Reginald Wilson (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir Reginald Victor Wilson KBE
(30 June 1877 – 13 July 1957) was an Australian businessman and politician.
Wilson was born in Adelaide
, South Australia and educated at Riverton
and Whinham College, North Adelaide. He bought a store at Broken Hill, New South Wales
in 1898 and he married Lily May Suckling in February 1901. He was elected an alderman of the City of Broken Hill
in 1908, but moved to Adelaide in 1909. He was mayor of St Peters in 1916 and 1917.
in 1912 and East Torrens in 1918, but was elected to the Australian Senate
as a candidate of the Farmers and Settlers' Association at the 1919 election
. From 1923 to 1925, he was an honorary minister in the Bruce-Page government
with some responsibility for health and immigration. In March 1923, Stanley Bruce
put him in charge of organising the Australian pavilion for the British Empire Exhibition
at Wembley
, London, which was aimed at stimulating immigration to Australia, promoting foreign investment and developing markets for Australian produce. In London, he also sought to negotiate an immigration agreement with the United Kingdom. He later negotiated a reciprocal trade agreement with Canada
, which still gives some preferences for cars and car parts.
Wilson returned to Australia in June 1924 and was appointed Minister for Markets and Migration
in January 1925. Although he had joined the Country Party
, he refused to attend its parliamentary meetings and he refused to nominate for its pre-selection at the 1925 election
on the basis that pre-selection should be automatic for ministers. As a result the South Australian Country Party refused to endorse him and, even with Bruce's support, he gained only fourth place on the non-Labor ticket for the Senate and, as a result, failed to be re-elected.
Wilson moved to Sydney in the late 1920s. He was president of the Motion Picture Distributors' Association from 1927 to 1939 and was accused of favouring American over Australian and British films. He died in his house in the Sydney suburb of Neutral Bay
, survived by two daughters.
in 1926.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(30 June 1877 – 13 July 1957) was an Australian businessman and politician.
Wilson was born in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia and educated at Riverton
Riverton, South Australia
Riverton is a small town of distinctive character and interest to travellers in the Mid North of South Australia, in the Gilbert Valley. It is situated on the Gilbert River, from which the town derives its name...
and Whinham College, North Adelaide. He bought a store at Broken Hill, New South Wales
Broken Hill, New South Wales
-Geology:Broken Hill's massive orebody, which formed about 1,800 million years ago, has proved to be among the world's largest silver-lead-zinc mineral deposits. The orebody is shaped like a boomerang plunging into the earth at its ends and outcropping in the centre. The protruding tip of the...
in 1898 and he married Lily May Suckling in February 1901. He was elected an alderman of the City of Broken Hill
City of Broken Hill
The City of Broken Hill is the Local Government Area for Broken Hill, which is an isolated mining city in the far west of outback New South Wales, Australia, with a population of just under 20,000....
in 1908, but moved to Adelaide in 1909. He was mayor of St Peters in 1916 and 1917.
Political career
Wilson ran unsuccessfully for the South Australian Legislative Assembly seats of TorrensElectoral district of Torrens
Torrens is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. Located along the River Torrens, and named after Robert Richard Torrens, a 19th century Premier of South Australia, and also the founder of the "Torrens title" land registration system. Torrens is...
in 1912 and East Torrens in 1918, but was elected to the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
as a candidate of the Farmers and Settlers' Association at the 1919 election
Australian federal election, 1919
Federal elections were held in Australia on 13 December 1919. All 75 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Nationalist Party of Australia led by Prime Minister of Australia Billy Hughes defeated the opposition Australian...
. From 1923 to 1925, he was an honorary minister in the Bruce-Page government
First Bruce Ministry
The First Bruce Ministry was the seventeenth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 9 February 1923 to 14 November 1925.Nationalist Party of Australia–Australian Country Party Coalition...
with some responsibility for health and immigration. In March 1923, Stanley Bruce
Stanley Bruce
Stanley Melbourne Bruce, 1st Viscount Bruce of Melbourne, CH, MC, FRS, PC , was an Australian politician and diplomat, and the eighth Prime Minister of Australia. He was the second Australian granted an hereditary peerage of the United Kingdom, but the first whose peerage was formally created...
put him in charge of organising the Australian pavilion for the British Empire Exhibition
British Empire Exhibition
The British Empire Exhibition was a colonial exhibition held at Wembley, Middlesex in 1924 and 1925.-History:It was opened by King George V on St George's Day, 23 April 1924. The British Empire contained 58 countries at that time, and only Gambia and Gibraltar did not take part...
at Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
, London, which was aimed at stimulating immigration to Australia, promoting foreign investment and developing markets for Australian produce. In London, he also sought to negotiate an immigration agreement with the United Kingdom. He later negotiated a reciprocal trade agreement with Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, which still gives some preferences for cars and car parts.
Wilson returned to Australia in June 1924 and was appointed Minister for Markets and Migration
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia)
The current Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig.-Portfolio responsibilities:The minister administers his portfolio through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and its component bodies:...
in January 1925. Although he had joined the 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...
, he refused to attend its parliamentary meetings and he refused to nominate for its pre-selection at the 1925 election
Australian federal election, 1925
Federal elections were held in Australia on 14 November 1925. All 75 seats in the House of Representatives, and 22 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
on the basis that pre-selection should be automatic for ministers. As a result the South Australian Country Party refused to endorse him and, even with Bruce's support, he gained only fourth place on the non-Labor ticket for the Senate and, as a result, failed to be re-elected.
Wilson moved to Sydney in the late 1920s. He was president of the Motion Picture Distributors' Association from 1927 to 1939 and was accused of favouring American over Australian and British films. He died in his house in the Sydney suburb of Neutral Bay
Neutral Bay, New South Wales
Neutral Bay is a harbourside suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Neutral Bay is located 5 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of North Sydney Council....
, survived by two daughters.
Honours
Wilson was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1926.