NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Hal Colebatch

Hon. Sir Harry Pateshall Colebatch (29 March 1872–12 February 1953), CMG, better known as Sir Hal Colebatch, was a long serving and occasionally controversial figure in Western Australian politics. He was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council for nearly 20 years, premier of Western Australia for a month in 1919, Agent-General for Western Australia for nearly ten years, and a Senator for four years. Image File history File links This image shows a photograph of Hal Colebatch, taken and published some time in 1921â€“23. ... Image File history File links This image shows a photograph of Hal Colebatch, taken and published some time in 1921â€“23. ... March 29 is the 88th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (89th in Leap years). ... 1872 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... On the Orders insignia, St Michael is often depicted subduing Satan. ... Motto: Cygnis Insignis (Distinguished by its swans) Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Governor Premier Const. ... The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. ... The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Australian Senate chamber Entrance to the Senate The Australian Senate is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia. ...

Early life

Hal Colebatch was born in Wolferlow in Herefordshire, England on 29 March 1872. His family migrated to Australia in 1878, settling at Goolwa in South Australia. Colebatch left school in 1883 at the age of 11, because his father could not afford to continue his education. He then found work as an office boy and junior reporter for a local newspaper, the Norwood Free Press. When this paper collapsed, he worked for a series of short-lived papers on the South Australian goldfields. In 1888, he moved to Broken Hill, New South Wales, where he worked for six years as reporter for the Silver Age. There, he reported on a number of strike meetings in 1892, and was subsequently summoned as a Crown witness in the prosecution of some strike leaders. Herefordshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 kmÂ² Population - Total (2001) - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/kmÂ² Ethnicity... March 29 is the 88th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (89th in Leap years). ... 1872 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1878 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Goolwa (35°30′ S 138°46′ E, population approx 2400) is an historic river port on the River Murray near the Murray Mouth in South Australia, and joined by a bridge to Hindmarsh Island. ... Motto: United for the Common Wealth Nickname: Festival State Other Australian states and territories Capital Adelaide Government Governor Premier Const. ... 1883 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... A reporter is a type of journalist who researches and presents information in certain types of mass media. ... Goldfield is the name of two towns in the United States: Goldfield, Iowa Goldfield, Nevada Goldfield is also a common name for the wildflower Penstemon barbatus Goldfield or goldfields may also describe an area where Gold mining occurs. ... 1888 is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... Broken Hill (31Â°57â€² S 141Â°27â€² E) is an isolated mining city and Local Government Area in the far west of outback New South Wales, Australia, with a population of 21,000. ... 1892 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Crown is a term which is used to separate the government authority and property of the state in a kingdom from any personal influence and private assets held by the current Monarch. ... This article is about witnesses in law courts. ... Criminal law (also known as penal law) is the body of law that regulates governmental sanctions (such as imprisonment and/or fines) as retaliation for crimes against the social order. ...

In 1894, Colebatch migrated to Western Australia to take up a position as reporter on the Coolgardie newspaper Golden Age. After the collapse of the Golden Age the following year, he moved to Kalgoorlie to report on the Kalgoorlie Miner. In 1896, he moved to Perth to join the Morning Herald as mining editor and chess editor. Colebatch was a keen chess player at this time, and in 1898 he won the state title, thereby become Western Australia's third chess champion. On 29 April 1896, Colebatch married Mary Maude Saunders¹ in Perth. 1894 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Motto: Cygnis Insignis (Distinguished by its swans) Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Governor Premier Const. ... Coolgardie is a small town in the Australian state of Western Australia, located 558km east of the state capital, Perth. ... Kalgoorlie is a large Western Australian mining town located about 600 km east of Perth. ... 1896 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Perth is the state capital city of Western Australia, and is the most isolated capital city in the world. ... Mining - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Many countries claim to have invented the chess game in some incipient form. ... 1898 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ... 1896 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

The press gallery ban

In 1898, Hal Colebatch telegraphed to the Kalgoorlie Miner a report on a fist fight in parliament between two members. Information on the fight had been provided by a police inspector who had been on duty in the House, and had been instructed to brief reporters. The information was in fact greatly exaggerated, and no such fight had occurred. However by the time Colebatch discovered this fact, the telegraph office was closed. The Kalgoorlie Miner ran the story on the front page. 1898 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Parliament of Western Australia consists of the Governor of Western Australia, the Western Australian Legislative Council and the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to a parliament; in the Westminster system, specifically to the lower house. ...

