McGowen ministry

State of New South Wales (1911–1915)

The McGowen ministry was the 34th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 18th Premier, the Honourable James McGowen, JP, MLA. This ministry marks the first Labor ministry in the state of New South Wales.

McGowen was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1891, serving until 1917, before being appointed to the Legislative Council. He succeeded in defeating the government of Charles Wade at the 1910 state election and was commissioned to form government by Lord Chelmsford, Governor of New South Wales.

The ministry covers the period from 21 October 1910 until 29 June 1913[1][2] when McGowen was successfully challenged as Leader of the Labor Party by his deputy, William Holman.

Composition of ministry

First arrangement

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier McGowen on 21 October 1910 and covers the period up to 10 September 1911, 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 Hon. James McGowen, JP MLA   Labor 21 October 1910 29 June 1913 2 years, 251 days
Colonial Treasurer
Registrar of Records
  26 November 1911 1 year, 36 days
Attorney General Hon. William Holman, MLA   29 June 1913 2 years, 251 days
Minister of Justice   1 April 1912 1 year, 163 days
Colonial Secretary
Registrar of Records
Hon. Donald Macdonell, MLA a   26 October 1911 1 year, 5 days
Minister for Agriculture   10 September 1911 324 days
Secretary for Lands Hon. Neils Neilsen, MLA b   1 August 1911 284 days
Hon. Fred Flowers, MLC   4 August 1911 26 November 1911 117 days
Vice-President of the Executive Council
Representative of the Government in Legislative Council
  21 October 1910 29 June 1913 2 years, 251 days
Secretary for Public Works Hon. Arthur Griffith, MLA  
Minister of Public Instruction Hon. George Beeby, MLA   10 September 1911 324 days
Minister for Labour and Industry  
Secretary for Mines Hon. Alfred Edden, MLA   29 June 1913 2 years, 251 days
Ministers without portfolio Hon. Ambrose Carmichael, MLA  
Hon. John Treflé, MLA  
^a Macdonell was absent from the State from 1 March 1911 due to illness. He died on 26 October 1911, while in office.
^b On 25 July 1911, two Labor Members of the Legislative Assembly resigned from the Labor Party and Parliament in protest at legislation on land ownership introduced by Lands Minister, Niels Nielson. As a result Labor was left without a majority in the house and rather than face a vote of no confidence, the Ministry and Speaker resigned. This forced the House to be prorogued with the result that Donald Macdonell, who was unwell but expected to recover, was automatically expelled for non-attendance during an entire session. By the time of the subsequent by-elections, Labor policy had been reversed and Nielsen had left the ministry

Second arrangement

This arrangement covers the period from 11 September 1911 until 26 November 1911, unless the Minister retains the portfolio for the full term. Ministers are listed in order of seniority. Only changes in portfolios are shown below.

Portfolio Minister Party Term commence Term end Term of office
Colonial Secretary
Registrar of Records
Hon. Fred Flowers, MLC   Labor 7 November 1911 26 November 1911 19 days
Secretary for Lands Hon. George Beeby, MLA c   11 September 1911 9 December 1912 1 year, 89 days
Minister of Public Instruction Hon. Ambrose Carmichael, MLA   26 November 1911 76 days
Minister of Labor and Industry  
Minister for Agriculture Hon. John Treflé, MLA   7 November 1911 29 June 1913 1 year, 234 days
Minister without portfolio Hon. John Dacey, MLA   10 November 1911 26 November 1911 16 days
^c Beeby resigned from the ministry, parliament and party in protest at the power of the extra-parliamentary Labor Party executive in December 1912, necessitating a further reshuffle.

Third arrangement

This arrangement covers the period from 27 November 1911 until 11 April 1912. Ministers are listed in order of seniority. Only changes in portfolios are shown below.

Portfolio Minister Party Term commence Term end Term of office
Colonial Secretary
Registrar of Records
Hon. James McGowen, JP MLA   Labor 27 November 1911 29 June 1913 1 year, 214 days
Colonial Treasurer
Registrar of Records
Hon. John Dacey, MLA d   11 April 1912 136 days
Minister of Public Instruction Hon. FredFlowers, MLC   29 February 1912 94 days
Hon. Ambrose Carmichael, MLA   1 March 1912 29 June 1913 1 year, 120 days
Minister for Labour and Industry Hon. George Beeby, MLA c   27 November 1911 9 December 1912 1 year, 12 days
^c Beeby resigned from the ministry, parliament and party in protest at the power of the extra-parliamentary Labor Party executive in December 1912, necessitating a further reshuffle.
^d Dacey died on 11 April 1912, resulting in another reshuffle in McGowen's senior Ministers.

Fourth arrangement

This arrangement covers the period from 12 April 1912 until 29 June 1913, when the parliament was dissolved. Only changes in portfolios are shown below.

Portfolio Minister Party Term commence Term end Term of office
Colonial Secretary
Registrar of Records
Hon. Ambrose Carmichael, MLA   Labor 17 April 1912 5 May 1912 18 days
Hon. John Cann, MLA   6 May 1912 29 June 1913 1 year, 54 days
Secretary for Lands Hon. John Treflé, MLA   10 December 1912 201 days
Minister for Labour and Industry Hon. Ambrose Carmichael, MLA  
Minister for Justice
Solicitor-General
Hon. David Hall, MLC   2 April 1912 1 year, 88 days

See also

References

  1. "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 3 January 2012.
  2. Wah, Malvyne Jong; Page, Jeffrey E. (November 2007). "New South Wales Parliamentary Record 1824 2007" (PDF). VIII. Parliament of New South Wales: 263–264. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
Preceded by
Wade ministry
McGowen ministry
1910  1913
Succeeded by
Holman ministry (1913 – 1916)
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