Sir Charles George Latham (26 January 1882 – 26 August 1968), often shortened to simply C. G. Latham, was an Australian politician,[1] former leader of the opposition in Western Australia and the 10th President of the Western Australian Legislative Council. Latham served over twelve years as leader of the state's Country Party, and over thirty years in the Parliament of Western Australia. Latham also served roughly ten months in the Federal Parliament, as a Senator for Western Australia.
Sir Charles Latham | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Latham in the 1940s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10th President of the Western Australian Legislative Council | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 7 July 1958 – 21 May 1960 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Anthony Loton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Leslie Diver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 22 May 1950 – 21 May 1960 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Les Logan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Norm Baxter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Constituency | Central Province | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 14 December 1946 – 21 May 1950 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Vernon Hamersley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Electorate abolished | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Constituency | East Province | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8th Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 25 April 1933 – 7 October 1942 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monarchs | George V Edward VIII George VI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy | Norbert Keenan Ross McDonald | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lieutenant-Governor | John Northmore (1931–1933)[a] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Philip Collier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Arthur Watts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader of the Country Party in Western Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 17 April 1930 – 7 October 1942 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy | John Lindsay Percy Ferguson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Alec Thomson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Arthur Watts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy Leader of the Country Party in Western Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 21 November 1928 – 17 April 1930 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader | Alec Thomson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Bertie Johnston | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | John Lindsay | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for York | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 12 March 1921 – 7 October 1942 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Harry Griffiths | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Charles Perkins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Charles George Latham 26 January 1882 Hythe, Kent, England, UK | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 27 August 1968 South Perth, Western Australia, Australia | (aged 86)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Resting place | Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, Western Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Citizenship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | English Australian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | Country | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse |
Marie Louisa von Allwörden
(m. 1903) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residence(s) | Hythe Farm, East Kumminin, Western Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Allegiance | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Branch/service | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years of service | 1916–1919 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unit | First Australian Imperial Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commands | 16th Battalion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Battles/wars | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biography
editLatham was born in Hythe, Kent in England, and became an orphan before the age of 8 when his parents Thomas Latham (a coast guard) and Isabella (née Isum) died. Latham moved to New South Wales in Australia with his siblings in 1890 and married Marie Louisa von Allwörden on 24 June 1903 at Hay in the same state.[1]
In 1910, Latham moved to Western Australia to take up 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) of land at East Kumminin (now Narembeen), 286 kilometers (178 mi) east of Perth. In his early farming days, he was unsuccessful, but was not deterred by the 1914 drought and owned 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) of land in 1921 when he entered parliament.[1]
In 1916 Latham enlisted in the entirely volunteer-run First Australian Imperial Force and was promoted to the rank of Corporal in January 1917. He was wounded in France in March 1918. Latham was promoted Sergeant in 1919 and was discharged in May of that year.[1]
Political career
editLatham became the Country Party (now National Party) candidate for the Legislative Assembly seat of York in 1921 and became a MLA following this endorsement. Before the First World War Latham was a member of the Bruce Rock Road Board before the war, but upon his return to Australia he became the chairman of the Narembeen Road Board in 1924. In 1930 Latham became the parliamentary leader of the Country Party and fervently rallied for farmers' rights. Later that year he joined the Party with the Nationalist Party and served as deputy Premier of Western Australia under James Mitchell from 1930 to 1933. From 1933 onwards, Latham was the Leader of the Opposition until 1942, when he resigned to fill a vacancy in the Australian Senate but lost the 1943 election.[2] Latham then returned to Parliament in 1946 to serve as a Member of the Legislative Council, became Minister for Agriculture in 1952–53 and retired in 1960, after another two years as the President of the Legislative Council.[1]
Latham died on 26 August 1968 and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.[1][3]
See also
editReferences
editNotes
- ^ Was Administrator of Western Australia from 1931 – 29 June 1932; Lieutenant-Governor until 10 July 1933.
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f Layman, Lenore. "Latham, Sir Charles George (1882–1968)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ Black, David (2004). "LATHAM, Sir Charles George (1882–1968)". The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ Black, David; Bolton, Geoffrey (2001). Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia, Volume One, 1870–1930 (Revised ed.). Parliament House: Parliament of Western Australia. ISBN 0730738140.