William Forgan Smith
Encyclopedia
William Forgan Smith generally known as Forgan Smith, was Premier of the Australia
n state of Queensland
from 1932 to 1942. He came to dominate politics in the state during the 1930s, and his populism
, firm leadership, defence of states' rights and interest in state development make him something of an archetypal Queensland Premier. He represented the Australian Labor Party
(ALP).
, he apprenticed himself to a painter and decorator in Glasgow
. He took an early interest in politics, and his Labor sympathies were probably influenced by his observations of the poor conditions in the Clydeside shipyards and other working-class areas in Glasgow. He emigrated to Queensland in 1912, where he had an aunt. He settled in Mackay
and became involved in Trade Union
ism and Labor politics. Mackay is the centre of the sugar
industry in Queensland and sugar remained a major priority for Smith throughout his career. Despite the fact that he was only 28 and had been in Queensland only three years, he was pre-selected to run for the seat of Mackay in the 1915 election as the Labor candidate. The election saw a decisive victory for Labor under T. J. Ryan
, and Forgan Smith won the seat and entered Parliament.
Despite his youth and inexperience, it did not take Smith too long to adjust. When Prime Minister Hughes
called for conscription
to be introduced, Smith joined Premier Ryan in opposing it. This gave him recognition in the Queensland Labor Party, but made him a lifelong enemy in Hughes.
Forgan Smith read heavily on Parliamentary procedure, and as such was made a temporary Chairman of Committees in 1917, a position which became permanent in 1920. Soon after, he entered Cabinet as a Minister without portfolio assisting the Premier. Both roles gave him ample opportunity to build a profile in Parliament and the party. In 1922 he became Minister for Public Works, where he administered a new system of unemployment relief and earned the respect of the Unions. In 1923 he was elected to the Queensland Central Executive of the Labor Party, a position which gave him considerable power. In 1925 he became Minister for Agriculture and Stock under Premier Gillies
. By the end of 1925 he was Deputy Premier after only ten years in Parliament.
Labor suffered a surprising election loss in 1929, and Smith was elected leader of the party unopposed. As the Great Depression
deepened, Smith knew that he had a good chance of victory in the next election. He concentrated on keeping his party held together, while trying to prevent the pro-Lang
faction from gaining influence. He concentrated his criticism of the Government of A. E. Moore
on its decision to closely follow the Premier's Plan, which Smith believed to be only making the depression worse.
Forgan Smith campaigned furiously in the lead-up to the 1932 election, travelling broadly around the State. He was rewarded when he came into Government with a seven-seat majority. Smith himself took on the Treasury portfolio in addition to the premiership. Caucus elected a cabinet of generally moderate members – the radicalism of the Ryan Government had largely gone from the Queensland ALP by this time.
of President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
, although he predated Roosevelt by some nine months. Like Roosevelt, his policies were similar to the economic theory of John Maynard Keynes
.
Smith was willing to raise taxes, especially on the wealthy and on corporations, in order to fund unemployment relief programs. He was successful in raising revenue from £5.6 million in 1932-33 to £8.6 million in 1938-39, although in the process he turned Queensland into Australia's highest taxing state. The Commonwealth Bank also paid Queensland £920,000 as part of a program to aid the states. This money was put towards coupons and relief work.
Like most Queensland Premiers, Forgan Smith was an advocate of development. As such, he could put the relief work programs to good use building infrastructure and undertaking other capital works projects. He embarked on a number of ambitious ones, including the Storey Bridge, an upgrade of Mackay Harbour, the Somerset Dam (which was not completed until after the end of his premiership) and a new building for the University of Queensland
at St. Lucia that now bears his name. The relief work program was unsound over the long term, and was meant as a stop-gap measure. In some cases, local authorities took advantage of it, while in other cases, communities became dependent on it. For example, at one stage half of the workers of Coolangatta
on the Gold Coast
were on relief work. In 1938 relief work was abolished in favour of a permanent, long-term capital works program.
Smith was also a typical Queensland Premier in that he was criticised for being authoritarian and dictatorial. He used his strong and forceful personality to dominate Cabinet and the QCE, and his Government passed a number of controversial pieces of legislation. He added clauses to the 1936 Racing Bill which made it harder for reporters to find out and divulge information about proposed legislation, which drew heavy criticism from the press. The 1940 Public Safety Bill gave the Government vast powers during wartime. The most authoritarian, though, was probably the Transport Act of 1938, which allowed the Government to declare ‘State of Emergency’ in any part or all of the state for any time for any reason.
In such a case, the Government's actions were effectively beyond legal challenge. In Smith's defence, these laws were more or less in line with similar ones passed in other jurisdictions (for example, the Official Secrets Act
in the United Kingdom). Also, Smith never declared a State of Emergency himself – it would fall to later Premiers to take advantage of that power. He would regularly consult with his Ministers to reach a decision, and while he could be heavy-handed he was not an absolute ruler.