The premier, Sir John Forrest, was furious about the report, because of its potential effect on investment in the state. The government subsequently sued the proprietors of the Kalgoorlie Miner for publishing a libel, but the case was unsuccessful. Forrest then had Colebatch banned from the press gallery. On 19 October, the Sergeant-at-Arms expelled Colebatch from the House, and the following day he indicated his intention to sue for assault. Colebatch subsequently received plenty of support in the House from members who felt that he had been unfairly treated, and shortly afterwards his suspension was lifted. The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. ... John Forrest, from the collection of the National Library of Australia The Rt. ... Investment is a term with several closely-related meanings in finance and economics. ... A lawsuit is a civil action brought before a court in which the party commencing the action, the plaintiff, seeks a legal remedy. ... In English and American law, and systems based on them, libel and slander are two forms of defamation (or defamation of character), which is the tort or delict of making a false statement of fact that injures someones reputation. ... October 19 is the 291st day of the year (292nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

In Northam

In 1904, Colebatch moved to Northam, where he bought the Northam Advertiser. He ran the paper until 1923, when he gave it to his sons as a reward for their war service. He would continue contributing to the paper for the rest of his life. 1904 is a leap year starting on a Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Northam(Latitude 31° 38 0 S, Longitude 116° 40 0 E) is a town in Western Australia, birthplace of Shirley Strickland, Fredrick Henry Piesse and Carmen Lawrence. ... 1923 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In Northam, Colebatch met and became friends with James Mitchell. Colebatch encouraged Mitchell to stand for parliament, and in 1905 he managed Mitchell's successful campaign for election to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Northam. Mitchell would hold the seat until 1933, and this would later prevent Colebatch from contesting the lower house seat himself. From 1909 to 1912, Colebatch was Mayor of Northam. In February 1912, he formed a Northam branch of the Liberal League. His Excellency Hon. ... 1905 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. ... 1933 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1909 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1912 is a leap year starting on Monday. ...

In Western Australian politics

In 1910, Colebatch unsuccessfully contested the East Province seat in the Western Australian Legislative Council in a by-election. The following year he contested the Legislative Assembly seat of Avon but was again unsuccessful. On 14 May 1912, he was elected to the Legislative Council seat of East Province in a by-election. There, he played a key role in the Legislative Council's persistent opposition to much of the more radical legislation put forward by John Scaddan's Labor government. When Scaddan's government fell in 1916, Colebatch was appointed Colonial Secretary and Minister for Education in Frank Wilson's government. The following year, he became deputy premier under Henry Lefroy. That year also, he oversaw the establishment of the first high schools in regional Western Australia. 1910 in topic: Arts Architecture- Art- Film- Literature- Music- Television Science and technology Aviation- Rail transport- Science Other topics Australia- Canada- Ireland- South Africa- Sport Births- Deaths Lists of leaders: State leaders - Religious leaders 1910 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. ... A by-election or bye-election is a special election held to fill a political office when the incumbent has died or resigned. ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (135th in leap years). ... 1912 is a leap year starting on Monday. ... John Scaddan, from the Western Australian Government Photographer Collection Hon. ... 1916 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Colonial Secretary of Western Australia was one of the most important and powerful public offices in Western Australia, in the time when Western Australia was a British colony. ... Frank Wilson, from the Western Australian Government Photographer Collection Hon. ... Henry Lefroy, from the Western Australian Government Photographer Collection Hon. ... Japanese high school students in uniform High school, or Secondary school, is the last segment of compulsory education in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Scotland, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan (Republic of China) (only junior high school) and the United States. ... The regions of Western Australia are distinct geographic areas of Western Australia, defined by the government of Western Australia for purposes of economic development administration. ...

The Spanish Flu crises

In the latter half of 1918, Spanish flu was sweeping the world, but had not yet broken out in Western Australia. As Minister for Health, Colebatch was responsible for quarantine. This presented a series of challenges. Late in 1918, with Lefroy absent and Colebatch acting as premier as well as Minister for Health, the troopship Boonah returned to Western Australia carrying soldiers infected with the Spanish flu. Colebatch was required to maintain a balance between the conflicting requirements of maintaining an effective quarantine while treating and repatriating the returned troops. Once the Boonah crisis was over, Colebatch was widely seen to have handled it responsibly and effectively. 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The Spanish Flu Pandemic, also known as the Great Influenza Pandemic, the 1918 Flu Epidemic, and La Grippe, was an unusually severe and deadly strain of influenza, a viral infectious disease, that killed some 25 million to 50 million people world-wide in 1918 and 1919. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Early in the new year, another crisis eventuated when the Spanish flu broke out in Victoria and South Australia. Both states initially declined to declare infection and close their borders, so Colebatch closed Western Australia's borders unilaterally. His decision greatly angered the acting Prime Minister of Australia William Watt, but he was strongly supported in Western Australia. Motto: Peace and Prosperity Nickname: Garden State Other Australian states and territories Capital Melbourne Government Governor Premier Const. ... Motto: United for the Common Wealth Nickname: Festival State Other Australian states and territories Capital Adelaide Government Governor Premier Const. ... The current (25th) Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard (sitting, fifth from left), with his Cabinet, 1999 The office of Prime Minister is in practice the most powerful political office in the Commonwealth of Australia. ...

