Arthur Griffith (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir Arthur Frederick Griffith (22 April 1913—17 November 1982) was an Australian politician, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
from 1950 until 1953 representing the seat of Canning
, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council
representing the Suburban and North Metropolitan
provinces from 1953 until 1977. He served as President of the Legislative Council from May 1974 until May 1977.
, Western Australia
, to George Griffith, a life insurance inspector, and Flora (née McDonald). He was educated at South Perth Primary School and at Perth Boys School. He left in 1928 at the age of 15 to take up a job in insurance, and in 1933, he became a law clerk.
On 24 June 1940, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force
for service in World War II
. On 13 July 1940 at St Albans Church in Highgate
, he married Gweneth Macaulay, with whom he later had one daughter. In 1941, he was commissioned from the ranks, and served in the Northern Territory
as a Flying Officer
for four weeks in late 1944. He was discharged on 5 November 1945.
Upon his return to civilian life, he became a political organiser for the newly-formed Liberal Party
, and at the 1950 state election, he won the seat of Canning
in the Legislative Assembly. However, at the following election in February 1953
, he lost it to Labor
's Colin Jamieson
. At a by-election four months later, he won one of the two Suburban Province seats in the Legislative Council
, and served as a party whip and a member of the Library Committee, before becoming deputy chairman of committees in 1956. From 16 June 1958, he was the Coalition
's most senior member in the Council.
Upon the election of the Brand-Watts
government at the 1959 election
, he became Minister for Mines and Housing in the new government. Upon Arthur Watts's retirement as Deputy Premier and Attorney-General
on 1 February 1962, the Coalition had no lawyers amongst its ranks, so the Attorney-General role lapsed and Griffith became Minister for Justice, relying on his clerical training. He continued in these roles as well as Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council until the Government's defeat at the 1971 election
.
In 1974, with 21 years' service to that chamber, he became the Father of the Legislative Council, and was elected President
, a role he held for the next three years until his retirement from politics.
After his retirement, he served as a member of the Zoological Gardens Board from 1977 until 1982. He died on 17 November 1982 at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery
.
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
from 1950 until 1953 representing the seat of Canning
Electoral district of Canning
The Electoral district of Canning was an electorate in the state of Western Australia. The electorate, which was named for the Canning River which ran through the electorate, was first contested at the 1897 elections and was abolished in the 1988 redistribution...
, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council
Western Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...
representing the Suburban and North Metropolitan
North Metropolitan Province
The North Metropolitan Province was a two-member electoral province of the Western Australian Legislative Council, located in metropolitan Perth. It was one of several metropolitan seats created following the enactment of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1963, and became effective on 22 May 1965...
provinces from 1953 until 1977. He served as President of the Legislative Council from May 1974 until May 1977.
Biography
Griffith was born in GeraldtonGeraldton, Western Australia
Geraldton is a city and port in Western Australia located north of Perth in the Mid West region. Geraldton has an estimated population at June 2010 of 36,958...
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, to George Griffith, a life insurance inspector, and Flora (née McDonald). He was educated at South Perth Primary School and at Perth Boys School. He left in 1928 at the age of 15 to take up a job in insurance, and in 1933, he became a law clerk.
On 24 June 1940, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
for service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. On 13 July 1940 at St Albans Church in Highgate
Highgate, Western Australia
Highgate is an inner suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Vincent and north of the CBD. Highgate was named for the village of Highgate in Kent, England...
, he married Gweneth Macaulay, with whom he later had one daughter. In 1941, he was commissioned from the ranks, and served in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
as a Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
for four weeks in late 1944. He was discharged on 5 November 1945.
Upon his return to civilian life, he became a political organiser for the newly-formed Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
, and at the 1950 state election, he won the seat of Canning
Electoral district of Canning
The Electoral district of Canning was an electorate in the state of Western Australia. The electorate, which was named for the Canning River which ran through the electorate, was first contested at the 1897 elections and was abolished in the 1988 redistribution...
in the Legislative Assembly. However, at the following election in February 1953
Western Australian state election, 1953
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 14 February 1953 to elect all 50 members to the Legislative Assembly. The two-term Liberal-Country Party coalition government, led by Premier Sir Ross McLarty, was defeated by the Labor Party, led by Opposition Leader Bert Hawke.The election...
, he lost it to Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
's Colin Jamieson
Colin Jamieson
Colin John Jamieson, AO JP , was a politician in Western Australia. A member of the Australian Labor Party, he served as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1953 until 1986, as the Minister for Works and Water Supplies in the Tonkin Ministry and as Leader of the Opposition...
. At a by-election four months later, he won one of the two Suburban Province seats in the Legislative Council
Western Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...
, and served as a party whip and a member of the Library Committee, before becoming deputy chairman of committees in 1956. From 16 June 1958, he was the Coalition
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
's most senior member in the Council.
Upon the election of the Brand-Watts
Brand-Watts Ministry
The Brand-Watts Ministry was the 23rd Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, led by Liberal Premier David Brand and his deputy, Country Party leader Arthur Watts. It succeeded the Hawke ministry on 2 April 1959, following the defeat of the Labor government at the 1959 election twelve days...
government at the 1959 election
Western Australian state election, 1959
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 21 March 1959 to elect all 50 members to the Legislative Assembly. The result was a hung parliament—the two-term Labor government, led by Premier Bert Hawke, was defeated with an average swing against it of about 7 per cent, but the...
, he became Minister for Mines and Housing in the new government. Upon Arthur Watts's retirement as Deputy Premier and Attorney-General
Attorney-General of Western Australia
The Attorney-General of Western Australia is the member of the Government of Western Australia responsible for maintenance and improvement of Western Australia's system of law and justice. Before the advent of representative government in 1870, the title was Advocate-General of Western Australia...
on 1 February 1962, the Coalition had no lawyers amongst its ranks, so the Attorney-General role lapsed and Griffith became Minister for Justice, relying on his clerical training. He continued in these roles as well as Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council until the Government's defeat at the 1971 election
Western Australian state election, 1971
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 20 February 1971 to elect all 51 members to the Legislative Assembly and 15 members to the 30-seat Legislative Council...
.
In 1974, with 21 years' service to that chamber, he became the Father of the Legislative Council, and was elected President
President of the Western Australian Legislative Council
The President of the Western Australian Legislative Council, also known as the Presiding Officer of the Council, is the presiding officer of the Western Australian Legislative Council, the upper house of the Parliament of Western Australia and equivalent to the President of the Australian...
, a role he held for the next three years until his retirement from politics.
After his retirement, he served as a member of the Zoological Gardens Board from 1977 until 1982. He died on 17 November 1982 at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital is one of Australia's leading teaching hospitals, and is located in Nedlands, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery
Karrakatta Cemetery
Karrakatta Cemetery is a metropolitan cemetery in the suburb of Karrakatta in Perth, Western Australia. Karrakatta Cemetery first opened for burials in 1899, with Robert Creighton. Currently managed by the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board, the cemetery attracts more than one million visitors each...
.