View source for Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1938–39)

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2012}}
{{Infobox government cabinet
| cabinet_name					= Stevens–Bruxner ministry
| cabinet_number				= 48th
| jurisdiction					= the [[New South Wales|State of New South Wales]]
| flag							=
| flag_border					= true
| incumbent						=
| image							= Bertram Stevens.jpg
| image_size					= 200px
| image2						=
| image_size2					=
| caption						= Premier Bertram Stevens
| date_formed					= 13 April 1938
| date_dissolved				= 5 August 1939
| government_head				= [[Bertram Stevens (politician)|Bertram Stevens]]
| government_head_title			= Premier
| deputy_government_head		= [[Michael Bruxner]]
| deputy_government_head_title	= Deputy Premier
| state_head					= [[George VI]]
| state_head_title				= Monarch
| governor						= [[John Loder, 2nd Baron Wakehurst|The Lord Wakehurst]]
| members_number				= 12
| former_members_number			=
| total_number					=
| political_party				= [[UAP/Country coalition]]
| legislature_status			= Majority government
| opposition_cabinet			=
| opposition_party				= {{Australian politics/name|Labor (NSW)}}
| opposition_leader				= [[Jack Lang (Australian politician)|Jack Lang]]
| election						= [[1938 New South Wales state election|1938 New South Wales election]]
| last_election					=
| legislature_term				=
| budget						=
| advice_and_consent1			=
| advice_and_consent2			=
| incoming_formation			=
| outgoing_formation			=
| previous						= [[Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1935–1938)|Second Stevens-Bruxner ministry]]
| successor						= [[Mair–Bruxner ministry]]
}}
The '''Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1938–1939)''' or '''Third Stevens–Bruxner ministry''' or '''Third Stevens ministry''' was the 48th ministry of the [[New South Wales Government]], and was led by the 25th [[Premier of New South Wales|Premier]], [[Bertram Stevens (politician)|Bertram Stevens]], in a [[United Australia Party]] [[Coalition (Australia)|coalition]] with the [[National Party of Australia – NSW|Country Party]], that was led by [[Michael Bruxner]]. The ministry was the third of three occasions when the Government was led by Stevens, as Premier; and third 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 Party of Australia|Nationalist]] coalition led by Bavin, who was in poor health,<ref name="Bavin adb">{{Australian Dictionary of Biography |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Bavin, Sir Thomas Rainsford (Tom) (1874–1941) |id2=bavin-sir-thomas-rainsford-tom-86 |access-date=2021-11-02}}</ref> at the [[1930 New South Wales state election|1930 state election]], Stevens was elected leader of the newly formed United Australia Party in New South Wales and became [[Leader of the Opposition (New South Wales)|Leader of the Opposition]].<ref name="Stevens adb"/> Bruxner was first elected to the Assembly in 1920 and served continuously until 1962. Initially a member of the [[Progressive Party (1920)|Progressive Party]], he served as [[Leader of the New South Wales National Party|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 (Australian politician)|Jack Lang]] as Premier, asking Stevens to form government. Going to the polls a month later, Stevens/Bruxner won a landslide victory at the [[1932 New South Wales state election|1932 election]] and were re-elected at the [[1935 New South Wales state election|1935]] and [[1938 New South Wales state election|1938 elections]], albeit with reduced margins. There had been six [[List of New South Wales state by-elections#Thirty-second Legislative Assembly 1938–1941|by-elections]] during the ministry, with {{Australian politics/name|Industrial Labor}} picking up two seats from the government.{{refn|The by-elections for [[1939 Hurstville state by-election|Hurstville]] and [[1939 Waverley state by-election|Waverley]] were won by {{Australian politics/name|Industrial Labor}}.<ref name="Green by-elections">{{cite NSW election |title=By-elections 1938-1940 |year=1938 |district=ByElections |access-date=2021-11-26}}</ref>}}
