12 Facts About Arthur Drakeford

Arthur Samuel Drakeford was an Australian politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1934 to 1955, representing the Labor Party.

Arthur Drakeford served as Minister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation from 1941 to 1949, and during World War II was the minister responsible for the Royal Australian Air Force.

Arthur Drakeford was responsible for the establishment of the domestic carrier Trans Australia Airlines and for the nationalisation of Qantas.

Arthur Drakeford was vice-president of the LEDFA from 1914 to 1915, its president from 1916 to 1917 and general secretary from 1918.

Arthur Drakeford became president of the Labor Party's Victorian central executive in 1929.

Arthur Drakeford was elected as the member for the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Essendon in 1927, but was defeated in 1932, partly as a result of his opposition to the fiscally conservative Premiers' Plan drawn up in response to the Great Depression.

Arthur Drakeford concentrated on obtaining resources for the Royal Australian Air Force and attempting to sort out its leadership problems, rather than intervening in military strategy.

Arthur Drakeford was a member of War Cabinet from 1941 to 1946, and Minister for the Navy from August to November 1946, on the resignation of Norman Makin to become Ambassador to the United States.

Arthur Drakeford set up the Australian National Airlines Commission, which established Trans Australia Airlines in 1946.

Arthur Drakeford lost his seat at the 1955 election, as a result of the 1954 Labor Party split which led to the creation of the Democratic Labor Party.

Arthur Drakeford died in 1957 at his home in the Melbourne suburb of Moonee Ponds, survived by his wife and their four daughters.

The writer and composer Louis Arthur Drakeford has been named as a brother.