Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1938–39)

State of New South Wales (1915–1938)

The Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1938–1939) or Third Stevens–Bruxner ministry or Third Stevens ministry was the 48th 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 third of three occasions when the Government was led by Stevens, as Premier; and third 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 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 pollls a month later, Stevens/Bruxner won a landslide victory at the 1932 state election and were re-elected at the 1935 and 1938 state elections, albeit with reduced margins.

This ministry covers the period from 13 April 1938 until 5 August 1939^[2][3] when the deputy leader of the UAP, Eric Spooner resigned from cabinet and on 1 August 1939, moved a no confidence motion against Stevens for not running a balanced budget. Stevens resigned as Premier and Leader of the UAP, and was succeeded by Alexander Mair, who formed a coalition with Bruxner.^[4]

Composition of ministry

First arrangement

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Stevens on 13 April 1938 and covers the period until 13 October 1938 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^a	Hon. Bertram Stevens, MLA		UAP	13 April 1938	5 August 1939	1 year, 114 days
Colonial Treasurer					13 October 1938	183 days
Deputy Premier Minister for Transport	Hon. Lieut-Colonel Michael Bruxner, DSO, MLA		Country		5 August 1939	1 year, 114 days
Attorney–General Vice-President of the Executive Council Representative of the Government in Legislative Council	Hon. Henry Manning, KC, BA, LLB, MLC		UAP
Secretary for Public Works Minister for Local Government	Hon. Eric Spooner, MLA^b				21 July 1939	1 year, 99 days
Minister of Education	Hon. David Drummond, MLA		Country		5 August 1939	1 year, 114 days
Minister for Labour and Industry	Hon. John Dunninghan, MLA^c		UAP		26 May 1938	43 days
	Hon. Alexander Mair, MLA			1 June 1938	13 October 1938	134 days
Assistant Minister				13 April 1938	1 June 1938	49 days
Minister for Justice	Hon. Lewis Martin, BA, LLB, MLA				5 August 1939	1 year, 114 days
Minister for Health	Hon. Herbert FitzSimons, MLA
Minister for Social Services	Hon. Herbert Hawkins, MLC				13 October 1938	183 days
Colonial Secretary	Hon. George Gollan, MLA				5 August 1939	1 year, 114 days
Minister for Lands	Hon. Colin Sinclair, BA, LLB, MLA		Country
Minister for Agriculture	Hon. Major Albert Reid, MC, MLA
Honorary Minister	Hon. Athol Richardson		UAP		13 October 1938	183 days
Secretary for Mines Minister for Forests	Hon. Roy Vincent, MLA		Country		5 August 1939	1 year, 114 days

^a Resigned as Premier as a result of a no confidence motion being passed

^b Spooner, Deputy Leader of the UAP, resigned in protest against Stevens and his ability to run a balanced budget. Spooner went on to move a motion of no confidence in Stevens that resulted in Stevens resigning as Premier.

^c Died in office

Secoond arrangement

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Stevens on 13 October 1938 and covers the period until 5 August 1939 when Stevens resigned as Premier. Ministers are listed in order of seniority. Only changes in portfolios are shown.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Colonial Treasurer	Hon. Alexander Mair, MLA		UAP	13 October 1938	5 August 1939	296 days
Minister for Labour and Industry	Hon. Herbert Hawkins, MLC^a				16 June 1939	246 days
	Hon. Athol Richardson, MLA			26 June 1939	5 August 1939	40 days
Minister for Social Services				13 October 1938		296 days
Member of the Executive Council Assistant Minister	Hon. Hubert Primrose, MLA			26 June 1939		40 days
	Hon. Marsden Manfred, MLC
Secretary for Public Works Minister for Local Government	Hon. Bertram Stevens, MLA			21 July 1939		15 days

^a Died in office

See also

• Bertram Stevens - 25th Premier of New South Wales
• Michael Bruxner - Leader of the New South Wales Country Party
• First Stevens–Bruxner ministry
• Second Stevens–Bruxner ministry
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1938-1941

References

1. McCarthy, John. "Bavin, Sir Thomas Rainsford". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
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. Wah, Malvyne Jong; Page, Jeffrey E. (November 2007). "New South Wales Parliamentary Record 1824 – 2007" (PDF). VIII. Parliament of New South Wales: 274–275. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
4. Ward, John M. "Stevens, Sir Bertram Sydney Barnsdale (1889 - 1973)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 24 March 2012.