First Cain Ministry

The First Cain Ministry was the 50th ministry of the Government of Victoria (Australia). It was led by the Premier of Victoria, John Cain of the Labour Party. The ministry was sworn in on 14 September 1943,^[1] but lasted less than four days. On 15 September, barely 24 hours after Governor of Victoria Sir Winston Dugan had sworn-in the cabinet, the government was defeated in the Legislative Assembly. Cain's motion to adjourn the parliament for over a week was defeated by the Country Party and the UAP, and Opposition Leader, Albert Dunstan, moved that Parliament resume the next day, giving notice that he would move a motion of no confidence against Cain's government, confident it would be carried by the CP–UAP alliance.^[2] Cain indicated that he would request a dissolution of parliament from the Governor, but if his request was refused, he would resign as Premier.^[3] On 17 September, Cain visited the Governor who refused his request for a dissolution—Cain then resigned and the Governor commissioned Dunstan to form a government, which was sworn in on Saturday 18 September.^[4]

Portfolios

Office	Minister
Premier Treasurer Minister for Decentralization and Reconstruction	The Hon John Cain, MLA
Deputy Premier Chief Secretary	The Hon Herbert Cremean, MLA
Minister for Public Instruction Vice-President of the Board of Lands and Works	The Hon Frank Field, MLA
Attorney-General Solicitor-General Minister in Charge of Electrical Undertakings	The Hon William Slater, MLA
Minister for Agriculture and Mining	The Hon William McKenzie, MLA
Minister for Transport	The Hon Bill Barry, MLA
Minister for Works	The Hon Jack Holland, MLA
Minister for Health	The Hon Percy Clarey, MLC
Ministers without Portfolio	The Hon Daniel McNamara, MLC The Hon Clive Stoneham, MLA The Hon Pat Kennelly, MLC The Hon Paul Jones, MLC

References

1. "LABOUR MINISTRY IN VICTORIA.". The Canberra Times (National Library of Australia). 15 September 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
2. "CAIN MINISTRY DEFEATED.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 16 September 1943. p. 4. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
3. "SHORT LIFE.". The Cairns Post (Qld.: National Library of Australia). 16 September 1943. p. 5. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
4. "DISSOLUTION REFUSED.". The Cairns Post (Qld.: National Library of Australia). 18 September 1943. p. 4. Retrieved 27 March 2011.