Premiership

On 17 April 1919, Lefroy resigned as premier, and Colebatch succeeded him. He remains the only premier of Western Australia to have governed from the Legislative Council, and he did so on the understanding that a Legislative Assembly seat would be found for him. Colebatch continued as Colonial Secretary and Minister for Education, and also also took on the Treasury and Railways portfolios. He brought Mitchell into the ministry as Minister for Lands. April 17 is the 107th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (108th in leap years). ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Within two weeks, Colebatch had yet another crisis to deal with: the Fremantle wharf crisis of 1919. The labour crisis dragged on for almost a month, and would culminate in one of the most violent confrontations in West Australian history. Lumpers objected to goods being unloaded by non-union labour, from the ship Dimboola. Colebatch survived a barrage of projectiles when he personally confronted the unionists. One of the unionists, Tom Edwards, was killed by police. Unlike previous crises, Colebatch was not seen to have have handled the crisis well, and he sustained heavy criticism during and after it.

On 17 May, Colebatch resigned, having been premier for exactly one month. It remains the shortest premiership of Western Australia on record. His decision to resign was almost certainly influenced by the stress of the wharf crisis and the extensive subsequent criticism. However he was also suffering from poor health, and had been unable to find a Legislative Assembly seat in a country electorate as desired. H.G.P. Colebatch (2004) also asserts that Colebatch resigned as premier because he was not ambitious and had not wanted the job in the first place. May 17 is the 137th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (138th in leap years). ...

Colebatch handed over the premiership to his friend Mitchell. He retained the Public Health and Education portfolios, and also accepted the Agriculture portfolio. He continued as Deputy Premier and as Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council. He was responsible for the creation of a North West Department, and became its minister a month later. In April 1921, he dropped the Agriculture and Public Health portfolios, and instead took on the Justice portfolio. After the 1921 election, Colebatch was the only government minister in the Legislative Council, and so he had a huge workload. 1921 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Justice is a concept involving the fair, moral, and impartial treatment of all persons, especially in law. ... 1921 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

Agent-General for Western Australia

Colebatch was appointed a CMG in the New Year Honours of 1923, and shortly afterwards resigned his seat to take up appointment as the Agent-General for Western Australia in London. Colebatch was widely considered to be an outstanding Agent-General, with a 1924 publication claiming On the Orders insignia, St Michael is often depicted subduing Satan. ... 1923 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... St. ... 1924 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

He was due to finish his term in November 1926, but an election was due in Western Australia at that time, and neither Colebatch nor the incumbent Labor government wished for Colebatch to return during the election campaign. Colebatch's term was therefore extended into 1927. Early that year he was made Knight Bachelor. He also travelled extensively throughout Europe in that year, and met Benito Mussolini. 1926 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1927 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The dignity of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. ... World map showing location of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... Benito Mussolini created a fascist state through the use of propaganda, total control of the media and disassembly of the working democratic government. ...

When Colebatch returned to Western Australia in 1927, the premier Philip Collier commissioned him to take charge of writing a book commemorating the state's centenary. A Story of a Hundred Years: Western Australia 1829–1929, edited by Hal Colebatch, was published in 1929. 1927 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1929 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In Federal Politics

While he was working on A Story of a Hundred Years, Colebatch was asked by the Prime Minister Stanley Bruce to sit on a Royal Commission into the Constitution of Australia. The commission travelled throughout Australia and held 198 sittings. Colebatch's strong federalist stance stopped the Commission from recommending abandonment of the federal system and unification of the states, but the Commission's recommendations were largely ignored anyhow. The current (25th) Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard (sitting, fifth from left), with his Cabinet, 1999 The office of Prime Minister is in practice the most powerful political office in the Commonwealth of Australia. ... Rt Hon Stanley Bruce Stanley Melbourne Bruce (15 April 1883 - August 25, 1967), Australian politician and diplomat, later Viscount Bruce of Melbourne and Westminster, was the eighth Prime Minister of Australia. ... In countries that are members of the Commonwealth a Royal Commission is a major government inquiry into an issue. ... The Constitution of Australia consists of a number of documents. ...

In 1928, during the Royal Commission's sittings, Colebatch was elected to the Australian Senate. He took his seat on 1 July 1929, holding it until 20 March 1933, when he was again offered the position of Agent-General for Western Australia in London. Colebatch's time as a Senator was a frustrating period for him, as his advocacy of free trade as a means of international co-operation and peace was extremely unpopular at the time. His most important contribution during this time was the establishment of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, whose purpose is to vet government regulations that are made by executive action without reference to parliament, to ensure that they do not adversely affect the rights of citizens. Later he became heavily involved in the Western Australian secession campaign, and after he became Agent-General for the second time, he was asked to lead the delegation that unsuccessfully petitioned the British Parliament for secession. 1928 was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Australian Senate chamber Entrance to the Senate The Australian Senate is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 1929 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in Leap years). ... 1933 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Free trade is an economic concept referring to the selling of products between countries without tariffs or other trade barriers. ... Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or political entity. ... The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ...

