Hugh Roberton

Hugh Stevenson Roberton (18 December 1900 – 13 March 1987) was an Australian politician. A member of the Country Party, he served as Minister for Social Services in the Menzies Government from 1956 to 1965. He later served as Ambassador to Ireland from 1965 to 1967.

This article is about the Australian politician. For the Scottish composer, see Hugh S. Roberton.

The Honourable Hugh Roberton
Minister for Social Services
In office 28 February 1956 – 21 January 1965
Prime Minister	Robert Menzies
Preceded by	William McMahon
Succeeded by	Reginald Swartz
Member of the Australian Parliament for Riverina
In office 10 December 1949 – 21 January 1965
Preceded by	Joe Langtry
Succeeded by	Bill Armstrong
Personal details
Born	(1900-12-18)18 December 1900 Glasgow, Scotland
Died	13 March 1987(1987-03-13) (aged 86) Canberra, Australia
Political party	Country
Spouse(s)	Marjorie Wyllie ( m. 1926⁠–⁠1970) Eileen McLeod ( m. 1972)
Relations	Sir Hugh Roberton (father)
Children	1 daughter
Occupation	Farmer, writer

Early life

Roberton was born in Glasgow, Scotland, son of Sir Hugh S. Roberton, a Scottish composer and founder of the Glasgow Orpheus Choir. He was educated at the West of Scotland Agricultural College and Glasgow University and emigrated to Australia in the 1920s. He became a farmer and grazier at Old Junee and a writer on political and economic subjects, particularly in the rural newspaper the Land under the name, "Peter Snodgrass". During World War II he served as a gunner in the Middle East.[1][2]

Politics

Roberton stood for the Country Party at the 1949 election for the House of Representatives seat of Riverina and defeated the Labor member, Joe Langtry. He was a proponent of government intervention to stabilise the price paid to wheat-growers. In February 1956, he was appointed Minister for Social Services in the seventh Menzies Ministry, a position he held until his resignation from parliament in 1965. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Country Party's deputy leadership in 1963, losing to Charles Adermann after the retirement of Charles Davidson.[3]

Later life

Roberton was appointed Australia's first ambassador to Ireland in 1965 and served until 1968.

Roberton died in Canberra in 1987, aged 86.[4] He was survived by his wife, Eileen, and a daughter.[1]

Notes

1. Hawke, Bob (17 March 1987). "Death of the Hon. Hugh Stevenson Roberton". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
2. Sinclair, Ian (17 March 1987). "Death of the Hon. Hugh Stevenson Roberton". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
3. "Increase in cabinet expected". The Canberra Times. 12 December 1963.
4. Boadle, Donald (2012). "Roberton, Hugh Stevenson (1900–1987)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. 18. Melbourne University Press.

Political offices
Preceded by William McMahon	Minister for Social Services 1956–1965	Succeeded by Reginald Swartz
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Joe Langtry	Member for Riverina 1949–1965	Succeeded by Bill Armstrong
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by R.H. Gilman	Australian Ambassador to Ireland 1965–1967	Succeeded by K.I. Gates as Chargé d'affaires