McLarty–Watts Ministry

The McLarty–Watts Ministry was the 21st Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, led by Liberal Premier Sir Ross McLarty and his deputy, Country Party leader Arthur Watts. It succeeded the Wise Ministry on 1 April 1947, following the defeat of the Labor government at the 1947 election two weeks earlier. It was significant in that it included in Florence Cardell-Oliver not only the oldest person, at age 70, to receive their first appointment to a ministerial post in Western Australia, but also the first female cabinet minister in Australia.

The ministry was followed by the Hawke Ministry on 23 February 1953 after the Coalition lost government at the state election held on 14 February.

First Ministry

On 1 April 1947, the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir James Mitchell, constituted the Ministry. He designated eight principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, who served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 7 October 1949. Two honorary members were also appointed.[1]

The list below is ordered by decreasing seniority within the Cabinet, as indicated by the Government Gazette and the Hansard index. Blue entries indicate members of the Liberal Party, whilst green entries indicate members of the National Country Party. The members of the Ministry were:

Office Minister

Premier
Treasurer
Minister for Housing (until 5 January 1948)
Minister for Forests (until 5 January 1948)
Minister for the North-West

Ross McLarty, MM, MLA

Deputy Premier
Minister for Education
Minister for Industrial Development
Minister for Local Government

Arthur Watts, CMG, MLA

Minister for Native Affairs

(until 5 January 1948:)

Attorney-General
Minister for Police

(from 5 January 1948)

Minister for Forests
Minister for Housing
Robert Ross McDonald, KC, LL.B., MLA

Minister for Lands
Minister for Labour
Minister for Agriculture (until 5 January 1948)

Lindsay Thorn, MLA

Minister for Mines
Minister for Health (until 5 January 1948)

(from 5 January 1948:)

Chief Secretary
Minister for Police
Hubert Parker, DSO, VD, MLC

Minister for Works
Minister for Water Supplies

Victor Doney, MLA

Chief Secretary (until 5 January 1948)
Attorney-General (from 5 January 1948)
Minister for Health (from 5 January 1948)
Minister for Fisheries

Arthur Abbott, MLA

Minister for Transport
Minister for Railways

Harrie Seward, MLA

Honorary Minister for Supply and Shipping

Florence Cardell-Oliver, MLA

Honorary Minister for Agriculture (from 5 January 1948)

Garnet Barrington Wood, MLC

First Ministry (reconstituted)

On 7 October 1949, the Governor, Sir James Mitchell, reconstituted the Ministry. He designated eight principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, who served until the Ministry was reformed on 6 April 1950 after the 1950 election. As previously, two honorary ministers were appointed, with David Brand replacing Robert Ross McDonald in the Ministry.[2]

Office Minister

Premier
Treasurer
Minister for Forests
Minister for the North-West

Ross McLarty, MM, MLA

Deputy Premier
Minister for Education
Minister for Industrial Development
Minister for Housing

Arthur Watts, CMG, MLA

Chief Secretary
Minister for Mines
Minister for Police
Minister for Native Affairs

Hubert Parker, DSO, VD, MLC

Minister for Lands
Minister for Labour

Lindsay Thorn, MLA

Attorney-General
Minister for Fisheries
Minister for Prices

Arthur Abbott, MLA

Minister for Works
Minister for Water Supplies

Victor Doney, MLA

Minister for Supply and Shipping
Minister for Health

Florence Cardell-Oliver, MLA

Minister for Transport
Minister for Railways

Harrie Seward, MLA

Honorary Minister for Housing, Forests and Local Government

David Brand, MLA

Honorary Minister for Agriculture

Garnet Barrington Wood, MLC

Second Ministry

On 6 April 1950, the Governor, Sir James Mitchell, constituted the Ministry. He designated eight principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, who served until the end of the Ministry.[3] On 24 October 1950, following the assent of the Acts Amendment (Increase in number of Ministers of the Crown) Act 1950 (No.2 of 1950), the Ministry was expanded to 10 members and the two Honorary Ministers were promoted. The listed Ministers served until the end of the Ministry on 23 February 1953.

Office Minister

Premier
Treasurer

(until 24 October 1950:)

Minister for Forests
Minister for the North-West (also from 17 January 1952)
Ross McLarty, MM, MLA

Deputy Premier
Minister for Education
Minister for Child Welfare
Minister for Industrial Development

Arthur Watts, CMG, MLA

Minister for Works
Minister for Water Supplies
Minister for Housing (until 24 October 1950)

David Brand, MLA

Minister for Lands
Minister for Labour
Minister for Immigration

Lindsay Thorn, MLA

Attorney-General
Minister for Police
Minister for Fisheries

Arthur Abbott, MLA

Chief Secretary
Minister for Local Government
Minister for Native Affairs

Victor Doney, MLA

Minister for Health
Minister for Supply and Shipping

Dame Florence Cardell-Oliver, DBE, MLA

Minister for Transport
Minister for Railways
Minister for Mines

Charles Simpson, MLC

Honorary Minister for Agriculture and North-West (until 24 October 1950)
Minister for Agriculture (24 October 1950 – 17 January 1952)
Minister for the North-West (24 October 1950 – 17 January 1952)

Garnet Barrington Wood, MLC
(until 3 January 1952)[4]

Honorary Minister for Housing and Mines (until 24 October 1950)

(from 24 October 1950:)

Minister for Housing
Minister for Forests
Gerald Wild, MBE, MLA

Minister for Agriculture

Sir Charles Latham, MLC
(from 17 January 1952)

References

  1. Hansard Index for 1947–1949, "Legislature of Western Australia"
  2. "Premier's Department". Western Australia Government Gazette. 7 October 1949. p. 1949:?.
  3. "Premier's Department". Western Australia Government Gazette. 6 April 1950. p. 1950:845.
  4. On 3 January 1952, Garnet Barrington Wood died while attending a Cabinet meeting in the Treasury building. However, he formally remained a Minister until 17 January.
Preceded by
Wise Ministry
McLarty–Watts Ministry
1947-1953
Succeeded by
Hawke Ministry
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