Sir Frederick Stewart | |
|---|---|
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| Member of theAustralian Parliament forParramatta | |
| In office 19 December 1931 – 16 August 1946 | |
| Preceded by | Albert Rowe |
| Succeeded by | Howard Beale |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1884-08-14)14 August 1884 |
| Died | 30 June 1961(1961-06-30) (aged 76) St Leonards, Sydney |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | United Australia Party |
| Spouse(s) | 1) Lottie May Glover(died 1943) 2) Hilda Marjorie Evelyn Dixon |
| Occupation | Administrative officer |
Sir Frederick Harold Stewart (14 August 1884 – 30 June 1961) was an Australian businessman, politician and government minister. His continuing political commitment was to the establishment ofa national insurance scheme and the shortening of working hours to improve social conditions during theGreat Depression, despite the opposition of his own party.
Stewart was born inNewcastle and educated in public schools in Newcastle and worked for 20 years as an administrative officer in theNew South Wales Government Railways. In 1908 he married Lottie May Glover and they had six children. He was a prominent Methodist Lay Preacher. In 1919 Stewart developed the Sydney suburb ofChullora and owned the Metropolitan Omnibus Company that serviced the area. He also had an early interest in aviation and broadcasting. He established radio station2CH and withCharles Kingsford Smith andCharles Ulm establishedAustralian National Airways.[1]
Stewart failed to get pre-selection as aNationalist candidate for theAustralian House of Representatives seat ofMartin at the1929 election and ran unsuccessfully for the state seat ofConcord at the 1930 election. He won the federal seat ofParramatta for theUnited Australia Party at the1931 election and held it until his retirement before the1946 election. He supported a shorter work week to reduce unemployment during theGreat Depression and programs to improve social conditions such as national insurance and workers' housing schemes.[1]
Stewart was appointedMinister for Commerce from October 1932 had responsibility for trade policy. In November 1934, he stood down to allow theCountry Party to be brought into theministry, withEarle Page becoming Minister for Commerce. He refusedJoseph Lyons's offer of a junior ministry and instead became parliamentary under-secretary for employment, but resigned this position in February 1936 so that he could concentrate on his private scheme to improve social conditions. He was knighted in 1935. After the1937 election, under pressure from Stewart, Lyons announceda limited national insurance scheme, but Stewart refused a position inCabinet.[1]
Stewart was appointed asMinister for Health andMinister for Social Services inRobert Menzies'ministry in April 1939 and continued to press for the implementation of a national insurance scheme. In November 1939, with the outbreak of World War II, he was given the additional portfolio ofMinister for the Navy and in January 1940, he became in additionMinister for Supply and Development onRichard Casey's appointment as Ambassador to the United States. This portfolio was responsible for procuring supplies for the military. In March 1940, he lost the portfolios of health and the navy, but retained social services and supply and development in thesecond Menzies Ministry. He was criticised over his performance in supplying the military, despite such ingenuity as finding and refurbishing 15,000 World War I uniforms and he lost the supply portfolio from October 1940 in thethird Menzies Ministry, but was appointedMinister for External Affairs, retained social services and regained health. He held the three portfolios until the fall of theFadden government in October 1941. In opposition he served as chairman of the Joint Committee on Social Security in 1943 and 1944.[1]
Stewart's first wife died in 1943 and in 1945 he married Hilda Marjorie Evelyn Dixon. He was a noted philanthropist following his retirement from parliament. He died at theRoyal North Shore Hospital,St Leonards, survived by his wife and three daughters and two sons from his first marriage.[1]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister for Commerce 1932–1934 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Health 1939–1940 | Succeeded by |
| New title | Minister for Social Services 1939–1941 | Succeeded by |
| Minister for the Navy 1939–1940 | Succeeded by | |
| Preceded by | Minister for Supply and Development 1939–1940 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for External Affairs 1940–1941 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Health 1940–1941 | Succeeded by |
| Parliament of Australia | ||
| Preceded by | Member forParramatta 1931–1946 | Succeeded by |
