Charles Frost (politician)

Charles William Frost (30 November 1882 – 22 July 1964) was an Australian politician and diplomat. He served in the House of Representatives from 1929 to 1931 and 1934 to 1946, representing the Labor Party. He was a minister in the Chifley Government from 1941 to 1946, and later became Australian High Commissioner to Ceylon from 1947 to 1950.


Charles Frost
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Franklin
In office
14 December 1929  19 December 1931
Preceded byWilliam McWilliams
Succeeded byArchibald Blacklow
In office
15 September 1934  28 September 1946
Preceded byArchibald Blacklow
Succeeded byBill Falkinder
Personal details
Born(1882-11-30)30 November 1882
Hobart, Tasmania
Died22 July 1964(1964-07-22) (aged 81)
NationalityAustralian
Political partyAustralian Labor Party
Spouse(s)Ruth Hornsey Young
ChildrenJack Frost
OccupationOrchardist

Early life

Frost was born in Hobart, Tasmania and educated at Koonya and Margate state schools, but left school at 13. He later worked at the Iron Blow mine near Queenstown. He married Ruth Hornsey Young in October 1906 and they had four children (including Jack, who would sit in the Tasmanian House of Assembly). He bought an orchard near Margate and in the late 1920s he was elected as a member of local Kingborough Council.[1]

Political career

Frost ran unsuccessfully for the division of Franklin in the Tasmanian Legislative Assembly in 1928. He won a by-election in 1929 for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Franklin for the Australian Labor Party. He lost the seat at the 1931 election, but won it back in the 1934 election. When John Curtin came to power in 1941, he was appointed Minister for Repatriation and Minister in charge of War Service Homes. He narrowly lost his seat at the 1946 election.[1]

Later life

On 16 January 1947, Frost took up an appointment as Australian Commissioner to Ceylon.[2] The country was granted Dominion status in 1948 and his title was changed to High Commissioner. He was present for the swearing-in of Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore as Governor-General of Ceylon on 4 February 1948.[3] Later in 1948, Frost was criticised by Australian businessman V. M. Segal for neglecting Australia's trade interests and being unqualified for the post. Segal stated "he is kept there at considerable expense to this country [...] it is the biggest sinecure I know."[4] Although he had been granted a five-year term, after the 1949 election the new Liberal Government decided to terminate his appointment early on 5 October 1950.[5] He was replaced by a career diplomat, John Burton.[6]

Frost died in St John's Hospital, Hobart, on 22 July 1964, survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.[1]

Notes

  1. Chapman, R. J. K. (1996). "Frost, Charles William (1882–1964)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 13 January 2008 via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  2. "Frost Appointed Commissioner To Ceylon". The Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga). Wagga Wagga, NSW: National Library of Australia. 17 January 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  3. "CEYLON BECOMES DOMINION". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 5 February 1948. p. 4. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  4. "Opportunity To Trade With Ceylon Missed". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 19 November 1948. p. 4. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  5. "C. W. FROST LOSES JOB". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 4 October 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  6. "BURTON TO CEYLON". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 20 January 1951. p. 3. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
Political offices
Preceded by
Herbert Collett
Minister for Repatriation
1941–46
Succeeded by
Claude Barnard
Minister in charge of War Service Homes
1941–45
Title abolished
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
William McWilliams
Member for Franklin
1929–31
Succeeded by
Archibald Blacklow
Preceded by
Archibald Blacklow
Member for Franklin
1934–46
Succeeded by
Bill Falkinder
Diplomatic posts
New title Australian Commissioner to Ceylon
1947–1948
Succeeded by
Himself
as High Commissioner
New title Australian High Commissioner to Ceylon
1948–1950
Succeeded by
John Burton
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