Smith, like most Queensland Premiers, was a defender of states’ rights. For example, he opposed the Uniform Tax Plan of 1942, even though it was a Federal Labor Government which was proposing it. Many people expected Smith to make a move to federal politics himself, just as Ted Theodore had done. However, he seemed satisfied with his secure position in Queensland.
The first Queensland Premier to make wide use of radio, Smith was an effective speaker, and he made a good impression on many of those who listened to him. Radio allowed him to reach a wider audience than he could otherwise have done, and he also travelled throughout the state, especially to turn the first sod on a new capital works project. Though somewhat dour, he became respected and genuinely popular. Confronted by a weak and divided opposition, he won substantial victories not only in 1932 but also in 1935, 1938 and 1941. Facing little opposition from within his own Government, he was able to retire of his own volition from the premiership on 16 September 1942. On 9 November he resigned from Parliament, and was able to pursue his other interests – sugar and education. He became a member and then chairman of the Sugar Board following his resignation, and then became the Chancellor of the University of Queensland
in 1944. He remained there until his death, in Sydney
, in 1953.
A pragmatic and hard-working politician who rose, step by step, through careful planning, Smith was not dogmatic, nor did he do anything spectacular, preferring to busy himself with day-to-day administration. He claimed to be a socialist, although he was an ardent critic of communism
. His populism, interests in education and state development and dominance of politics throughout his time in office occasionally invite comparisons with Peter Beattie
.
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 state of 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...
from 1932 to 1942. He came to dominate politics in the state during the 1930s, and his populism
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
, firm leadership, defence of states' rights and interest in state development make him something of an archetypal Queensland Premier. He represented 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).
Early life and career
Born in ScotlandScotland
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 apprenticed himself to a painter and decorator in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. He took an early interest in politics, and his Labor sympathies were probably influenced by his observations of the poor conditions in the Clydeside shipyards and other working-class areas in Glasgow. He emigrated to Queensland in 1912, where he had an aunt. He settled in Mackay
Mackay, Queensland
Mackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar....
and became involved in Trade Union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ism and Labor politics. Mackay is the centre of the sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
industry in Queensland and sugar remained a major priority for Smith throughout his career. Despite the fact that he was only 28 and had been in Queensland only three years, he was pre-selected to run for the seat of Mackay in the 1915 election as the Labor candidate. The election saw a decisive victory for Labor under T. J. Ryan
T. J. Ryan
Thomas Joseph "T.J." Ryan was Premier of Queensland, Australia from May 1915 until October 1919 when he resigned to enter Federal politics.-Early life:Thomas Joseph Ryan was born at Port Fairy, Victoria...
, and Forgan Smith won the seat and entered Parliament.
Despite his youth and inexperience, it did not take Smith too long to adjust. When Prime Minister Hughes
Billy Hughes
William Morris "Billy" Hughes, CH, KC, MHR , Australian politician, was the seventh Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923....
called for conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
to be introduced, Smith joined Premier Ryan in opposing it. This gave him recognition in the Queensland Labor Party, but made him a lifelong enemy in Hughes.
Forgan Smith read heavily on Parliamentary procedure, and as such was made a temporary Chairman of Committees in 1917, a position which became permanent in 1920. Soon after, he entered Cabinet as a Minister without portfolio assisting the Premier. Both roles gave him ample opportunity to build a profile in Parliament and the party. In 1922 he became Minister for Public Works, where he administered a new system of unemployment relief and earned the respect of the Unions. In 1923 he was elected to the Queensland Central Executive of the Labor Party, a position which gave him considerable power. In 1925 he became Minister for Agriculture and Stock under Premier Gillies
William Gillies (Australian politician)
William Neil Gillies was ALP Premier of Queensland, Australia, from 26 February 1925 to 22 October 1925....
. By the end of 1925 he was Deputy Premier after only ten years in Parliament.
Labor suffered a surprising election loss in 1929, and Smith was elected leader of the party unopposed. As the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
deepened, Smith knew that he had a good chance of victory in the next election. He concentrated on keeping his party held together, while trying to prevent the pro-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...
faction from gaining influence. He concentrated his criticism of the Government of A. E. Moore
Arthur Edward Moore
Arthur Edward Moore, CMG was an Australian politician. He was the Country and Progressive National Party Premier of Queensland, from 1929 to 1932. He was the only Queensland Premier not to come from the ranks of the Labor Party between 1915 and 1957...
on its decision to closely follow the Premier's Plan, which Smith believed to be only making the depression worse.
Forgan Smith campaigned furiously in the lead-up to the 1932 election, travelling broadly around the State. He was rewarded when he came into Government with a seven-seat majority. Smith himself took on the Treasury portfolio in addition to the premiership. Caucus elected a cabinet of generally moderate members – the radicalism of the Ryan Government had largely gone from the Queensland ALP by this time.
