STEVENS’ CABINET

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1932, Page 3

STEVENS’ CABINET

HISTORY IN BRIEF. SYDNEY, June 16. Aleinbers of the Stevens-Bruxner Cabinet, all of whom received a vote of confidence by being re-elected on Saturday, are well-known in New South Wales. There are six Unite. Australia Party members and four Country Party members. Briefly tlieir history is:

Air B. S- B. Stevens (Premier ami Treasurer): Although lie has been : members of the Assembly only for fiu years, lie lias had a brilliant, Parliamentary career. Returned by, ; tlm U'oydon constituency jn 1927, he you chosen Treasurer in the Cabinet form ed by Air Bavin, and ever since has been in the forefront of public affairs. ■ His previous experience in publ.e service ac Director of Finance enabled bin to bring to the Treasnrership unique knowledge and a grasp of detail, that immediately stamped him as an authority on finance and administration. Air Stevens lias been in the Publi Service since 1912. Air M. F. Britxner (Deputy-Premi-er, and Alinister for Transport anc Local Government): First returnee to the Assembly for the Northern Tablelands in 1920. On the accenjior of the Bavin Government to power i>' 1927 he was given the portfolio of Local Government. AJr Bruxner was leader of the Country Party in the Fuller Government. He has a distinguished war career behind him, having fought: at Gallipoli, Palestine, and Syria. In 1916 lie was awarded the Croix de Chevalier of the Legion of Honour and in 1918 the ILS.OcB* Air Frank Augustus Chaffev (Chief! Secretary and Alinister for Mines) is:; member for Tamworth, and . was first elected in 1913. He first took Cabin-, et rank as Alinister for Agriculture'' in the famous One-dav Cabinet, head ed by Sir George Fuller, in 1921. In 1922 was Assistant Minister foi Lands and Agriculture in .the Fuller Government from Abril; 1922, until June 1925. In 1927 lie was Aliniste for Alines and Forests in the Bavin Government and succeeded .. to the Chief Secretaryship on the death of Mr Albert Bruntnell. He.wqgv born at Moonbi, near Tamworth, and is the youngest of a family of : '/eleven, and is a returned, soldier and all round . port. Holds the diploma • of the Hawkfsbury College.

Air 11! AV. D. Weaver (Alinister for Works and Health) has lie.ld the Neutral B’v seat since 1917 and ■'wits' Minister for Alin -s in Bavin Government of 1927, In this capacity, lie dealt with the Rothbury dispute, and after the outbreak of rioting arranged for the carrying on of the mine and the production of coal for railway purpose. A forceful and pictures quo speaker and keen .debater, hikpresence has ..always . I icon 'felt' in the House, whether on the Treasury benches or in- -Opposition. Mr Wea ver lias - travelled extensively, v&ftd lias had. wide country experience. Sir Daniel Levy (Attorney-General and Alinister for. Justice) Jins been in i’arliamgnt. since July, 1901, as a member for Fitzroy, and lias repru*. .-.ented tlie same district now ..(Paddingcoii) continuously. He was tinChairman of Committees, from 191 to 1919. and lias been Speaker iron April 1920, to December, 1921.; from December, 1921 -to --June; 1925; and from November, 1927, to November, 1930. During bis term as Speaker? bf the 28th Parliament in which the Bavin Government held office, lie received his Knighthood of the British Empire. He is a member of-the Sydney University Senate, a King’s Counsellor. and a Bachelor of Law. anil of Arts, and is recognised as an authority on Parliament proceedure. 1

Mr James M. Dunningliam, ’ Minister of Labour and Industry, 'was first elected to Parliament in 192) ai» member for Coogee. In 1930 wasOpposition Whip when the Lang-Gbv-erument took office,-'and proved himself an indefatigable worker. Hat been Mayor cf Bandwick and for many yeans was mi alderman of Bandnick Council. One of the most popular members of the Legislative .Assembly. Bookmaker by professions Was formerly a mercer, and-''earlier still wan secretary of the fitters’ branch of the Gas .Employees’' Union. Mr E. A. Buttenshiiw (Lands) was 1 horn ’n the Young district in 187(iillis first work in life was at the Young Post Office- leaving which; lie went on the land, engaging Tn farming and grazing. In 1917 he contasted Lachlan as a Progressive, against Mr Tom Brown, and won. During the 1920-1922 -Parliament ho was appointed Whip and Secretary to the party, and after his return)during the 1922 elections was appointed De-puty-Loader. In the Bavin Government, Mr ButteivdiaW was DeputyPremier and Minister for Works. An all round athelete, lie has represented his district at cricket and tennis.

Mr D. 11. Drummond, (Minister foi Education): This- member filled the game portfolio in the Bavin 'Government in 1927. He was known as the ‘studious man” of the party. Cmm-'■-'•-'’oni and eociiiry-bred.. Mr Drummond luus travelled extensively, and ,i;,s more tbaii a passing knowledge if the public necessitie ■ of the State. I'D "-(>ntle manner hide,; an iron will; which was in evidence when last he held this portfolio. Mr Hugh Main (Agriculture and Forests) came into the political limelight in a sensational manner by defeating the then Premier, Air W. A. Ilolman, at the State elections ol 1920. Of a somewhat reserved disposition. he in respected in Parliament as a sound thinker mill a conn-

try man of the best type. During the war lie served in the ranks, returning in 1919. Among sporting men -Mr Main will be remembered as a breeder of thoroughbred horses, including an A.J.C. Derby winner, Salitros. Mr James llyan (Vice-President of the Executive Council • and Leader of Government in the Upper House) was a niemlier of the Bavin Government from 1927 to 1939, as Honorary Minister, without portfolio, and a member of the Kxecutive Council. During that time he conduct, d an extensive Parliammtary inquiry into the housing problem and made a report. First appointed to the Legislative Council l>v the Holman Nationalist Government in 1927. Formerly was editor of the “Lithgow 'Mercury” and one of the best-known journalists in western districts of New South Wales. Two sons, Pcdinond and Frank, are doctors.