Christopher Lethbridge
Encyclopedia
Christopher Baron Lethbridge (3 August 1883 – 8 March 1981) was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
between 1937 and 1946. He was an Independent member of parliament.
and was the son of a clerk. He was educated at Brisbane Grammar School
and became an articled clerk. He served with the First Australian Imperial Force
in France during World War One. Lethbridge was admitted as a solicitor in 1920 and founded Nicholson and Lethbridge, a law firm in Corowa
where he was noted for his legal representation of soldier settlers. Lethbridge was involved in community organizations including the Ambulance Board and the Corowa Race club. Lethbridge also developed a farm,'Barondale' in the Corowa region.
after he won the November 1937 by-election caused by the death of the former Country Party
member Richard Ball. Labor did not contest the by-election but supported Lethbridge, which raised accusations that he was a Labor Party stooge. This impression was heightened when Lethbridge joined Labor members and rebel United Australia Party
members in August 1939 to pass a motion of no confidence in the Premier Bertram Stevens which brought down Stevens' government. Lethbridge's vote gave Stevens' opponents their 1 vote victory. However, Lethbridge generally voted with the conservative parties and after 1939 he was considered to be a conservative independent. He retained the seat with this designation until he joined the nascent Liberal Party
in July 1946. The next month he resigned from parliament to contest the seat of Division of Riverina
at the 1946
federal election as the Liberal candidate. He came third behind the Labor Party
's incumbent Joseph Langtry
and the Country Party's Hugh Roberton
. He contested the by-election for Corowa, caused by his resignation, as the Liberal candidate but was easily defeated by the endorsed Country Party candidate Ebenezer Kendell
. Lethbridge then retired from public life. He did not hold caucus, parliamentary or ministerial office.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
between 1937 and 1946. He was an Independent member of parliament.
Early life
Lethbridge was born in Mitchell, QueenslandMitchell, Queensland
Mitchell is a town in the Western Downs region of Queensland, Australia. It is on the Warrego Highway, 587 kilometres west of Brisbane and 176 kilometres east of Charleville. At the 2006 census, Mitchell had a population of 944....
and was the son of a clerk. He was educated at Brisbane Grammar School
Brisbane Grammar School
Brisbane Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for boys, located in Spring Hill, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
and became an articled clerk. He served with the First Australian Imperial Force
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
in France during World War One. Lethbridge was admitted as a solicitor in 1920 and founded Nicholson and Lethbridge, a law firm in Corowa
Corowa, New South Wales
Corowa is a town in the state of New South Wales in Australia. It is on the bank of the Murray River, the border between New South Wales and Victoria, opposite the Victorian town of Wahgunyah. Corowa is the administrative centre of Corowa Shire...
where he was noted for his legal representation of soldier settlers. Lethbridge was involved in community organizations including the Ambulance Board and the Corowa Race club. Lethbridge also developed a farm,'Barondale' in the Corowa region.
State Parliament
Lethbridge entered parliament as the Independent member for CorowaElectoral district of Corowa
Corowa was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly of the Australian state of New South Wales.Created in 1904, it takes its name from town of Corowa. In 1920, Corowa, Albury and Wagga Wagga was absorbed into Murray and elected four members under proportional representation...
after he won the November 1937 by-election caused by the death of the former Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
member Richard Ball. Labor did not contest the by-election but supported Lethbridge, which raised accusations that he was a Labor Party stooge. This impression was heightened when Lethbridge joined Labor members and rebel United Australia Party
United Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
members in August 1939 to pass a motion of no confidence in the Premier Bertram Stevens which brought down Stevens' government. Lethbridge's vote gave Stevens' opponents their 1 vote victory. However, Lethbridge generally voted with the conservative parties and after 1939 he was considered to be a conservative independent. He retained the seat with this designation until he joined the nascent 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...
in July 1946. The next month he resigned from parliament to contest the seat of Division of Riverina
Division of Riverina
The Division of Riverina is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located in south-west rural New South Wales, generally following the Murrumbidgee River valley. It includes the cities of Wagga Wagga and Griffith as well as the towns of Junee, West Wyalong, Tumut,...
at the 1946
Australian federal election, 1946
Federal elections were held in Australia on 28 September 1946. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
federal election as the Liberal candidate. He came third behind the Labor Party
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 incumbent Joseph Langtry
Joseph Langtry (Australian politician)
Joseph Ignatius Langtry was an Australian politician. Born in Kyabram, Victoria, he received a primary education before becoming a teamster. He moved to Barellan in New South Wales and became a wheatfarmer and publican...
and the Country Party's Hugh Roberton
Hugh Roberton
Hugh Stevenson Roberton was an Australian politician.Roberton was born in Glasgow, Scotland, son of Sir Hugh Roberton, a Scottish composer and founder of the Glasgow Orpheus Choir. He was educated at the West of Scotland Agricultural College and Glasgow University and emigrated to Australia in...
. He contested the by-election for Corowa, caused by his resignation, as the Liberal candidate but was easily defeated by the endorsed Country Party candidate Ebenezer Kendell
Ebenezer Kendell
Ebenezer Thomas Kendell was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1946 until 1950. He was a member of the Country Party.-Early life:...
. Lethbridge then retired from public life. He did not hold caucus, parliamentary or ministerial office.