William Scully (Australian politician)
William Scully | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Gwydir | |
| In office 8 May 1937 – 10 December 1949 | |
| Preceded by | Aubrey Abbott |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Treloar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 February 1883 Sydney |
| Died | 19 March 1966 (aged 83) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Spouse | Grace Myrtle Kilbride |
| Children | Jim Scully and two other sons |
| Occupation | Contractor |
William James "Bill" Scully (1 February 1883 – 19 March 1966) was an Australian politician and farmer.
Personal life
Born in Sydney to Thomas James Scully and his wife Sarah Lucy Rutherford, he was educated at a small school near Tamworth. He and his brothers worked as contract labourers, and by the age of 21 Scully was a contractor. In 1912 he became a justice of the peace. He was also involved with the Tamworth Progress Association and the Primary Producers' Union of New South Wales.[1] At Tamworth in 1925 he married Grace Myrtle Kilbride.[2]
NSW politics
In 1903, Scully joined the Tamworth Political Labor League and soon rose to become president. After three unsuccessful attempts to enter the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, in succeeded his brother Patrick,[3] in the electorate of Namoi in 1923. Although he agreed with many of the views of New South Wales Premier Jack Lang, Scully remained loyal to the Prime Minister, James Scullin, and to the Australian Labor Party. He lost Namoi in 1932.[1][2]
Federal politics
Having bred horses for five years, Scully stood in a 1937 by-election for the federal seat of Gwydir, which he won. When Labor won government in 1941, the Prime Minister, John Curtin, appointed him Minister for Commerce, to which was added Agriculture in 1942. He held this position under Curtin, Frank Forde and Ben Chifley, and chaired the Australian Food Council. "The Scully Plan", which aimed to guarantee wheat farmers a minimum price of four shillings per bushel, was introduced in 1942.[1]
Scully was appointed Vice-President of the Executive Council in 1946, a post he held until 1949, when he was defeated at the elections. He retired to Tamworth, where he grew lucerne and served on Tamworth City Council. He was also involved with the New England University College, the Tamworth and District Workmen's Club, and the Tamworth Cricket Association. Renowned for his integrity, sincerity and directness, Scully died on 19 March 1966 and was given a state funeral.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Boyle, Janice (2002). "Scully, William James (1883–1966)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 25 August 2007.
- ^ a b "Mr William James Scully (1885-1966)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ "Mr Patrick Charles Scully (1887–1951)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
- 1883 births
- 1966 deaths
- Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Gwydir
- Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
- 20th-century Australian politicians
- Australian justices of the peace