Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1935–38)

The Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1935–1938) or Second Stevens–Bruxner ministry or Second Stevens ministry was the 47th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 25th Premier, the Honourable Bertram Stevens, MLA, in a United Australia Party coalition with the Country Party, that was led by the Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Bruxner, DSO, MLA. The ministry was the second one of three occasions when the Government was led by Stevens, as Premier; and second of four occasions where Bruxner served as Deputy Premier.

State of New South Wales (1915–1938)

Stevens was first elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1927 and served continuously until 1940. Having served as a senior minister in the Bavin ministry, following the defeat of the Nationalist coalition led by Bavin, who was in poor health,[1] at the 1932 state election, Stevens was elected leader of the newly formed United Australia Party (UAP) in New South Wales and became Opposition Leader. 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.

The Stevens–Bruxner coalition came to power as a result of the Lang Dismissal Crisis, when the Governor of New South Wales, Philip Game used the reserve power of The Crown to remove Jack Lang as Premier, asking Stevens to form government. Going to the polls a month later, Stevens/Bruxner won a landslide victory at the 1932 state election and were re-elected at the 1935 state election, albeit with a reduced margin.

This ministry covers the period from 11 February 1935 until 13 April 1938[2][3] when the 1938 state election saw the Stevens–Bruxner coalition re-elected for a subsequent and third term.

Composition of ministry

First arrangement

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Stevens on 11 February 1935 and covers the period until 21 August 1935 when there was a minor rearrangement, unless the Minister retains the portfolio for the full term. Ministers are listed in order of seniority.

Portfolio Minister Party Term commence Term end Term of office
Premier
Colonial Treasurer		 Hon. Bertram Stevens, MLA   UAP 10 February 1935 13 April 1938 3 years, 61 days
Secretary for Public Works   21 August 1935 191 days
Deputy Premier
Minister for Transport		 Hon. Lieut-Colonel Michael Bruxner, DSO, MLA   Country 13 April 1938 3 years, 61 days
Attorney–General
Vice-President of the Executive Council
Representative of the Government in Legislative Council		 Hon. Henry Manning, KC, BA, LLB, MLC   UAP
Minister for Lands Hon. Ernest Buttenshaw, MLA a   Country 31 January 1938 2 years, 354 days
Colonial Secretary Hon. Captain Frank Chaffey, MLA   UAP 13 April 1938 3 years, 61 days
Minister of Education Hon. David Drummond, MLA   Country
Minister for Labour and Industry Hon. John Dunningham, MLA   UAP
Minister for Agriculture Hon. Hugh Main, MLA a   Country 1 April 1938 3 years, 49 days
Assistant Minister in the Legislative Council Hon. James Ryan, MLC   UAP 13 April 1938 3 years, 61 days
Minister for Local Government Hon. Eric Spooner, MLA  
Assistant Treasurer   21 August 1935 191 days
Secretary for Mines
Minister for Forests		 Hon. Roy Vincent, MLA   Country 13 April 1938 3 years, 61 days
Minister for Justice Hon. Lewis Martin, BA, LLB, MLA   UAP
Assistant Colonial Secretary Hon. Herbert Hawkins, MLC   21 August 1935 191 days
Minister for Health Hon. Herbert FitzSimons, MLA   13 April 1938 3 years, 61 days
^a Resigned

Second arrangement

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Stevens on 22 August 1935 and covers the period up to 13 April 1938. Ministers are listed in order of seniority. Only changes in portfolios are shown.

Portfolio Minister Party Term commence Term end Term of office
Secretary for Public Works Hon. Eric Spooner, MLA   UAP 22 August 1935 13 April 1938 2 years, 234 days
Minister for Social Services Hon. Herbert Hawkins, MLC  
Honorary Minister Hon. Major James Shand, VD, MLA  
Minister without portfolio Hon. George Gollan, MLA   2 April 1937 1 year, 11 days
Hon. Colin Sinclair, BA, LLB, MLA   Country 29 June 1937 31 January 1938 216 days
Secretary for Lands   1 February 1938 13 April 1938 71 days
Minister for Agriculture Hon. Roy Vincent, MLA   2 April 1938 11 days

See also

References
  1. McCarthy, John. "Bavin, Sir Thomas Rainsford". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  2. "Former Members - Chronological List of Ministries 1856 to 2009 (requires download)". Project for the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in NSW. Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original (Excel spreadsheet) on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  3. "Part 6: Ministries" (PDF). New South Wales Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
Preceded by
Stevens-Bruxner ministry (1932–1935)		 Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1935–1938)
1935–1938		 Succeeded by
Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1938–1939)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.