Clarrie Martin
Encyclopedia
Major Clarence Edward Martin (2 February 1900 – 5 September 1953) was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1930 until 1932 and from 1939 until his death in 1953. He was variously a member of the Australian Labor Party (NSW)
, the Industrial Labor Party
and the Australian Labor Party
(ALP). He was the Attorney-General of New South Wales from 1941 until 1953 and also held the position of Minister for Transport for six months prior to his death.
and was the son of a miner. He was educated at state schools in Broken Hill, New South Wales
and was orphaned at an early age. He initially worked in the Broken Hill mines but continued his education privately. At age 17 he moved to Sydney, underwent teacher training and taught in state schools in rural NSW while continuing part-time studies in economics at the University of Sydney
. During the period he was out of parliament he studied law at the university. Martin graduated and was called to the bar in 1936, in 1952 he was appointed a Queen's Counsel . He was the founder of the NSW branch of the Fabian Society
and a trustee of the New South Wales State Library. He served in the Second Australian Imperial Force
in New Guinea and the Middle East for 4 years and reached the rank of Major.
state election as the labor member for Young
. He defeated the sitting Country Party
member Albert Reid
and his victory helped Labor form a government under Premier Jack Lang
. However, he was defeated in the 1932
landslide that ended Lang's premiership. During his time as an MLA for Young, Martin was active in forming and working with the Socialisation Units of the ALP. These Units promoted a transition to "socialism in our time" in the midst of the Depression crisis. This work led him into conflict with Premier Lang and his followers. By the mid-1930s, while still out of Parliament, he was a recognised leader of the left-wing forces inside the ALP. He was a supporter of rebel union-backed Labor Party, the Industrial Labor Party
, and stood as their candidate at the by-election caused by the death of the United Australia Party
member for Waverley
, John Waddell
. His victory and that of Clive Evatt
in a by-election in Hurstville
were seen as evidence of Lang's declining power. Within a few months of his entry into parliament, the Industrial Labor Party was re-admitted into the ALP caucus and Lang was replaced as leader
by William McKell
. The Federal Executive of the Labor Party intervened in the NSW Branch to convene a "Unity" conference, which effectively removed Lang and his followers from control. Martin retained the seat of Waverley at 5 subsequent election and died as the sitting member in 1953
at the 1941
election, Martin was appointed as the Attorney-General. He retained this position until 1953 when illness caused him to take the less hectic post of Minister for Transport.
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...
from 1930 until 1932 and from 1939 until his death in 1953. He was variously a member of the Australian Labor Party (NSW)
Australian Labor Party (NSW)
The Australian Labor Party , commonly known as Lang Labor, was the name given to a major breakaway of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales that operated from 1931 to 1936....
, the Industrial Labor Party
Industrial Labor Party
The Industrial Labor Party or Heffron Labor Party was a political party active in New South Wales, Australia, between 1938 and 1939. It was a splinter group of the Australian Labor Party and was formed by Bob Heffron after he and Carlo Lazzarini attempted to depose the party leader Jack Lang...
and the Australian 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...
(ALP). He was the Attorney-General of New South Wales from 1941 until 1953 and also held the position of Minister for Transport for six months prior to his death.
Early life
Martin was born in Ballarat, VictoriaBallarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
and was the son of a miner. He was educated at state schools in 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...
and was orphaned at an early age. He initially worked in the Broken Hill mines but continued his education privately. At age 17 he moved to Sydney, underwent teacher training and taught in state schools in rural NSW while continuing part-time studies in economics at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. During the period he was out of parliament he studied law at the university. Martin graduated and was called to the bar in 1936, in 1952 he was appointed a Queen's Counsel . He was the founder of the NSW branch of the Fabian Society
Fabian Society
The Fabian Society is a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. It is best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning late in the 19th century and continuing up to World...
and a trustee of the New South Wales State Library. He served in the Second Australian Imperial Force
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
in New Guinea and the Middle East for 4 years and reached the rank of Major.