This ministry covers the period from 13 April 1938 until 5 August 1939.<ref name="Record">{{NSW Parliamentary Record|part=6|access-date=12 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Former members of the New South Wales Parliament, 1856–2006|url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/formermembers/pages/former-members-index.aspx|access-date=4 December 2019|publisher=New South Wales Parliament}}</ref> On 21 July 1939 [[Eric Spooner]], the deputy leader of the United Australia Party, resigned from cabinet. Spooner had been a protege of Stevens, however their relationship deteriorated, particularly in relation to the Country Party. On 1 August 1939 Spooner moved a motion that was critical of Stevens, describing him as running the party as a dictatorship, and the proposal to cut government spending in order to restrain a growing deficit. Stevens stated that he regarded it as a motion of censure.<ref name="Hansard 1 Aug 39">{{cite hansard |url=https://api.parliament.nsw.gov.au/api/hansard/search/daily/searchablepdf/HANSARD-290296563-5324 |format=PDF |title=State finances: motion of urgency |jurisdiction=New South Wales |house=Legislative Assembly |date=1 August 1939 |page_start=5604 |page_end=5647 |access-date=2021-11-26}}</ref> The coalition had a large majority in the assembly, however the motion was passed 43 to 41, with nine United Australia members joining Spooner in voting against the government.<ref name="Spooner adb">{{Australian Dictionary of Biography|last=Lloyd|first=C. J.|year=2002|id2=spooner-eric-sydney-8608|title= Spooner, Eric Sydney (1891–1952)}}</ref><ref name="Hansard 3 Aug 39">{{cite hansard |url=https://api.parliament.nsw.gov.au/api/hansard/search/daily/searchablepdf/HANSARD-290296563-5326 |format=PDF |title=State finances |jurisdiction=New South Wales |house=Legislative Assembly |date=3 August 1939 |page_start=5700 |page_end=5720 |access-date=2021-11-26}}</ref>{{refn|The United Australia members who voted against the government were [[Charles Bennett (Australian politician)|Charles Bennett]] ([[Electoral district of Gloucester|Gloucester]]), [[Frank Chaffey]] ([[Electoral district of Tamworth|Tamworth]]), [[John Lee (Australian politician)|John Lee]] ([[Electoral district of Drummoyne|Drummoyne]]), [[Stan Lloyd (politician)|Stan Lloyd]] ([[Electoral district of Concord|Concord]]), [[Murray Robson]] ([[Electoral district of Vaucluse|Vaucluse]]), [[James Ross (Australian politician)|James Ross]] ([[Electoral district of Kogarah|Kogarah]]), [[Edward Sanders (politician)|Edward Sanders]] ([[Electoral district of Willoughby|Willoughby]]), [[James Shand]] ([[Electoral district of Hornsby|Hornsby]]), [[Eric Spooner]] ([[Electoral district of Ryde|Ryde]]) and [[Bruce Walker (politician, born 1897)|Bruce Walker Jr]] ([[Electoral district of Hawkesbury|Hawkesbury]]).<ref name="Hansard 3 Aug 39"/>}} Having lost the [[no confidence motion|confidence of the assembly]], Stevens resigned as Premier and leader of the party. Spooner had ambitions to replace Stevens as leader however Bruxner refused to join a coalition with him and [[Alexander Mair]] succeeded Stevens as Premier.<ref name="Stevens adb">{{Australian Dictionary of Biography |first=John M |last=Ward |title=Stevens, Sir Bertram Sydney Barnsdale (1889–1973) |id2=stevens-sir-bertram-sydney-8650 |access-date=2021-11-02}}</ref>
==Composition of ministry==
The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Stevens on 13 April 1938.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Portfolio
! Minister
! colspan=2 | Party
! Term commence
! Term end
! Term of office
|-
| [[Premier of New South Wales|Premier]]
| rowspan=2 | {{sortname|Bertram|Stevens|dab=politician}}{{hsp}}{{efn|Retained portfolios from Second Stevens–Bruxner ministry.|name=retained}}
