Frederick Stewart (Australian politician)

Howard Beale
Howard Beale
Personal details
Born	14 August 1884; Newcastle, New South Wales
Died	30 June 1961 (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 of a national insurance scheme and the shortening of working hours to improve social conditions during the Great Depression, despite the opposition of his own party.

Early life

Stewart was born in

Chullora and owned the Metropolitan Omnibus Company that serviced the area. He also had an early interest in aviation and broadcasting. He established radio station 2CH and with Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm established Australian National Airways.^[1]

Political career

Stewart failed to get pre-selection as a

Nationalist candidate for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Martin at the 1929 election and ran unsuccessfully for the state seat of Concord at the 1930 election. He won the federal seat of Parramatta for the United Australia Party at the 1931 election and held it until his retirement before the 1946 election. He supported a shorter work week to reduce unemployment during the Great Depression and programs to improve social conditions such as national insurance and workers' housing schemes.^[1]

Stewart was appointed

ministry, with Earle Page becoming Minister for Commerce. He refused Joseph 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 the 1937 election, under pressure from Stewart, Lyons announced a limited national insurance scheme, but Stewart refused a position in Cabinet.^[1]

Stewart was appointed as

third Menzies Ministry, but was appointed Minister for External Affairs, retained social services and regained health. He held the three portfolios until the fall of the Fadden government in October 1941. In opposition he served as chairman of the Joint Committee on Social Security in 1943 and 1944.^[1]

Personal life

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 the Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, survived by his wife and three daughters and two sons from his first marriage.^[1]

References

^
ISSN 1833-7538
. Retrieved 17 December 2007.

Political offices
Preceded by Joseph Lyons	Minister for Commerce 1932–1934	Succeeded by Earle Page
Preceded by Harry Foll	Minister for Health 1939–1940	Succeeded by Harold Thorby
New title	Minister for Social Services 1939–1941	Succeeded by Jack Holloway
New title	Minister for the Navy 1939–1940	Succeeded by Archie Cameron
Preceded by Richard Casey	Minister for Supply and Development 1939–1940	Succeeded by Philip McBride
Preceded by John McEwen	Minister for External Affairs 1940–1941	Succeeded by H. V. Evatt
Preceded by Harold Thorby	Minister for Health 1940–1941	Succeeded by E.J. Holloway
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Albert Rowe	Member for Parramatta 1931–1946	Succeeded by Howard Beale

[adb-1] 
ISSN 1833-7538
. Retrieved 17 December 2007.

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