Eric Spooner

Eric Sydney Spooner (2 March 1891 – 3 June 1952) was an Australian politician.

The Honourable Eric Spooner
Secretary for Public Works
In office 22 August 1935 – 21 July 1939
Premier	Bertram Stevens
Preceded by	Bertram Stevens
Succeeded by	Bertram Stevens
Minister for Local Government
In office 15 February 1933 – 21 July 1939
Premier	Bertram Stevens
Preceded by	Joseph Jackson
Succeeded by	Bertram Stevens
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Ryde
In office 11 June 1932 – 23 August 1940
Preceded by	Evan Davies
Succeeded by	Arthur Williams
Member of the Australian Parliament for Robertson
In office 21 September 1940 – 21 August 1943
Preceded by	Sydney Gardner
Succeeded by	Thomas Williams
Personal details
Born	(1891-03-01)1 March 1891 Waterloo, Colony of New South Wales
Died	3 June 1952(1952-06-03) (aged 61) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political party	United Australia Party
Spouse(s)	Mary Berry
Relations	Bill Spooner (Brother)
Occupation	Accountant

Early life

Spooner was born in the Sydney suburb of Waterloo and educated at Christ Church St Laurence School. At 14 he became a telegraph messenger and studied at night at the University of Sydney to gain a diploma in economics and commerce. He married Mary Berry in December 1919. He established the accounting firm of Hungerford, Spooner & Co in 1922 with his brother Bill, a Liberal cabinet minister from 1949 to 1964.[1][2]

State politics

Spooner was elected the seat of Ryde in 1932 and became an honorary minister in the United Australia Party government of Bertram Stevens. He subsequently became Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Local Government. From 1935 he was Minister for Local Government, Secretary for Public Works and deputy leader of the United Australia Party (NSW Branch).[3][4] He was responsible for establishing employment-creating schemes and the Sydney County Council, a gas and electricity supplier. In 1939 he opposed budget cuts and resigned from Cabinet on 21 July. On 1 August, he moved a motion that brought down the government, but he failed to get enough support to form his own government.[1][5][6]

Spooner bathing costume

As the NSW Minister for Local Government Spooner introduced an ordinance commencing on 1 September 1935 about clothed bathing swimsuits, principally aimed at males who were wearing swim trunks.[7] The lowering of the upper part of a costume to show a bared chest was considered by some persons including a branch of the Country Women's Association as 'disgraceful, and [the issue] merits rigorous attention',[8] and 'if men were allowed to wear shorts, girls would want shorts and brassieres and that would lead to a steady increase of undesirable conduct on our beaches'.[9]

Protests were received from the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia,[8] and derided for competitive swimming needs.[10] Prohibitive purchase cost for wearers was also noted. Spooner noted the change legalised costumes currently in use and removed the older 'neck to knee' costumes ordinance.[7]

The State of Victoria followed Spooner's regulation.[11] The law was still in effect in NSW by 1950.[9]

Federal politics and later life

In August 1940 Spooner resigned his seat and won the Federal seat of Robertson in the October election. In June 1941, he was appointed Minister for War Organisation of Industry in the third Menzies Ministry, a position he retained until the fall of the Fadden government in October 1941. He lost his seat in the 1943 election. He joined the new Liberal Party, but was almost expelled for questioning the White Australia Policy. He ran unsuccessfully against Prime Minister Ben Chifley in Macquarie in 1946.[1]

Spooner died of cancer in Sydney in 1952, survived by his wife, three sons and daughter.[1]

Notes

1. Lloyd, C. J. (2002). "Spooner, Eric Sydney (1891–1952)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
2. "The Hon. Eric Sydney Spooner (1891–1952)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
3. "DEPUTY LEADER". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (18, 441). New South Wales, Australia. 20 November 1935. p. 6. Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "MR. SPOONER". The Sydney Morning Herald (30, 540). New South Wales, Australia. 20 November 1935. p. 15. Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "MR. A. MAIR NEW PREMIER". The Sydney Morning Herald (31, 700). New South Wales, Australia. 7 August 1939. p. 11. Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "MR. SPOONER'S ADDRESS". The Sydney Morning Herald (31, 700). New South Wales, Australia. 7 August 1939. p. 12. Retrieved 8 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "Beach dress". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 24 November 1936. p. 12. Retrieved 1 March 2020 – via Trove.
8. "The Spooner Costume". Nambucca and Bellinger News. New South Wales, Australia. 27 November 1936. p. 3. Retrieved 1 March 2020 – via Trove.
9. "Wear Modern Wwimsuits At Your Peril!". The Sunday Herald (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 27 August 1950. p. 1 (Sunday Herald Features). Retrieved 1 March 2020 – via Trove.
10. "Spooner Costume Setback". The Labor Daily. New South Wales, Australia. 18 November 1936. p. 5. Retrieved 1 March 2020 – via Trove.
11. "Victoria follows". The Daily Telegraph. New South Wales, Australia. 21 May 1935. p. 9. Retrieved 1 March 2020 – via Trove.

 

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Evan Davies	Member for Ryde 1932–1940	Succeeded by Arthur Williams
Political offices
Vacant Title last held by Bertram Stevens	Assistant Treasurer 1933 – 1935	Vacant Title next held by Clive Evatt
Preceded by Joseph Jackson	Minister for Local Government 1933 – 1939	Succeeded by Bertram Stevens
Preceded by Bertram Stevens	Secretary for Public Works 1935 – 1939
Party political offices
Preceded by Reginald Weaver	Deputy Leader of the United Australia Party (NSW Branch) 1935 – 1939	Succeeded by Athol Richardson
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Sydney Gardner	Member for Robertson 1940–1943	Succeeded by Thomas Williams
Political offices
New title	Minister for War Organisation of Industry 1941	Succeeded by John Dedman