Milton Morris
Encyclopedia
Milton Arthur Morris AO
(born 2 April 1924) is an Australian politician who represented the Electoral district of Maitland
between 3 March 1956 and 29 August 1980 for the Liberal Party of Australia
.
, New South Wales
, Australia
. He was educated at Wickham Public School and Newcastle Junior Boys High School. Morris joined the Royal Australian Navy
in 1942 as a volunteer Defence Corps as an Anti Aircraft Gunner from 1942 till 1945. After World War two he married Colleen Joan Burgess on 13 October 1945 to whom they had one son and three daughters.
in 1954 and was a member of the Tarro
Branch of the Party. He was a Councillor on the Lower Hunter Shire (1954–1958). With the retirement of Incumbent member for Maitland
, Walter Howarth
, Morris was preselected by the Liberal Party and won the seat at that election. He subsequently won re-election at the 1956, 1959, 1962, 1965, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1976 and 1978 New South Wales State elections.
During his political career Morris held various portfolios in the Askin Government
, Lewis Government
and Willis Government
including Minister for Transport
(1965–1975), Minister for Lands and Minister for Forests (1975-1975) and Minister for Decentralisation and Development (1976-1976). He resigned from his seat of Maitland on 29 August 1980 to contest the New South Wales Federal Seat
of Lyne
for the Liberal Party. The Lyne contest was a three cornered contest between the Labor Party
candidate, National Country Party
candidate Bruce Cowan
and himself. The results of the 1980 Lyne election
were close with Morris coming within 0.29% of out voting his National Country opponent and winning through preferences against the Labor candidate in a heavily conservative seat. On his departure from parliament, he was permitted by Queen Elizabeth II, on the Governor's recommendation, to continue to use the title "The Honourable".
has since stuck. In the interview he expresses having no regrets for not re-entering politics, but did say that if given the chance would jump at the it, "I loved every minute of it [Transport Minister]".
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 2 April 1924) is an Australian politician who represented the Electoral district of Maitland
Electoral district of Maitland
Maitland is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Robyn Parker of the Liberal Party of Australia....
between 3 March 1956 and 29 August 1980 for the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
.
Early life
Born to Arthur Henry Morris, a railway guard, and his wife Janet Thomson on the 2 April 1924 at MayfieldMayfield, New South Wales
Mayfield is a north-western suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, which takes its name from Ada May a daughter of the landowner there, John Scholey, J.P...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
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...
. He was educated at Wickham Public School and Newcastle Junior Boys High School. Morris joined the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
in 1942 as a volunteer Defence Corps as an Anti Aircraft Gunner from 1942 till 1945. After World War two he married Colleen Joan Burgess on 13 October 1945 to whom they had one son and three daughters.
Political career
Morris joined the Liberal PartyLiberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
in 1954 and was a member of the Tarro
Tarro, New South Wales
Tarro is a north-western suburb of the Newcastle City Council Local Government Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It, and parts of nearby Beresfield, was originally known as Upper Hexham, 'lower' Hexham being an older settlement located about to the east on the Hunter River...
Branch of the Party. He was a Councillor on the Lower Hunter Shire (1954–1958). With the retirement of Incumbent member for Maitland
Electoral district of Maitland
Maitland is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Robyn Parker of the Liberal Party of Australia....
, Walter Howarth
Walter Howarth
Walter Arthur Harrex Howarth was an Australian politician who represented the Maitland for the United Australia Party and the Liberal Party of Australia .-Early life:...
, Morris was preselected by the Liberal Party and won the seat at that election. He subsequently won re-election at the 1956, 1959, 1962, 1965, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1976 and 1978 New South Wales State elections.
During his political career Morris held various portfolios in the Askin Government
Robert Askin
Sir Robert William Askin GCMG, was an Australian politician and the 32nd Premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party of Australia. He was born in 1907 as Robin William Askin, but always disliked his first name and changed it by deed poll in 1971...
, Lewis Government
Tom Lewis
Tom Lewis may refer to:*Tom Lewis , former Premier of New South Wales*Tom Lewis , Scottish chef*Tom Lewis , Australia*Tom Lewis , British obstetrician...
and Willis Government
Eric Willis
Sir Eric Archibald Willis KBE, CMG was an Australian politician, Cabinet Minister and the 34th Premier of New South Wales, serving from 23 January 1976 to 14 May 1976. Born in Murwillumbah in 1922, Willis was educated at Murwillumbah High School and the University of Sydney, where he obtained a...
including Minister for Transport
Minister for Transport (New South Wales)
The New South Wales Minister for Transport has responsibilities which includes bus and ferry policy, contracting and regulation, rail policy, fares and concessions, and taxi and hire car policy and regulation...
(1965–1975), Minister for Lands and Minister for Forests (1975-1975) and Minister for Decentralisation and Development (1976-1976). He resigned from his seat of Maitland on 29 August 1980 to contest the New South Wales Federal Seat
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
of Lyne
Division of Lyne
The Division of Lyne is an Australian electoral division located in the State of New South Wales. It lies on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales and includes the Local Government Areas of Gloucester, Greater Taree, Port Macquarie-Hastings and southern Kempsey...
for the Liberal Party. The Lyne contest was a three cornered contest between the 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...
candidate, National 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...
candidate Bruce Cowan
Bruce Cowan
David Bruce Cowan, AM was an Australian politician and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Tom Lewis and Sir Eric Willis...
and himself. The results of the 1980 Lyne election
Electoral results for the Division of Lyne
This is a list of electoral results for the Division of Lyne in Australian federal elections from the electorate's creation in 1949 until the present.-Members:-Elections in the 2010s:-Elections in the 2000s:...
were close with Morris coming within 0.29% of out voting his National Country opponent and winning through preferences against the Labor candidate in a heavily conservative seat. On his departure from parliament, he was permitted by Queen Elizabeth II, on the Governor's recommendation, to continue to use the title "The Honourable".
Later life
Morris has since Lyne not re-contested an election. He was interviewed by local Maitland Newspaper, the Maitland Mercury and was given the nickname 'Mr Maitland', the nicknameNickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
has since stuck. In the interview he expresses having no regrets for not re-entering politics, but did say that if given the chance would jump at the it, "I loved every minute of it [Transport Minister]".
Community activity and Honours
- Chairman of Hunter Valley Training.
- Honorary Chairman of Lewis House Apprentice Hostel, MayfieldMayfield, New South WalesMayfield is a north-western suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, which takes its name from Ada May a daughter of the landowner there, John Scholey, J.P...
- Patron of East Maitland sub branch, Returned Serviceman's League.
- Patron - Mai Wel Handicapped Association.
- Honorary Prefect of Hunter Christian School (formally Mayfield Christian Community School)
Honours
- Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) - 1988, for his contribution to politics, youth and the community.
- Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
) - 1989, for service to Poland and its people.