| rowspan="3" {{Australian party style|UAP}} |&nbsp;
| rowspan="3" | {{Australian politics/name|UAP}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{dts|13 April 1938}}
| align="center" | {{dts|5 August 1939}}
| align="right" | {{ayd|13 April 1938|5 August 1939}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales|Treasurer]]
| align="center" | {{dts|13 October 1938}}
| align="right" | {{ayd|13 April 1938|13 October 1938}}
|-
| {{sortname|Alexander|Mair}}
| align="center" | {{dts|13 October 1938}}
| rowspan="3" align="center" | {{dts|5 August 1939}}
| align="right" | {{ayd|13 October 1938|5 August 1939}}
|-
|[[Deputy Premier of New South Wales|Deputy Premier]]<br />[[Minister for Transport (New South Wales)|Minister for Transport]]
| {{sortname|Michael|Bruxner}}{{hsp}}{{efn|name=retained}}
| {{Australian party style|Country NSW}} |&nbsp;
| {{Australian politics/name|Country NSW}}
| rowspan="3" align="center" | {{dts|13 April 1938}}
| rowspan="2" align="right" | {{ayd|13 April 1938|5 August 1939}}
|-
| [[Attorney General of New South Wales|Attorney–General]]<br />[[Vice-President of the Executive Council (New South Wales)|Vice-president of the Executive Council]]<br>[[Representative of the Government in Legislative Council (New South Wales)|Representative of the Government in Legislative Council]]
| {{sortname|Henry|Manning|dab=politician}}, [[King's Counsel|KC]], [[New South Wales Legislative Council|MLC]]{{hsp}}{{efn|name=retained}}
| rowspan="3" {{Australian party style|UAP}} |&nbsp;
| rowspan="3" | {{Australian politics/name|UAP}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Secretary for Public Works (New South Wales)|Secretary for Public Works]]<br />[[Minister for Local Government (New South Wales)|Minister for Local Government]]
| {{sortname|Eric|Spooner}}{{hsp}}{{efn|[[Eric Spooner]], Deputy Leader of the United Australia Party, resigned in protest against [[Bertram Stevens (politician)|Bertram Stevens]] and the failure to have a balanced budget. Spooner went on to move a censure motion against Stevens,<ref name="Hansard 3 Aug 39"/> that resulted in Stevens resigning as Premier.<ref name="Stevens adb"/>}}
| align="center" | {{dts|21 July 1939}}
| align="right" | {{ayd|13 April 1938|21 July 1939}}
|-
| {{sortname|Bertram|Stevens|dab=politician}}
| align="center" | {{dts|21 July 1939}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{dts|5 August 1939}}
| align="right" | {{ayd|21 July 1939|5 August 1939}}
|-
| [[Minister for Education (New South Wales)|Minister of Education]]
|  {{sortname|David|Drummond|dab=politician}}{{hsp}}{{efn|name=retained}}
| {{Australian party style|Country NSW}} |&nbsp;
| {{Australian politics/name|Country NSW}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{dts|13 April 1938}}
| align="right" | {{ayd|13 April 1938|5 August 1939}}
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[Minister for Labour and Industry (New South Wales)|Minister for Labour and Industry]]
| {{sortname|John|Dunningham}}{{hsp}}{{efn|name=retained}}{{efn|name=died|Died in office.}}
| rowspan="9" {{Australian party style|UAP}} |&nbsp;
| rowspan="9" | {{Australian politics/name|UAP}}
| align="center" | {{dts|26 May 1938}}
| align="right" | {{ayd|13 April 1938|26 May 1938}}
|-
| {{sortname|Alexander|Mair}}
| align="center" | {{dts|1 June 1938}}
| align="center" | {{dts|13 October 1938}}
| align="right" | {{ayd|1 June 1938|13 October 1938}}
|-
| {{sortname|Herbert|Hawkins|dab=politician}}, [[New South Wales Legislative Council|MLC]]{{hsp}}{{efn|name=died}}
| align="center" | {{dts|13 October 1938}}
| align="center" | {{dts|16 June 1939}}
| align="right" | {{ayd|13 October 1938|16 June 1939}}
|-
| {{sortname|Athol|Richardson}}
| align="center" | {{dts|26 June 1939}}
| align="center" | {{dts|5 August 1939}}
| align="right" | {{ayd|26 June 1939|5 August 1939}}
