Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1935–38)

State of New South Wales (1915–1938)

The Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1935–1938) or Second Stevens–Bruxner ministry or Second Stevens ministry was the 47th 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 the second one of three occasions when the Government was led by Stevens, as Premier; and second 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.

The Stevens–Bruxner coalition came to power as a result of the Lang Dismissal Crisis, when the Governor of New South Wales, Philip Game used the reserve power of The Crown to remove Jack Lang as Premier, asking Stevens to form government. Going to the pollls a month later, Stevens/Bruxner won a landslide victory at the 1932 state election and were re-elected at the 1935 state election, albeit with a reduced margin.

This ministry covers the period from 11 February 1935 until 13 April 1938^[2][3] when the 1938 state election saw the Stevens–Bruxner coalition re-elected for a subsequent and third term.

Composition of ministry

First arrangement

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Stevens on 11 February 1935 and covers the period until 21 August 1935 when there was a minor rearrangement, 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 Colonial Treasurer	Hon. Bertram Stevens, MLA		UAP	10 February 1935	13 April 1938	3 years, 61 days
Secretary for Public Works					21 August 1935	191 days
Deputy Premier Minister for Transport	Hon. Lieut-Colonel Michael Bruxner, DSO, MLA		Country		13 April 1938	3 years, 61 days
Attorney–General Vice-President of the Executive Council Representative of the Government in Legislative Council	Hon. Henry Manning, KC, BA, LLB, MLC		UAP
Minister for Lands	Hon. Ernest Buttenshaw, MLA^a		Country		31 January 1938	2 years, 354 days
Colonial Secretary	Hon. Captain Frank Chaffey, MLA		UAP		13 April 1938	3 years, 61 days
Minister of Education	Hon. David Drummond, MLA		Country
Minister for Labour and Industry	Hon. John Dunninghan, MLA		UAP
Minister for Agriculture	Hon. Hugh Main, MLA^b		Country		1 April 1938	3 years, 49 days
Assistant Minister in the Legislative Council	Hon. James Ryan, MLC		UAP		13 April 1938	3 years, 61 days
Minister for Local Government	Hon. Eric Spooner, MLA
Assistant Treasurer					21 August 1935	191 days
Secretary for Mines Minister for Forests	Hon. Roy Vincent, MLA		Country		13 April 1938	3 years, 61 days
Minister for Justice	Hon. Lewis Martin, BA, LLB, MLA		UAP
Assistant Colonial Secretary	Hon. Herbert Hawkins, MLC				21 August 1935	191 days
Minister for Health	Hon. Herbert FitzSimons, MLA				13 April 1938	3 years, 61 days

^a Resigned

^b Resigned

Secoond arrangement

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Stevens on 22 August 1935 and covers the period up to 13 April 1938. Ministers are listed in order of seniority. Only changes in portfolios are shown.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Secretary for Public Works	Hon. Eric Spooner, MLA		UAP	22 August 1935	13 April 1938	2 years, 234 days
Minister for Social Services	Hon. Herbert Hawkins, MLC
Honorary Minister	Hon. Major James Shand, VD, MLA
Minister without portfolio	Hon. George Gollan, MLA			2 April 1937		1 year, 11 days
	Hon. Colin Sinclair, BA, LLB, MLA		Country	29 June 1937	31 January 1938	216 days
Secretary for Lands				1 February 1938	13 April 1938	71 days
Minister for Agriculture	Hon. Roy Vincent, MLA			2 April 1938		11 days

See also

• Bertram Stevens - 25th Premier of New South Wales
• Michael Bruxner - Leader of the New South Wales Country Party
• First Stevens–Bruxner ministry
• Third Stevens–Bruxner ministry
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1935-1938

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: 273–274. Retrieved 12 March 2012.