27 Facts About Alexander Mair

Alexander Mair was an Australian politician who served as Premier of New South Wales from 5 August 1939 to 16 May 1941.

In 1932, Alexander Mair was elected to the seat of Albury and was re-elected a further four times.

Alexander Mair rose quickly through the cabinet of Bertram Stevens' United Australia Party government, becoming an Assistant Minister in April 1938, Minister for Labour and Industry in June and Colonial Treasurer in October.

Alexander Mair served as Premier until losing the May 1941 election to the Labor Party under William McKell, losing 20 seats.

When Reginald Weaver died in November 1945, only months after becoming the first leader of the Liberal Party in New South Wales, Alexander Mair was selected to succeed him.

Alexander Mair remained as leader until he resigned in March 1946 to contest the Australian Senate.

Alexander Mair was unsuccessful and thereafter retired back to Melbourne, where he died in 1969, aged 79.

Alexander Mair was born on 25 August 1889 in the Melbourne suburb of North Carlton, Victoria, the eldest child of Victorian-born parents Alexander Mair, a timber and steel merchant, and his wife Florence Mair.

Alexander Mair was educated at Wesley College, where he excelled in sports, and then later at Bradshaw's Business College.

On 29 October 1913, Alexander Mair married Grace Lennox at the Scots' Church, Melbourne and together had two sons, John and Sandy, and a daughter, Margaret.

When his father died in that year, Alexander Mair took charge of the company, which expanded into hardware.

Alexander Mair involved himself in every facet of the company, often visiting overseas suppliers.

Alexander Mair first entered politics at the 11 June 1932 election, when he stood as the United Australia Party candidate for the local seat of Albury in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

Alexander Mair soon built up a reputation for being a loyal, yet strongly independent member of parliament, and a powerful debater in the House.

On this occasion Alexander Mair was appointed to Premier Stevens' new cabinet as an Assistant Minister on 13 April 1938.

Alexander Mair served in this capacity for ten weeks until 1 June 1938, when he was promoted as the Minister for Labour and Industry, which had been vacated by the death of his predecessor, John Dunningham.

In July 1939, Stevens and Alexander Mair attempted to prevent Spooner's disruptive tactics by creating a committee of four, consisting of Alexander Mair, Stevens, Spooner and Country Party Leader, Michael Bruxner, to approve all expenditure.

Alexander Mair called regular party meetings and his conciliatory manner soon united his formerly dysfunctional party.

Alexander Mair responded by tearing apart their arguments in a one-hour and a half long speech.

At the campaign for the 10 May 1941 election, Alexander Mair performed poorly, finding it difficult to distinguish himself from his predecessor and proposing policies but only promising action after the war.

At the election, the Labor Party polled more than half the vote while Bruxner's Country Party lost nine seats and Alexander Mair's UAP lost twenty seats: twelve to Labor, seven to independents and one to redistribution.

Alexander Mair now became Leader of the Opposition for the shattered conservative parties on 19 May 1941 and, despite the electoral defeat, pledged his full support for the government in war matters.

Weaver and Alexander Mair led the hopelessly divided conservative forces to defeat at the 27 May 1944 election, losing another three seats.

Alexander Mair served as the second Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party only briefly until he resigned as leader on 21 March 1946, being succeeded by his former Minister for Justice, Vernon Treatt.

On 14 August 1946, after serving fourteen years in the New South Wales Parliament, Alexander Mair resigned his seat to run for a place in the Australian Senate for New South Wales.

Alexander Mair then assisted in returning his seat to the Liberal Party at the May 1947 election.

Almost a quarter of a century after he left Parliament, Alexander Mair died on 3 August 1969 in his St Kilda home, survived by his wife, two sons and daughter.