State Parliament
Martin entered the New South Wales Parliament at the 1930New South Wales state election, 1930
The 1930 New South Wales state election was held on 25 October 1930. The election was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting...
state election as the labor member for Young
Electoral district of Young
Young was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales in the Young area. It elected two members between 1880 to 1894 and one member from 1894 to 1904, when it was replaced by Burrangong. Young was recreated in 1927 and abolished in 1981.-Members for...
. He defeated the sitting 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 Albert Reid
Albert Reid
Albert David Reid was an Australian politician. Born in Murrumburrah, New South Wales, he was educated at state schools before becoming a farmer and grazier at Crowther. He sat on Murrumburrah Shire Council before serving in the military in 1914.In 1927, he was elected to the New South Wales...
and his victory helped Labor form a government under Premier Jack Lang
Jack Lang (Australian politician)
John Thomas Lang , usually referred to as J.T. Lang during his career, and familiarly known as "Jack" and nicknamed "The Big Fella" was an Australian politician who was Premier of New South Wales for two terms...
. However, he was defeated in the 1932
New South Wales state election, 1932
The 1932 New South Wales state election was held on 11 June 1932. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 30th New South Wales Legislative Assembly and it was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting...
landslide that ended Lang's premiership. During his time as an MLA for Young, Martin was active in forming and working with the Socialisation Units of the ALP. These Units promoted a transition to "socialism in our time" in the midst of the Depression crisis. This work led him into conflict with Premier Lang and his followers. By the mid-1930s, while still out of Parliament, he was a recognised leader of the left-wing forces inside the ALP. He was a supporter of rebel union-backed Labor Party, the Industrial Labor Party
Industrial Labor Party
The Industrial Labor Party or Heffron Labor Party was a political party active in New South Wales, Australia, between 1938 and 1939. It was a splinter group of the Australian Labor Party and was formed by Bob Heffron after he and Carlo Lazzarini attempted to depose the party leader Jack Lang...
, and stood as their candidate at the by-election caused by the death of the 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...
member for Waverley
Electoral district of Waverley
Waverley was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1894, with the abolition of multi-member constituencies, out of part of Paddington, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Waverley. In 1920, with the...
, John Waddell
John Waddell
John Henry Waddell is an American sculptor, painter and educator.-Early life:Waddell was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1921 and moved to Evansville, Indiana at the age of ten. There he began to study art at the Katherine Lord Studio, and by the age of 16 was teaching classes there...
. His victory and that of Clive Evatt
Clive Evatt
Clive Evatt QC was an Australian politician, barrister and raconteur. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1939 until 1959. At various times he sat as a member of the Industrial Labor Party, ALP and as an independent.-Early life:Evatt was born in Maitland and was the...
in a by-election in Hurstville
Electoral district of Hurstville
Hurstville was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, named after and including the Sydney suburb of Hurstville....
were seen as evidence of Lang's declining power. Within a few months of his entry into parliament, the Industrial Labor Party was re-admitted into the ALP caucus and Lang was replaced as leader
Leader of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales
The leader of the ALP in the New South Wales Parliament is elected from and by the members of the party caucus, comprising all party members in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council. When the Labor party forms a government the leader is the Premier and when the party is in opposition...
by William McKell
William McKell
Sir William John McKell GCMG , Australian politician, was Premier of New South Wales from 1941 to 1947, and was the 12th Governor-General of Australia. He was also the oldest Governor General of Australia, at 93 when he died....
. The Federal Executive of the Labor Party intervened in the NSW Branch to convene a "Unity" conference, which effectively removed Lang and his followers from control. Martin retained the seat of Waverley at 5 subsequent election and died as the sitting member in 1953
Government
With the election of the Labor government of William McKellWilliam McKell
Sir William John McKell GCMG , Australian politician, was Premier of New South Wales from 1941 to 1947, and was the 12th Governor-General of Australia. He was also the oldest Governor General of Australia, at 93 when he died....
at the 1941
New South Wales state election, 1941
The 1941 New South Wales state election was held on 10 May 1941. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 33nd New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting....
election, Martin was appointed as the Attorney-General. He retained this position until 1953 when illness caused him to take the less hectic post of Minister for Transport.