Joshua Arthur

Joshua Arthur MLA
Member of the New South Wales Parliament
for Kahibah
In office
17 June 1950 – 19 August 1953
Preceded by Hugh Connell
(New seat)
Succeeded by Tom Armstrong
Member of the New South Wales Parliament
for Hamilton
In office
11 May 1935 – 22 May 1950
Preceded by William Brennan
Succeeded by George Campbell
Personal details
Born 27 January 1906
Adamstown, New South Wales Australia
Died 20 May 1974
Sydney, New South Wales Australia
Nationality Australian
Political party Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s) Ina Lillian Hoad (div.)
Marea Joanne Quinn
Children One son, two daughters
Profession Politician/ School Teacher
Religion Presbyterian

Joshua George Arthur (27 January 1906 – 20 May 1974) was an Australian politician who represented the Electoral district of Hamilton (1935–50) and the Electoral district of Kahibah (1950–53) for the Australian Labor Party.

Contents

Early life

Born to Joshua Arthur, a blacksmith, and Ethel May Embleton in Adamstown, New South Wales. He was educated at Adamstown Public School, Newcastle High School and Sydney Teachers College, graduating in 1924. He taught for the New South Wales Department of Education from 1925 until 1935, in the Wellington, Sydney and Newcastle districts.[1]

He served in the second Australian Imperial Forces. Enlisted in 1940, served in North Africa and on the staff of the Minister for the Army from 1943 until 1945.[1]

Political career

Arthur was the member for Hamilton winning the seat at the 1935, 1938, 1941, 1944 and 1947 State elections. Arthur transferred to the seat new seat of Kahibah at the 1950 State election. But resigned from the seat of Kahibah on 19 August 1953 causing the Kahibah state by-election, 1953 after a Royal Commission was set up to investigate the association between Arthur and R. A. Doyle who was involved in company fraud and other dubious business dealings. The Royal Commission subsequently found that some of his dealings with Doyle had been improper but not corrupt.[1]

Arthur was Minister for Tourist Activities and Immigration from 21 September 1949 until 30 June 1950 under Premier James McGirr. He was Secretary for Mines and Minister for Immigration 30 June 1950 until 23 February 1953 under Premiers McGirr and Joseph Cahill.

Death

Arthur died on 20 May 1974. He was buried at Northern Suburbs Cemetery by St Stephens Church of Macquarie Street, Sydney.[1]

References