The Carruthers ministry was the 32nd ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 16th Premier, Joseph Carruthers. The title of Premier was widely used to refer to the Leader of Government, but was not a formal position in the government until 1920. Instead the Premier was appointed to another portfolio, usually Colonial Secretary. In this case, Carruthers chose the portfolio of Treasurer.

Carruthers ministry

32nd Cabinet of the State of New South Wales
Date formed29 August 1904 (1904-08-29)
Date dissolved20 October 1910 (1910-10-20)
People and organisations
MonarchEdward VII / George V
GovernorSir Harry Rawson
PremierJoseph Carruthers
No. of ministers10
Member partyLiberal Reform
Status in legislatureHung parliament
Opposition partyLabour
Opposition leaderJames McGowen
History
Election1904 New South Wales election
Outgoing election1907 New South Wales election
PredecessorWaddell ministry
SuccessorWade ministry

Carruthers was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly at the 1887 election, serving until 1908. As the Commonwealth Parliament was forming, many leading figures sought federal seats. Carruthers became leader of the New South Wales opposition Liberal and Reform Association, the successor to the Free Trade Party, and led the Liberal-Reform alliance to government at the 1904 state election.

Under the constitution, ministers in the Legislative Assembly had their seats vacated on appointment and were required to regain them in an election.[1] Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested and on this occasion by-elections were required in The Glebe (James Hogue) Bingara (Samuel Moore) and Tenterfield (Charles Lee) and all were comfortably re-elected. The other four ministers were re-elected unopposed.[2] This was the final occasion in which ministers had to contest by-elections as the constitution was amended in 1906.[1]

In 1907 the Progressive Party had negotiated a coalition agreement with the Liberal Reform Party however this was rejected by a vote of parliamentary members.[3] The party leader Thomas Waddell resigned and joined the Liberal Reform Party,[4] and a week later was appointed Chief Secretary in the ministry.

The ministry covers the period from 29 August 1904 until 1 October 1907,[5] when Carruthers resigned in favour of Charles Wade in a new alliance between the Association and what remained of the Progressive Party.[6]

Composition of ministry

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Portfolio Minister Party Term start Term end Term length
Premier
Treasurer
Collector of Internal Revenue
Joseph Carruthers   Liberal Reform 29 August 1904 1 October 1907 3 years, 33 days
Secretary for Lands James Ashton
Chief Secretary
Registrar of Records
James Hogue 13 May 1907 2 years, 257 days
Thomas Waddell 14 May 1907 1 October 1907 140 days
Attorney General
Minister of Justice
Charles Wade KC 29 August 1904 1 October 1907 3 years, 33 days
Secretary for Public Works Charles Lee
Minister of Public Instruction
Minister for Labour and Industry
Broughton O'Conor 13 May 1907 2 years, 257 days
James Hogue 14 May 1907 1 October 1907 140 days
Secretary for Mines and Agriculture Samuel Moore 29 August 1904 3 years, 33 days
Vice-President of the Executive Council
Representative of the Government in Legislative Council
John Hughes MLC
Minister without portfolio assisting the Treasurer William Dick
Minister without portfolio James Brunker 12 June 1905 2 years, 111 days

Ministers were members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Twomey, Anne (2004). The Constitution of New South Wales. Federation Press. pp. 442. ISBN 9781862875166. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  2. ^ Green, Antony. "1904 to 1907 by-elections". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  3. ^ "No coalition: Progressives reject the terms". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 May 1907. p. 9. Retrieved 3 December 2019 – via Trove.
  4. ^ "The Progressive Party: Mr Waddell tenders his resignation". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 May 1907. p. 8. Retrieved 1 December 2019 – via Trove.
  5. ^ "Part 6 Ministries since 1856" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  6. ^ Ward, John M. "Carruthers, Sir Joseph Hector McNeil (1856–1932)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 12 July 2021.

 

Preceded by Carruthers ministry
1904–1907
Succeeded by