Bertram Stevens (politician)

In May 1932 the Governor Sir Philip Game, citing the reserve powers of The Crown, dismissed the government of Labor Premier Jack Lang, which was in dispute with Australia's federal government of James Scullin, and appointed Stevens as caretaker Premier. Stevens immediately called a state election, which his party won in a commanding landslide.[1][3]

His major reform was the replacement of the appointed Legislative Council, by a Council elected by the whole parliament to terms equivalent to four Assembly terms, that is up to 12 years; this was passed by referendum in 1933. He reduced the protections for mortgagors and tenants that had been introduced by Lang's 1925–27 government. The UAP was re-elected (by somewhat reduced majorities) in 1935 and 1938, each time against the Lang-led Labor Party. For most of Stevens's seven-year Premiership, one of the longest in New South Wales history – it continued until the eve of World War II – he was his own Treasurer.[2]

Premier Bertram Stevens (left) at a polling place in Croydon on 13 May 1935.

Stevens with members of his cabinet in 1939.

Stevens disliked the restrictive aspects of the Premiers' Plan, and was seen as overly parochial in his dealings with other states and the federal government. In a November 1932 letter to Stanley Bruce, Prime Minister Joseph Lyons wrote "We have got rid of Lang but unfortunately we now have a Stevens to contend with. At least one could go out and attack Lang in the open. In the case of Stevens, however, one is continually sabotaged from behind."[4]

Although Stevens's dealings with Country Party leader and Deputy Premier Michael Bruxner were friendly, the same was not true of his working relationship with the United Australia Party's deputy leaders. In 1935 Stevens dropped Deputy leader Reginald Weaver from the ministry, describing him as "too extreme in personal independence" and possessing a "needlessly sharp tongue",[5] Weaver was replaced as deputy by Eric Spooner. Spooner was critical of Stevens' relationship with the Country Party and in 1938 he was passed over as Treasurer. In July 1939, Spooner resigned from cabinet and on 1 August moved a motion that was critical of the proposal to cut government spending in order to restrain a growing deficit, with Spooner personally attacking Stevens, describing him as running the party as a dictatorship.[6] The coalition had a large majority in the assembly, however the motion was passed 43 to 41, with nine United Australia members joining Spooner in voting against the government.[7][8] Having lost the confidence of the assembly, Stevens resigned as Premier and leader of the party. Spooner's ambitions to replace Stevens as leader were thwarted as Bruxner refused to join a coalition with him and Alexander Mair succeeded Stevens as Premier.[1]

Still only 50 years old when he lost the premiership, Stevens had long had hopes of a career in the federal parliament.[9] Prime Minister Joseph Lyons had no clear successor, and within New South Wales many thought Stevens would be a suitable replacement; he had little support in other states, however.[10] Despite Robert Menzies's attempts to discourage him, he abandoned his Assembly seat in 1940 and ran for the Labor-controlled Division of Lang [11] during that year's federal election. He was easily defeated by the ALP incumbent, Dan Mulcahy.[1][12]