Later years

Colebatch's second appointment as Agent-General for Western Australia lasted from 1933 until 1939. During this time he again travelled widely throughout Europe, and made contact with German anti-Nazis, who were trying to forestall the rise of Adolf Hitler. After returning to Western Australia, he worked tirelessly to awaken Australia to the necessity of preparing for war. He was widowed early in 1940. On 11 May 1940 he was elected to the Legislative Council for the Metropolitan Province. In 1944 he married Marion Frances Gibson. He held his Legislative Council seat until 1948; in the 1948 election, the Liberal Party tried without success to dissuade Colebatch from nominating, and then endorsed two candidates. The other candidate, H. Hearn, won comfortably. 1933 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Nazi party used a right-facing swastika as their symbol and the red and black colors were said to represent Blut und Boden (blood and soil). ... Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889â€“April 30, 1945) was the Chancellor of Germany from 1933, and FÃ¼hrer und Reichskanzler (Leader and chancellor) of Germany from 1934, to his death. ... Motto: Cygnis Insignis (Distinguished by its swans) Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Governor Premier Const. ... 1940 was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... May 11 is the 131st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (132nd in leap years). ... 1940 was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1948 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1948 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In the final years of his life, Colebatch's main achievement was the writing of his autobiography, which has never been published. He died on 12 February 1953 after a brief illness, and received a state funeral the following day. He was survived by his second wife and three sons. His third son, also named Hal Colebatch, is a well-known author. February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Hal Gibson Pateshall Colebatch is an author, poet, lecturer, journalist, editor, and lawyer. ... The word author has several meanings: The author of a book, story, article or the like, is the person who has written it (or is writing it). ...

Notes

October 3 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... 1924 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

References

Henry Lefroy, from the Western Australian Government Photographer Collection Hon. ... The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. ... April 17 is the 107th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (108th in leap years). ... May 17 is the 137th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (138th in leap years). ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... His Excellency Hon. ...

Categories: 1872 births | 1953 deaths | Agents-General for Western Australia | Australian journalists | Australian mayors | Australian Senators | Colonial Secretaries of Western Australia | Members of the Western Australian Legislative Council | Nationalist Party of Australia politicians | Premiers of Western Australia The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. ... File links The following pages link to this file: Flag of Western Australia John Forrest, 1st Baron Forrest of Bunbury George Leake Newton Moore Flags of the Australian states and territories Wikipedia:Australian Wikipedians notice board Template:WesternAustraliaPremiers Categories: Flag images | Australia images ... John Forrest, from the collection of the National Library of Australia The Rt. ... George Throssell, from the Western Australian Government Photographer Collection The Hon. ... George Leake, from the Western Australian Government Photographer Collection The Hon. ... Alf Morgans, from the Western Australian Government Photographer Collection Alfred Edward Morgans (17 February 1850–10 August 1933) was premier of Western Australia for just 32 days, from 21 November to 23 December 1901. ... Walter James, from the Western Australian Government Photographer Collection The Hon. ... Henry Daglish, from the Western Australian Government Photographer Collection The Hon. ... Sir Cornthwaite Hector Rason, from the Western Australian Government Photographer Collection The Hon. ... Sir Newton Moore, from the Western Australian Government Photographer Collection Major-General Hon. ... Frank Wilson, from the Western Australian Government Photographer Collection Hon. ... John Scaddan, from the Western Australian Government Photographer Collection Hon. ... Henry Lefroy, from the Western Australian Government Photographer Collection Hon. ... His Excellency Hon. ... Sir David Brand (1912-1979), Premier of Western Australia (1959-1971), Member of the Legislative Assembly (1945-1975). ... The Honourable Sir Charles Court, AK was Premier of Western Australia between 1974 and 1982. ... Brian Burke was premier of Western Australia from 19 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988. ... Peter Dowding was premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1988 until his resignation on 12 February 1990. ... Dr Carmen Lawrence Dr Carmen Mary Lawrence (born 2 March Australian politician, became the first directly elected Federal President of the Australian Labor Party in 2003, after a meteoric rise in politics followed by several spectacular falls. ... Richard Court was Liberal Party Premier of Western Australia between 1993 and 2001. ... Dr. Geoffrey Ian Gallop (born 27 September 1951) has been the Premier of Western Australia since 2001. ...

Contents

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