Thomas d'Alton
Thomas George De Largie "Tom" d'Alton (8 December 1895 – 7 May 1968) was an Australian politician and diplomat. He was born in Warracknabeal in Victoria.[1] In 1931 d'Alton was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly as a Labor member for Darwin; he was a minister from 1934 to 1943, and had been Deputy Premier.
In 1943 Herbert Evatt saw a need for a High Commissioner in Wellington to coordinate views (a new post) and chose the "colourful figure" d'Alton, who however chose to retain his seat and salary in the Tasmanian Parliament. Three months after arriving he got into a punch-up with the landlord of the Post Office Hotel, Wellington. Questions from the Opposition in the Federal Parliament asked if he was a worthy reply to boxer Bob Fitzsimmons the Freckled Wonder who moved to Australia from New Zealand.[2][3][4][5]
In 1946 he was the subject of a Royal Commission alleging corruption. He was elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council, again representing Labor, for the seat of Gordon in 1947, serving until his death in Hobart in 1968.[6]
References
- Haig, Alan, "D'Alton, Thomas George (Tom) (1895–1968)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 27 September 2015
- Hensley, Gerald (2009). Beyond the Battlefield: New Zealand and its Allies 1939-45. Auckland: Penguin/Viking. pp. 278–9. ISBN 9780670074044.
- "Appointment of High Commissioner welcomed in N.Z.", Advocate, Burnie, Tasmania, p. 2, 3 December 1943
- Commissioner Arrival in New Zealand, 8 December 1943
- Commissioner with seat in Tasmanian Parliament
- "d'Alton, Thomas George De Largie". Parliament of Tasmania. 2005. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| New title Position established |
Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand 1943–1946 |
Succeeded by Roden Cutler |
| Tasmanian Legislative Council | ||
| Preceded by James McDonald |
Member for Gordon 1947–1968 |
Succeeded by Alby Broadby |