|-
| [[Minister for Justice (New South Wales)|Minister for Justice]]
| {{sortname|Lewis|Martin|dab=Australian politician}}{{hsp}}{{efn|name=retained}}
| rowspan="3" align="center" | {{dts|13 April 1938}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{dts|5 August 1939}}
| rowspan="2" align="right" | {{ayd|13 April 1938|5 August 1939}}
|-
| [[Minister for Health (New South Wales)|Minister for Health]]
| {{sortname|Herbert|FitzSimons}}{{hsp}}{{efn|name=retained}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Minister for Social Services (New South Wales)|Minister for Social Services]]
| {{sortname|Herbert|Hawkins|dab=politician}}, [[New South Wales Legislative Council|MLC]]{{Hsp}}{{Efn|name=retained}}
| align="center" | {{dts|13 October 1938}}
| align="right" | {{ayd|13 April 1938|13 October 1938}}
|-
| {{sortname|Athol|Richardson}}
| align="center" | {{dts|13 October 1938}}
| rowspan="5" align="center" | {{dts|5 August 1939}}
| align="right" | {{ayd|13 October 1938|5 August 1939}}
|-
| [[Colonial Secretary of New South Wales|Chief Secretary]]
| {{sortname|George|Gollan}}
| rowspan="6" align="center" | {{dts|13 April 1938}}
| rowspan="4" align="right" | {{ayd|13 April 1938|5 August 1939}}
|-
| [[Minister for Lands (New South Wales)|Minister for Lands]]
| {{sortname|Colin|Sinclair|dab=politician}}{{Hsp}}{{Efn|name=retained}}
| rowspan="3" {{Australian party style|Country NSW}} |&nbsp;
| rowspan="3" | {{Australian politics/name|Country NSW}}
|-
| [[Minister for Agriculture (New South Wales)|Minister for Agriculture]]
| {{sortname|Albert|Reid}}
|-
| [[Secretary for Mines (New South Wales)|Secretary for Mines]]<br />[[Minister for Forests (New South Wales)|Minister for Forests]]
| {{sortname|Roy|Vincent}}{{hsp}}{{efn|name=retained}}
|-
| [[Minister without portfolio|Assistant Minister]]
| {{sortname|Alexander|Mair}}
| rowspan="4" {{Australian party style|UAP}} |&nbsp;
| rowspan="4" | {{Australian politics/name|UAP}}
| align="center" | {{dts|1 June 1938}}
| align="right" | {{ayd|13 April 1938|1 June 1938}}
|-
| [[Minister without portfolio|Honorary Minister]]
| {{sortname|Athol|Richardson}}
| align="center" | {{dts|13 October 1938}}
| align="right" | {{ayd|13 April 1938|13 October 1938}}
|-
| Member of the Executive Council<br />Assistant Minister for Health
| {{sortname|Hubert|Primrose}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{dts|26 June 1939}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{dts|5 August 1939}}
| rowspan="2" align="right" | {{ayd|26 June 1939|5 August 1939}}
|-
| Member of the Executive Council<br />[[Minister without portfolio|Assistant Minister]]
| {{sortname|Marsden|Manfred}}, [[New South Wales Legislative Council|MLC]]
|}
&nbsp;
Ministers are members of the [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]] unless otherwise noted.
{{Notelist}}
==See also==
{{stack|{{Portal|New South Wales|Politics}}}}
*[[Stevens-Bruxner ministry (1932–1935)|First Stevens–Bruxner ministry]]
*[[Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1935–1938)|Second Stevens–Bruxner ministry]]
*[[Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1938-1941]]
*[[Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council, 1937-1940]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
&nbsp;
{{s-start}}
! colspan="3" style="border-top: 5px solid #cccccc" | [[Executive Council of New South Wales|New South Wales government ministries]]
{{succession box | before=[[Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1935–1938)|Second Stevens-Bruxner ministry]] | title=Third Stevens–Bruxner ministry | years=1938–1939 | after=[[Mair–Bruxner ministry]] }}
{{s-end}}
{{Ministries of New South Wales}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stevens-Bruxner ministry (1938-1939)}}
[[Category:New South Wales ministries]]
[[Category:1938 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:1939 disestablishments in Australia]]