Mat Davidson

Mat Davidson
Secretary for Public Works
In office 4 November 1930 – 13 May 1932
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Cobar
In office 11 May 1918 – 18 February 1920
Preceded by	Charles Fern
Succeeded by	Seat Abolished
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Sturt
In office 20 March 1920 – 7 September 1927 Serving with Brian Doe (1920–1927) Percy Brookfield (1920–1921) Jabez Wright (1921–1922) Ted Horsington (1922–1927)
Preceded by	Percy Brookfield
Succeeded by	Ted Horsington
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Murray
In office 8 October 1927 – 18 September 1930
Preceded by	Matthew Kilpatrick Vern Goodin Richard Ball
Succeeded by	John Donovan
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Cobar
In office 25 October 1930 – 9 January 1949
Preceded by	New Seat
Succeeded by	Ernest Wetherell
Personal details
Born	Charles Mark Anthony Davidson 2 May 1869 Sydney, New South Wales
Died	9 January 1949 (aged 79) Little Bay, New South Wales
Resting place	Northern Suburbs Roman Catholic Cemetery
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Gertrude Mary Snape
Occupation	Bushworker, Miner, Barber
Religion	Roman Catholic

Charles Mark Anthony "Mat" Davidson (2 May 1869 – 9 January 1949) was an Australian politician.

Early life

Davidson was born in Sydney to James Davidson, a tailor from Edinburgh, and his wife Margaret. Davidson left school at 12 to begin an apprenticeship as a tailor, which he did not complete. After a short period working on a coastal vessel trading with the Pacific islands Davidson worked as a bushworker, shearer and tank sinker in the Monaro. He worked as miner from about 1888 to 1896 in Victoria, Broken Hill and Cobar. He lost an eye in a mining accident and became a tobacconist and barber in Cobar. He married Gertrude Mary Snape in July 1901 and they had three daughters and one son. Davidson was a foundation member of the Australian Workers' Union and helped to form a local branch of the Amalgamated Miners' Association in Cobar. He was active in local politics, being a member of the Political Labor League, the District Hospital Board, the racing club, the School of Arts and the Eight-Hour Day Sports committees. He also served as an alderman on the Cobar Municipal Council from 1913 to 1918, where he worked to promote railway extension.^[1]

Parliamentary career

In 1918 Davidson was elected as an Australian Labor Party member for Cobar in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. With the introduction of proportional representation in 1920, the seat of Cobar was absorbed into Sturt and he was elected as one of its members. He served as Labor whip in the state parliament from 1923 to 1930.^[1] With the abolition of proportional representation in 1927, he was elected as the member for Murray. In 1930, following another redistribution, he was again elected as the member for Cobar. From November 1930 to May 1932 Davidson served as Secretary for Public Works in the Third Lang Ministry.^[1] During the 30 years he spent in state parliament his electorates always included Cobar. He died in office in the Sydney suburb of Little Bay, New South Wales.^[2]

Notes

1. Gallagher, J. E. (1981). "Davidson, Charles Mark Anthony (1869–1949)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
2. "Mr Mark Anthony Davidson (1869 - 1949)". Members of Parliament. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 28 February 2010.