James MacCallum Smith
Encyclopedia
James MacCallum Smith was an Australia
n politician
, newspaper proprietor and stock breeder. He lobbied unsuccessfully for many years for the secession
of Western Australia
from the Federation of Australia
.
Born in Drumchardny near Inverness
, Scotland
, he was the son of gatekeeper
James Smith and Helen née McPherson. Little else is known of his early life, but in 1884 he was working for the Northern Chronicle. Some time later he emigrated to Australia, working briefly for a country newspaper in Queensland
, then moving to Sydney to manage the Australian Mining Standard. In 1893 he moved to Coolgardie where he joined a consortium which purchased the Argus newspaper for £250. He sold his share a year later for £500 on the back of prosperity from recently discovered gold. Five years later the owners had refused an offer of £150,000 for a walk in-walk out sale of the paper.
In 1894, Smith partnered with Sydney Hocking in establishing the Golden Age and the West Australian Goldfields Courier. Two years later the pair established the Goldfields Morning Chronicle. In 1898 he partnered with Arthur Reid in establishing the goldfields' first Sunday newspaper, the Sun. Two years later the two men purchased the Perth
newspaper The Sunday Times
from the estate of Frederick Vosper
. MacCallum Smith bought out his partner in 1912 and remained as the sole proprietor and managing director until 1935. In 1899, he married Kate Louise Lawrence.
In the election of 5 September 1900, Smith contested a South Province seat in the Western Australian Legislative Council
, but was unsuccessful. He contested the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
seat of Coolgardie
in the election of 24 April 1901, but was defeated by the incumbent, Alf Morgans
. Thirteen years later, Smith contested the seat of North Perth
in the election of 2 October 1914, and won it. He would hold the seat for over twenty years. He became active in the Dominion League, and in 1934 was part of the delegation that travelled to London to present the 1933 secession petition which had been passed with a two-thirds majority. The British Parliament refused the request however and the delegation returned home empty-handed.
MacCullum Smith was deputy chairman of the Western Australian Bank until its amalgamation with the Bank of New South Wales in 1927, and then became deputy chairman of the WA advisory board for the Bank of NSW. He later held numerous boardroom positions, including directorship of the Swan Portland Cement Company, the Eagle Star Insurance Company, and the Amalgamated Collieries of WA.
In his later life Smith became involved in stock breeding. He was owner of the Pindar Merino Stud at Canna
and the Homebush Stud Farm at Cookernup
, as well as a wheat
farm at Koorda
. He exhibited stud sheep, cattle and horses.
Smith's wife died on 31 March 1937, and six months later he married Aileen Healy. In the election of 18 March 1939 he lost his seat to Arthur Abbott. Less than five months later he died, childless, on 6 August 1939 at Perth Hospital. He was buried at Dunlichity cemetery in Scotland. His estate included an endowment
for the creation of a MacCallum Smith chair of veterinary sciences at the University of Western Australia
which was never utilised.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, newspaper proprietor and stock breeder. He lobbied unsuccessfully for many years for the secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
from the Federation of Australia
Federation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
.
Born in Drumchardny near Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, he was the son of gatekeeper
Gatekeeper
Gatekeeper or gatekeeping may refer to:* Gatekeeper , a professional boxer who is considered a test for aspiring boxers* Gatekeeping , a person or organization who manages or constrains a flow of knowledge...
James Smith and Helen née McPherson. Little else is known of his early life, but in 1884 he was working for the Northern Chronicle. Some time later he emigrated to Australia, working briefly for a country newspaper in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, then moving to Sydney to manage the Australian Mining Standard. In 1893 he moved to Coolgardie where he joined a consortium which purchased the Argus newspaper for £250. He sold his share a year later for £500 on the back of prosperity from recently discovered gold. Five years later the owners had refused an offer of £150,000 for a walk in-walk out sale of the paper.
In 1894, Smith partnered with Sydney Hocking in establishing the Golden Age and the West Australian Goldfields Courier. Two years later the pair established the Goldfields Morning Chronicle. In 1898 he partnered with Arthur Reid in establishing the goldfields' first Sunday newspaper, the Sun. Two years later the two men purchased the Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
newspaper The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (Western Australia)
The Sunday Times, owned by News Limited, is a tabloid Sunday newspaper printed in Perth and distributed throughout Western Australia.-History:...
from the estate of Frederick Vosper
Frederick Vosper
Frederick Charles Burleigh Vosper was an Australian newspaper journalist and proprietor, and politician. He was well known for his ardent views and support of Australian republicanism, federalism and trade unionism.-Early life:...
. MacCallum Smith bought out his partner in 1912 and remained as the sole proprietor and managing director until 1935. In 1899, he married Kate Louise Lawrence.
In the election of 5 September 1900, Smith contested a South Province seat in the Western Australian Legislative Council
Western Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...
, but was unsuccessful. He contested the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
seat of Coolgardie
Electoral district of Coolgardie
Coolgardie was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1897 to 1930.The district was located in the Goldfields region, and was based in the town of Coolgardie. Its first member was Alf Morgans who served briefly as Premier of Western...
in the election of 24 April 1901, but was defeated by the incumbent, Alf Morgans
Alf Morgans
Alfred Edward Morgans was Premier of Western Australia for just 32 days, from 21 November to 23 December 1901.-Early life and career:...
. Thirteen years later, Smith contested the seat of North Perth
Electoral district of North Perth
The Electoral district of North Perth was a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. The district was named for its location immediately to the north of the central business district of Perth....
in the election of 2 October 1914, and won it. He would hold the seat for over twenty years. He became active in the Dominion League, and in 1934 was part of the delegation that travelled to London to present the 1933 secession petition which had been passed with a two-thirds majority. The British Parliament refused the request however and the delegation returned home empty-handed.
MacCullum Smith was deputy chairman of the Western Australian Bank until its amalgamation with the Bank of New South Wales in 1927, and then became deputy chairman of the WA advisory board for the Bank of NSW. He later held numerous boardroom positions, including directorship of the Swan Portland Cement Company, the Eagle Star Insurance Company, and the Amalgamated Collieries of WA.
In his later life Smith became involved in stock breeding. He was owner of the Pindar Merino Stud at Canna
Canna, Western Australia
Canna is a small town in the Mid West region of Western Australia. It is located between the towns of Morawa and Mullewa on the Mullewa-Wubin Road. At the 2006 census, Canna had a population of 81....
and the Homebush Stud Farm at Cookernup
Cookernup, Western Australia
Cookernup is a town located in the South West of Western Australia just off the South Western Highway, between Waroona and Harvey.-History:In 1835, Stephen Henty and Thomas Peel were the first Europeans to visit the area, being guided through the reaches of the Harvey River by local Aboriginal...
, as well as a wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
farm at Koorda
Koorda, Western Australia
Koorda is a town located in the North Eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, approximately east of Perth and north of Wyalkatchem at the northeastern end of the Cowcowing Lakes. It is the main town in the Shire of Koorda...
. He exhibited stud sheep, cattle and horses.
Smith's wife died on 31 March 1937, and six months later he married Aileen Healy. In the election of 18 March 1939 he lost his seat to Arthur Abbott. Less than five months later he died, childless, on 6 August 1939 at Perth Hospital. He was buried at Dunlichity cemetery in Scotland. His estate included an endowment
Financial endowment
A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution. The total value of an institution's investments is often referred to as the institution's endowment and is typically organized as a public charity, private foundation, or trust....
for the creation of a MacCallum Smith chair of veterinary sciences at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
which was never utilised.