Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1932–35)

State of New South Wales (1915–1938)

The Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1932–1935) or First Stevens–Bruxner ministry or First Stevens ministry was the 46th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 25th Premier, the Honourable Bertram Stevens, MLA, in an United Australia Party coalition with the Country Party, that was led by the Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Bruxner, DSO, MLA. The ministry was one of three occasions when the Government was led by Stevens, as Premier; and one 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.

This ministry covers the period from 13 May 1932 when, as a result of the Lang Dismissal Crisis, the Governor of New South Wales, Philip Game used the reserve power of The Crown to remove Jack Lang as Premier. The ministry served until 10 February 1935^[2][3] when the 1935 state election saw the Stevens–Bruxner coalition re-elected for a subsequent term.

Composition of ministry

First arrangement

In the first arrangement, lasting just two days, Stevens was the only Member of Government pending formation of the full ministry as a result of the turmoil following the dismissal of Lang and his third ministry.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Premier and Executive Councillor	Hon. Bertram Stevens, MLA		UAP	13 May 1932	15 May 1932	2 days

Second arrangement

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Stevens on 16 May 1932 and covers a period of a little over one month as an "emergency ministry" up until 17 June 1932 when the outcome of the 1932 state election was determined. At that point, a minor reshuffle of the ministry was effected. A number of ministers appointed in February retained their portfolio for the full term, until the 1935 state election. Ministers are listed in order of seniority.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Premier Colonial Treasurer	Hon. Bertram Stevens, MLA		UAP	16 May 1932	10 February 1935	2 years, 270 days
Deputy Premier^a Minister for Transport	Hon. Lieut-Colonel Michael Bruxner, DSO, MLA		Country
Minister for Local Government					17 June 1932	32 days
Secretary for Public Works Minister for Health	Hon. Reginald Weaver, MLA		UAP		10 February 1935	2 years, 270 days
Colonial Secretary	Hon. Captain Frank Chaffey, MLA
Secretary for Mines					17 June 1932	32 days
Minister for Lands	Hon. Ernest Buttenshaw, MLA		Country		10 February 1935	2 years, 270 days
Minister of Education	Hon. David Drummond, MLA
Attorney General Minister for Justice	Hon. Sir Daniel Levy, Kt, BA, LLB, MLA		UAP		17 June 1932	32 days
Minister for Labour and Industry	Hon. John Dunninghan, MLA				10 February 1935	2 years, 270 days
Minister for Agriculture	Hon. Hugh Main, MLA		Country
Minister for Forests					17 June 1932	32 days
Vice-President of the Executive Council Representative of the Government in Legislative Council	Hon. James Ryan, MLC		UAP

^a Portfolio and position of Deputy Premier created for the first time.

Third arrangement

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Stevens on 18 June 1932 and covers the period up to 10 February 1935. Ministers are listed in order of seniority. Only changes in portfolios are shown.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Attorney General Vice-President of the Executive Council Representative of the Government in Legislative Council	Hon. Henry Manning, KC, BA, LLB, MLC		UAP	18 June 1932	10 February 1935	2 years, 237 days
Minister for Justice	Hon. Lewis Martin, BA, LLB, MLA
Assistant Minister in the Legislative Council	Hon. James Ryan, MLC
Minister for Local Government	Hon. Joseph Jackson, MLA^a				14 February 1933	241 days
	Hon. Eric Spooner, MLA			15 February 1933	10 February 1935	1 year, 360 days
Honorary Minister assisting Colonial Treasurer				18 June 1932	14 February 1933	241 days
Assistant Treasurer				15 February 1933	10 February 1935	1 year, 360 days
Secretary for Mines Minister for Forests	Hon. Roy Vincent, MLA		Country	18 June 1932		2 years, 237 days
Honorary Minister assisting the Minister for Labour and Industry	Hon. Herbert Hawkins, MLC		UAP		5 January 1933	201 days
Assistant Colonial Secretary				5 January 1933	10 February 1935	2 years, 36 days
Honorary Minister	Hon. Herbert FitzSimons, MLA			15 February 1933	10 February 1935	1 year, 360 days

^a Resigned office

See also

• Bertram Stevens - 25th Premier of New South Wales
• Michael Bruxner - Leader of the New South Wales Country Party
• Second Stevens–Bruxner ministry
• Third Stevens–Bruxner ministry
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1932-1935

References

1. McCarthy, John. "Bavin, Sir Thomas Rainsford". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
2. "Former Members - Chronological List of Ministries 1856 to 2009 (requires download)" (Excel spreadsheet). Project for the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in NSW. Parliament of New South Wales. 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: 272–273. Retrieved 12 March 2012.