Edric Bastyan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lieutenant General Sir Edric Montague Bastyan, KCMG, KCVO, KBE, CB (1903–1980) was Governor of South Australia from 4 April 1961 until 1 June 1968 then Governor of Tasmania from 2 December 1968 until 30 November 1973.

During his military career, senior posts held by him included head of logistics during the Berlin airlift (1946-48) and Commander of British Forces, Hong Kong from 1957 to 1960. He retired from the army in 1960 and was appointed Governor of South Australia on 4 April 1961.

On two occasions during his period as governor in South Australia, the elections did not result in a clear majority. In both 1962 and 1968, rather than make a precipitate decision to select the premier from the party with the largest minority (and more than 50% of the votes), he bided time and waited for parliament to meet. In both cases, the quick decision would have turned out to be wrong, and the South Australian House of Assembly selected the premier from the other party. In 1962, this allowed the Liberal Playford government to continue rather than the Labor Party led by Frank Walsh. In 1968, the Labor government of Don Dunstan lost to the Liberals led by Steele Hall. Without this leadership from the governor, there would likely have been a need for another election much sooner.

Bastyan's term in office in Tasmania was relatively uneventful, though he did have to deal, after the 1968 State election, with a deadlocked House of Assembly where both the ALP and Liberal Party had the same number of seats. The matter was resolved by a single representative of the Centre Party entering into a coalition with the Liberals. Bastyan returned to Adelaide in his retirement.

[edit] External links

• King's College London Archives
• list of commanders in Hong Kong
• British and Indian armies on the China coast 1785-1985; Harfield, A. G.; A. and J. Partnership, 1990. ISBN 0-9516065-0-6

Military Offices
Preceded by: Lieutenant General Sir William H Stratton, KCB, CVO, CBE, DSO	Commander British Forces Hong Kong 1957–1960	Succeeded by: Lieutenant General Sir Roderick W McLeod, KCB, CEB
Government Offices
Preceded by: Air Vice Marshal Sir Robert George, KCMG, KCVO, KBE, CB, MC	Governor of South Australia 1961–1968	Succeeded by: Major General Sir James W. Harrison, KCMG, CB, CBE
Preceded by: Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Gairdner	Governor of Tasmania 1968–1973	Succeeded by: Sir Stanley Burbury