FEDERAL MINISTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1932, Page 3

FEDERAL MINISTRY

THE NEW PRIME MINISTER. Mr Lyons is the first Tasmanian Prime Minister of the Commonwealth. He entered Federal politics by winning the Wilmot seat in 1929, after having been associated for twenty-three years with the public life of his native State. Born at Stanley in 1879, and educated at Ulverstone and Stanley State Schools and the Teachers’ Training College, he was a State school teacher when he first sought election to the Tasmanian House of Assembly. He was forced to -abandon his studies oil becoming leader of the Opposition in .1916. When Labour again assumed office in 1923, it was with Mr Lyons as Premier, Treasurer and Minister ol ■Railways. He remained in office until the defeat of tile Lyons Ministry in 1927. Notwithstanding his lack of experience in Federal affairs, Mr Lyons was appointed Postmaster-General and Minister of Works and Railways in the ■Scullin Ministry in 1929. He acted as Treasurer in the absence of Mr-Scullin in England, and became famous by reason of his handling of the 1930 conversion loan. Then, followed his break with Mr Scullin and with the Labour Party.

MR BRUCE'S CAREER. . Mr Bruce, who was born in Melbourne, has had a distinguished career in both public and private life. After a university education in Great Britain, he was called to the Bar at M-akhe Temple in 1907. On his return to Melbourne, he became a partner in tile firm of Messrs;- Patterson, Lntiig and Bruce. He was elected member for Flinders in 1918, and he held the -seat until his defeat, in 1929. Mr Bruce resigned bis position a s managing director of his (firm on accepting office as Federal Treasurer in the Hughes Ministry in December, 1921. He was Prime Minister from February, 1923, until his defeat. He was created a Privy Councillor in June, 1823. He saw service in ■the Great War, was promoted to the rank of captain, and was twice wounded. He won the Military Cross and the -Croix de Guerre, and in 1917 he was demobilised on account of wounds. THE DEPUTY-LEADER.

Mr John Greig Latham, C.M.G., K.C., M.A., LL.B., wa s born in August, 1877, and was educated at Scots College and Melbourne University. In due course he qualified as a solicitor, and was eventually appointed King’s Counsel. During the war he served with the Navy, with the rank of lieutenantcomniander, attending the Peace Conference with the British Naval delegation. He was appointed to a number of European Commissions, including that to decide the fate ol the former German colonies. It was tor these services that he was created C.M.G. He has represented Kooyong since 1922. He succeeded Sir Littleton Groome as Attorney-General in 1926, and when Mr Bruce was defeated oecame leader of the Nationalist Party.

•Senator Sir George Pearce, whom Sii Mark Sheldon describes as having the best political intellect in Australia, began life a§ a carpenter and joiner. He was elected senator for Western Australia in the first Commonwealth Parliament in 1901, and has been returned at all subsequent elections. He is now 5 the only members of the Federal Parliament who was in th e original Senate. He was a delegate to the Imperial Conference in 1911, and visited Ur at Britain in connection with the lepati inti on of Australian soldiers in 1919. He was also a signatory of the Peace Treaty with Austria. He represented the Commonwealth at the W'ashmgon Conference in 1921 lor the 'limitation

of armaments, his work there being the subject of warm tribute bv Lord Balfour. WIRELESS SOLDI MR. Mr Mari, honorary .Minister in, and secretary of .nr Bruce's las! Cabinet, and formerly Chief Whip to th Nationalist Party, entered polities in 1919, representing Parkes until 1929. llis carrer is strangely like that ot Mr .Bruce, for both gave brilliant service during the war, both entered Parliament, in 1919. and both were defeated in the Labour sweep of 1929. Both are in the Federal Cabinet now. As a major, Mr Man- commanded the Australian and New Zealand Wireless Squadron in Mesopotamia and Persia, wheie

he was awarded the D.S.O. ami the I.M.'C. He had previously erected the Government wireless station at Pennant Bills, the first in Australia. EX-LABOUR M > N INTER. \ vigorous and forceful debater, Mr .lames Edward Fenton has represented Alaribyrnong in the House <>l Representatives since 19.10. Before his entry into polities he was a member ol the Printing Industry Union, being connected with a country newspaper «' ißroad ford. Mr Menton resigned Iron, the Federal Cabinet with Mr Lyons, nearly a year ago, following the spß* which culminated in the recent. tion. A convinced protectionist, he w'l. he a strong supporter of Hie tanii policy of the United Australia Party. With’ the development "t wireless broadcasting the Postmaster-Generals department is regarded as otic ol niajm importance. IBs previous PaHinnieut;|lV experience has included Ihe appointment of Whip to the La boil' - Parts - memle rship of Hie Stain mg (’oml'ni - ' tec o ■■nhlie Works from 1 to 1917, and the Vice-chairmans!,ip ol ,la* Public Accounts Com.ni Bee. lfe was appointed Minister for Trade and Cos t L ip Mr Scuiiiu-6 Cabinet; cf IS®-