Premiership
As both Premier and Treasurer, Smith's immediate problem was the depression. As with other Governments throughout the world at this time, there was great pressure to try to improve the economy and reduce unemployment. He continued to follow the principles of the Premier's Plan, although he insisted that the Government fulfill its contractual obligations. His greatest concern was unemployment, and he moved to implement something akin to the New DealNew Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, although he predated Roosevelt by some nine months. Like Roosevelt, his policies were similar to the economic theory of John Maynard Keynes
John Maynard Keynes
John Maynard Keynes, Baron Keynes of Tilton, CB FBA , was a British economist whose ideas have profoundly affected the theory and practice of modern macroeconomics, as well as the economic policies of governments...
.
Smith was willing to raise taxes, especially on the wealthy and on corporations, in order to fund unemployment relief programs. He was successful in raising revenue from £5.6 million in 1932-33 to £8.6 million in 1938-39, although in the process he turned Queensland into Australia's highest taxing state. The Commonwealth Bank also paid Queensland £920,000 as part of a program to aid the states. This money was put towards coupons and relief work.
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
at St. Lucia that now bears his name. The relief work program was unsound over the long term, and was meant as a stop-gap measure. In some cases, local authorities took advantage of it, while in other cases, communities became dependent on it. For example, at one stage half of the workers of Coolangatta
Coolangatta, Queensland
Coolangatta is the southernmost suburb of the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It has a population of 4,869 and is named after the schooner Coolangatta which was wrecked there in 1846....
on the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
were on relief work. In 1938 relief work was abolished in favour of a permanent, long-term capital works program.
Smith was also a typical Queensland Premier in that he was criticised for being authoritarian and dictatorial. He used his strong and forceful personality to dominate Cabinet and the QCE, and his Government passed a number of controversial pieces of legislation. He added clauses to the 1936 Racing Bill which made it harder for reporters to find out and divulge information about proposed legislation, which drew heavy criticism from the press. The 1940 Public Safety Bill gave the Government vast powers during wartime. The most authoritarian, though, was probably the Transport Act of 1938, which allowed the Government to declare ‘State of Emergency’ in any part or all of the state for any time for any reason.
In such a case, the Government's actions were effectively beyond legal challenge. In Smith's defence, these laws were more or less in line with similar ones passed in other jurisdictions (for example, the Official Secrets Act
Official Secrets Act
The Official Secrets Act is a stock short title used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, India and Malaysia and formerly in New Zealand for legislation that provides for the protection of state secrets and official information, mainly related to national security.-United Kingdom:*The Official Secrets...
in the United Kingdom). Also, Smith never declared a State of Emergency himself – it would fall to later Premiers to take advantage of that power. He would regularly consult with his Ministers to reach a decision, and while he could be heavy-handed he was not an absolute ruler.
Smith, like most Queensland Premiers, was a defender of states’ rights. For example, he opposed the Uniform Tax Plan of 1942, even though it was a Federal Labor Government which was proposing it. Many people expected Smith to make a move to federal politics himself, just as Ted Theodore had done. However, he seemed satisfied with his secure position in Queensland.
The first Queensland Premier to make wide use of radio, Smith was an effective speaker, and he made a good impression on many of those who listened to him. Radio allowed him to reach a wider audience than he could otherwise have done, and he also travelled throughout the state, especially to turn the first sod on a new capital works project. Though somewhat dour, he became respected and genuinely popular. Confronted by a weak and divided opposition, he won substantial victories not only in 1932 but also in 1935, 1938 and 1941. Facing little opposition from within his own Government, he was able to retire of his own volition from the premiership on 16 September 1942. On 9 November he resigned from Parliament, and was able to pursue his other interests – sugar and education. He became a member and then chairman of the Sugar Board following his resignation, and then became the Chancellor of the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
in 1944. He remained there until his death, in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, in 1953.
A pragmatic and hard-working politician who rose, step by step, through careful planning, Smith was not dogmatic, nor did he do anything spectacular, preferring to busy himself with day-to-day administration. He claimed to be a socialist, although he was an ardent critic of communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
. His populism, interests in education and state development and dominance of politics throughout his time in office occasionally invite comparisons with Peter Beattie
Peter Beattie
Peter Douglas Beattie , Australian politician, was the 36th Premier of the Australian state of Queensland for nine years and leader of the Australian Labor Party in that state for eleven and a half years...
.
External links
- Final days for old Forgan Bridge — Daily Mercury
- Duke and Duchess of York with William Forgan Smith, Duchess holding bouquet, at Wallangarra railway station, 5 Apr 1927 — University of Queensland LibraryUniversity of QueenslandThe University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
- Photograph of William Forgan Smith — University of Queensland LibraryUniversity of QueenslandThe University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
- The Peace Generation - Fighting At Home — The Courier Mail
- Hon W Forgan Smith, the Chancellor and others at the laying of the foundation stone of the Main Building, 6 Mar 1937. UQA S533 [16]:[21] — University of Queensland LibraryUniversity of QueenslandThe University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
![Hon W Forgan Smith, the Chancellor and others at the laying of the foundation stone of the Main Building, 6 Mar 1937. UQA S533 [16]:[21]](http://www.library.uq.edu.au/fryer/uqmemory/images/uqas533item_16_21_fstone.jpg){kind=link}