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Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1935–1938)

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Stevens–Bruxner ministry

47th Cabinet of the State of New South Wales
Premier Bertram Stevens
Date formed11 February 1935
Date dissolved13 April 1938
People and organisations
MonarchGeorge V
Edward VIII
George V
GovernorSir Alexander Hore-Ruthven
Sir David Anderson
The Lord Wakehurst
PremierBertram Stevens
Deputy PremierMichael Bruxner
No. of ministers12
Member partyUAP/Country coalition
Status in legislatureMajority government
Opposition partyLabor (NSW)
Opposition leaderJack Lang
History
Election1935 New South Wales election
PredecessorFirst Stevens-Bruxner ministry (1932–1935)
SuccessorThird Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1938–1939)

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, Bertram Stevens, in a United Australia Party coalition with the Country Party, that was led by Michael Bruxner. 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.

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 1930 state election, Stevens was elected leader of the newly formed United Australia Party (UAP) in New South Wales and became Leader of the Opposition.[2] 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. The principal change from the first Stevens–Bruxner ministry was that Reginald Weaver, the Deputy leader of the United Australia Party, was dropped from the ministry, with Stevens describing him as "too extreme in personal independence" and possessing a "needlessly sharp tongue",[3] replaced by the promotion of Herbert FitzSimons. There were five by-elections during the ministry, with the government losing three of them.[5]

This ministry covers the period from 11 February 1935 until 13 April 1938[6][7] when the 1938 state election saw the Stevens–Bruxner coalition re-elected for a subsequent and third term.

Composition of ministry

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The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Stevens on 11 February 1935.

Portfolio Minister Party Term commence Term end Term of office
Premier
Treasurer 		Bertram Stevens [a]   United Australia 10 February 1935 13 April 1938 3 years, 61 days
Secretary for Public Works 21 August 1935 191 days
Eric Spooner 22 August 1935 13 April 1938 2 years, 234 days
Deputy Premier
Minister for Transport 		Michael Bruxner [b]   Country 10 February 1935 3 years, 61 days
Attorney–General
Vice-president of the Executive Council
Representative of the Government in Legislative Council 		Henry Manning, KC, MLC [b]   United Australia
Secretary for Lands Ernest Buttenshaw [b][c]   Country 31 January 1938 2 years, 354 days
Colin Sinclair 1 February 1938 13 April 1938 71 days
Chief Secretary Frank Chaffey [b]   United Australia 10 February 1935 3 years, 61 days
Minister for Education David Drummond [b]   Country
Minister for Labour and Industry John Dunningham [b]   United Australia
Minister for Agriculture Hugh Main [b][c]   Country 1 April 1938 3 years, 49 days
Roy Vincent [d] 2 April 1938 13 April 1938 11 days
Secretary for Mines
Minister for Forests 		10 February 1935 3 years, 61 days
Minister for Local Government Eric Spooner [b]   United Australia
Assistant Treasurer 21 August 1935 191 days
Minister for Justice Lewis Martin [b] 13 April 1938 2 years, 234 days
Minister for Health Herbert FitzSimons
Assistant Minister in the Legislative Council James Ryan, MLC [b]
Assistant Colonial Secretary Herbert Hawkins, MLC [e] 21 August 1935 191 days
Minister for Social Services 22 August 1935 13 April 1938 2 years, 234 days
Honorary Minister James Shand
Minister without portfolio George Gollan 2 April 1937 1 year, 11 days
Colin Sinclair   Country 29 June 1937 31 January 1938 216 days

  Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.

  1. ^ Retained portfolios of Premier and Treasurer from First Stevens–Bruxner ministry.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Retained portfolios from First Stevens–Bruxner ministry.
  3. ^ a b Resigned.
  4. ^ Retained portfolios of Secretary for Mines and Minister for Forests from First Stevens–Bruxner ministry.
  5. ^ Retained portfolio of Assistant Colonial Secretary from First Stevens–Bruxner ministry.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ McCarthy, John. "Bavin, Sir Thomas Rainsford (Tom) (1874–1941)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  2. ^ Ward, John M. "Stevens, Sir Bertram Sydney Barnsdale (1889–1973)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  3. ^ Bourke, Helen. "Weaver, Reginald Walter Darcy (1876–1945)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  4. ^ Green, Antony. "By-elections 1935-1938". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  5. ^ The by-elections for Corowa, Woollahra and Vaucluse were won by independents,[4] however Murray Robson (Vaucluse) rejoined the United Australia Party.
  6. ^ "Part 6 Ministries since 1856" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Former members of the New South Wales Parliament, 1856–2006". New South Wales Parliament. Retrieved 4 December 2019.

 

New South Wales government ministries
Preceded by Second Stevens–Bruxner ministry
1935–1938 		Succeeded by
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