Eric Spooner
| The Honourable Eric Spooner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Secretary for Public Works | |
|
In office 22 August 1935 – 21 July 1939 | |
| Premier | Bertram Stevens |
| Preceded by | Bertram Stevens |
| Succeeded by | Bertram Stevens |
| Minister for Local Government | |
|
In office 15 February 1933 – 21 July 1939 | |
| Premier | Bertram Stevens |
| Preceded by | Joseph Jackson |
| Succeeded by | Bertram Stevens |
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Ryde | |
|
In office 11 June 1932 – 23 August 1940 | |
| Preceded by | Evan Davies |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Williams |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Robertson | |
|
In office 21 September 1940 – 21 August 1943 | |
| Preceded by | Sydney Gardner |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Williams |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1 March 1891 Waterloo, Colony of New South Wales |
| Died |
3 June 1952 (aged 61) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | United Australia Party |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Berry |
| Relations | Bill Spooner (Brother) |
| Occupation | Accountant |
Eric Sydney Spooner (2 March 1891 – 3 June 1952) was an Australian politician.
Early life
Spooner was born in the Sydney suburb of Waterloo and educated at Christ Church St Laurence School. At 14 he became a telegraph messenger and studied at night at the University of Sydney to gain a diploma in economics and commerce. He married Mary Berry in December 1919. He established the accounting firm of Hungerford, Spooner & Co in 1922 with his brother Bill, a Liberal cabinet minister from 1949 to 1964.[1][2]
Early political career
Spooner was elected the seat of Ryde in 1932 and became an honorary minister in the United Australia Party government of Bertram Stevens. He subsequently became Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Local Government. From 1935 he was Minister for Local Government, Secretary for Public Works and deputy leader of the United Australia Party (NSW Branch).[3][4] He was responsible for establishing employment-creating schemes and the Sydney County Council, a gas and electricity supplier. In 1939 he opposed budget cuts and resigned from Cabinet on 21 July. On 1 August, he moved a motion that brought down the government, but he failed to get enough support to form his own government.[1][5][6]
Federal politics and later life
In August 1940 Spooner resigned his seat and won the Federal seat of Robertson in the October election. In June 1941, he was appointed Minister for War Organisation of Industry in the third Menzies Ministry, a position he retained until the fall of the Fadden government in October 1941. He lost his seat in the 1943 election. He joined the new Liberal Party, but was almost expelled for questioning the White Australia Policy. He ran unsuccessfully against Prime Minister Ben Chifley in Macquarie in 1946.[1]
Spooner died of cancer in Sydney in 1952, survived by his wife, three sons and daughter.[1]
Notes
- 1 2 3 4 Lloyd, C. J. (2002). "Spooner, Eric Sydney (1891 - 1952)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: Australian National University. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
- ↑ "The Hon. Eric Sydney Spooner (1891 - 1952)". Former Members. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ↑ "DEPUTY LEADER". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (18, 441). New South Wales, Australia. 20 November 1935. p. 6. Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "MR. SPOONER". The Sydney Morning Herald (30, 540). New South Wales, Australia. 20 November 1935. p. 15. Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "MR. A. MAIR NEW PREMIER". The Sydney Morning Herald (31, 700). New South Wales, Australia. 7 August 1939. p. 11. Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "MR. SPOONER'S ADDRESS". The Sydney Morning Herald (31, 700). New South Wales, Australia. 7 August 1939. p. 12. Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
| Parliament of New South Wales | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Evan Davies |
Member for Ryde 1932 – 1940 |
Succeeded by Arthur Williams |
| Political offices | ||
| Vacant Title last held by Bertram Stevens |
Assistant Treasurer 1933 – 1935 |
Vacant Title next held by Clive Evatt |
| Preceded by Joseph Jackson |
Minister for Local Government 1933 – 1939 |
Succeeded by Bertram Stevens |
| Preceded by Bertram Stevens |
Secretary for Public Works 1935 – 1939 | |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Reginald Weaver |
Deputy Leader of the United Australia Party (NSW Branch) 1935 – 1939 |
Succeeded by Athol Richardson |
| Parliament of Australia | ||
| Preceded by Sydney Gardner |
Member for Robertson 1940 – 1943 |
Succeeded by Thomas Williams |
| Political offices | ||
| New title | Minister for War Organisation of Industry 1941 |
Succeeded by John Dedman |