Mair–Bruxner ministry

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Mair–Bruxner ministry
49th Cabinet of the State of New South Wales
Alexander mair.jpg
Premier Alexander Mair
Date formed5 August 1939
Date dissolved16 May 1941
People and organisations
MonarchGeorge VI
GovernorThe Lord Wakehurst
PremierAlexander Mair
Deputy PremierMichael Bruxner
No. of ministers12
Member partyUAP/Country coalition
Status in legislatureMajority government
Opposition partyLabor
Opposition leaderJack Lang/William McKell
History
Election(s)1938 New South Wales election
Outgoing election1941 New South Wales election
PredecessorThird Stevens-Bruxner ministry
SuccessorFirst 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[]

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

Minister for Social Services

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.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Retained portfolios from Third Stevens–Bruxner ministry.
  2. ^ Resigned.

See also[]

  • 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[]

  1. ^ Ewer, Peter; Spearritt, Peter. "Mair, Alexander (1889–1969)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 1 July 2020 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  2. ^ Lloyd, C. J. (2002). "Spooner, Eric Sydney (1891–1952)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  3. ^ "State finances" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). New South Wales: Legislative Assembly. 3 August 1939. pp. 5700–5720. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  4. ^ Part 6 Ministries since 1856 (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2020.

 

New South Wales government ministries
Preceded by Mair–Bruxner ministry
1939–1941 		Succeeded by
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