NEW PREMIER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 August 1939, Page 5

NEW PREMIER

MR A. MAIR ELECTED IN N.S.W. Supporters of Mr Spooner Object DEFEAT OF CABINET EXPECTED DISSOLUTION LIKELY TO FOLLOW (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) SYDNEY, August (>. The Uniled Australia Party Parliamentary group yesterday elected the former Treasurer. Mr Alexander Mair, as its leader in succession to Mr l>. S. }>. Stevens by 18 votes to six. The former Minister of Works and Local Government. Mr Spooner, had refused io be nominated, but Mr Richardson s name went into the secret ballot. Mr Stevens saw lhe Governor, Lord Wakehnrst, and recommended him to send for Mr Mair, who was later sworn in as Premier of New South Wales. The new Cabinet, which is the same as’the former except for the omission of Mr Stevens, was sworn in simultaneously. There was a dramatic development during the party meeting, which was again acrimonious, when seven followers of Air Spooner quitted the room and look a petition to the Governor requesting him to c(iinmission Mr Spooner to form a Ministry. None of these members participated in the ballot. The Governor gave a diplomalie reply, indicating that he would be guided by his constitutional advisers. Later ho refused to accede io the petition.

It is expected that when the House meets on Tuesday Mr Mair will face a challenge from Mr Spooner’s supporters, aided by the Labour Opposition, and that lie will be defeated. Wellinformed circles are ol the opinion that a dissolution is inevitable.

In a broadcast address last night the new Premier announced that he would also fill the Treasurership. The Cabinet otherwise would be unchanged. He appealed for co-operation to give effect to the financial policy expressed in Mr Spooner's motion which had led to the overthrow of the former Premier.

Mr Spooner also broadcast. He complained of Country Party domination of the former Ministry, rendering it impossible for the United Australia Party to give anything like full effect to its policy. He contended that there was only one cure, namely, the formation of a Government confined to members of the United Australia Party. Mr Spooner said he would harbour no ill-feeling against his former colleagues. but would give constructive help in all legislation the new Ministry would bring forward. 'Die state of the parties prior to the defeat was;— United Australia Party .... 25 United Country Party .... 22 Official Lang Labour Party 25 Unofficial Heffron Labour Party 7 Independent 1 The United Australia Party is now split. At least nine- members are likely to range themselves behind Mr Spooner in the event of a “showdown.” Mr Mair, who is middle-aged, is at present a grazier near Albury. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1932. Educated at Wesley College, Melbourne, he started life as a blacksmith before assuming control of the business of Alexander Mair and Son, iron

and steel manufacturers. He also became managing director of the James McEwan Pty., Ltd.

Mr Mair shares with Mr Stevens the distinction of entering on three successive Parliamentary terms as a Cabinet Minister. The United Australia Party-Country Party coalition Government of New South Wales, now split and in acute crisis, has, since the troubled days when it was first envisaged in the time of Mr Lang, been the most stable administration in the Commonwealth. Mr Stevens’s own record is a remarkable one. He had been in office for just over seven years, and early this year, when he passed six years, nine months, and 15 days as Premier of New South Wales, he celebrated the breaking of the record for a Premier.

After the elections of 1932, when the Stevens Government took office, Mr Mair was appointed assistant Minister. A man of quiet temperament, he was relatively little in the public eye, even as Minister of Labour and Industry. He became most prominent, however, at the time of the Australian miners’ strike last year when, as the Minister in the key State, he was mainly responsible for preventing a longer and more disastrous stoppage. It was almost immediately afterward, in October last, that he was appointed by Mi- Stevens to the Premier’s own portfolio of the Treasury.

A Country U.A.P. member, who has evidently been supported loyally by the Country Party, he figured largely in the recent Cabinet dispute which resulted in the resignation of Mr Spooner, and when Mr Spooner’s control of the relief works was so drastically curtailed Mr Mair was given the power of vetoing expenditure over a certain amount on the public works.