair was first elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1932 and served continuously until 1946. Having served as a junior minister in the third Stevens ministry and subsequently promoted,[1] Stevens had resigned as Premier following the passing of a censure motion concerning Mair's proposal to cut government spending in order to restrain a growing deficit, with ten United Australia members crossing the floor to vote against the government.[2][3] Eric Spooner had ambitions to replace Stevens as leader however Bruxner refused to join a coalition with him and Mair won the leadership ballot and hence became Premier. Bruxner was first elected to the Assembly in 1920 and served continuously until 1962. Initially a member of the Progressive Party, he served as party leader in opposition between 1922 and 1925; and resumed leadership in 1932, following the resignation of his successor, Ernest Buttenshaw. By this stage, the party was renamed as the Country Party.
This ministry covers the period from 5 August 1939 until 16 May 1941,[4] when the 1941 state election saw the defeat of the Mair–Bruxner coalition, and the Labor Party winning government under the leadership of William McKell.
Composition of ministry
[edit]The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Mair on 5 August 1939 for eleven days until 16 August 1939 as an "emergency cabinet" pending formation of the full ministry as a result of the turmoil following the resignation of Stevens. At that point there was a minor rearrangement.
| Portfolio | Minister | Party | Term commence | Term end | Term of office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier | Alexander Mair | United Australia | 5 August 1939 | 16 May 1941 | 1 year, 284 days | |
| Treasurer | 16 August 1939 | 11 days | ||||
| Athol Richardson | 16 August 1939 | 16 May 1941 | 1 year, 273 days | |||
| Secretary for Public Works Minister for Local Government |
Alexander Mair | 5 August 1939 | 1 year, 284 days | |||
| Lewis Martin | 16 August 1939 | 1 year, 273 days | ||||
| Deputy Premier Minister for Transport |
Michael Bruxner [a] | Country | 5 August 1939 | 1 year, 284 days | ||
| Attorney–General Vice-president of the Executive Council Representative of the Government in Legislative Council |
Henry Manning, KC, MLC [a] | United Australia | 1 year, 284 days | |||
| Minister for Education | David Drummond [a] | Country | ||||
| Secretary for Mines Minister for Forests |
Roy Vincent [a] | |||||
| Minister for Justice | Lewis Martin [a] | United Australia | 16 August 1939 | 11 days | ||
| Vernon Treatt | 16 August 1939 | 16 May 1941 | 1 year, 273 days | |||
| Chief Secretary | George Gollan [a] | 5 August 1939 | 16 August 1939 | 11 days | ||
| Alwyn Tonking | 16 August 1939 | 16 May 1941 | 1 year, 273 days | |||
| Minister for Lands | Colin Sinclair [a][b] | Country | 5 August 1939 | 6 November 1940 | 1 year, 93 days | |
| Alfred Yeo | 6 November 1940 | 16 May 1941 | 191 days | |||
| Minister for Agriculture | Albert Reid [a] | 5 August 1939 | 1 year, 284 days | |||
| Minister for Labour and Industry and | Athol Richardson [a] | United Australia | 16 August 1939 | 11 days | ||
| George Gollan | 16 August 1939 | 16 May 1941 | 1 year, 273 days | |||
| Minister for Health | Hubert Primrose | 5 August 1939 | 5 September 1939 | 31 days | ||
| Herbert FitzSimons | 5 September 1939 | 16 May 1941 | 1 year, 253 days | |||
| Assistant Minister | Marsden Manfred, MLC | 5 August 1939 | 1 year, 284 days | |||
| Assistant Minister | Hubert Primrose | 5 September 1939 | 1 year, 253 days | |||
Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.
See also
[edit]
- Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1938-1941
- Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council, 1937-1940
- Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council, 1940-1943
References
[edit]- ^ Ewer, Peter; Spearritt, Peter. "Mair, Alexander (1889–1969)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ Lloyd, C. J. (2002). "Spooner, Eric Sydney (1891–1952)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943.
- ^ "State finances" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). New South Wales: Legislative Assembly. 3 August 1939. pp. 5700–5720. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ^ "Part 6 Ministries since 1856" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
