Alexander Thomson
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Alexander Thomson
Alexander Thomson [2], known as Alec or Alex Thomson, was a Western Australian politician, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1914 until 1930 representing the seat of Katanning, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council representing the South Province from 1931 until 1950.
Thomson was born in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England, to John Thomson, a carpenter, joiner and builder, and Jane (née McWilliam). His mother died when he was very young, and the family moved to Melbourne, where he attended Essendon Primary School until the age of 14. He was apprenticed to his father in the carpentry trade before working in several Victorian towns.
In 1895, Thomson came to Western Australia, working as a journeyman at Fremantle before establishing a business there. On 4 April 1896, he married Edith Maud Jenkinson, with whom he was to have four sons.
He worked at Buckland Hill and served as a councillor on the Buckland Hill Road Board from 1903 until 1905, before moving to the town of Katanning where he opened a timber and hardware store known as Thomson and Meharry.
In 1911, he was elected to the Katanning Road Board and served as its chairman in 1913. At the 1914 state election, Thomson was elected under the Liberal Party banner to the seat of Katanning.
Alec Thomson and his wife Edith Maud Jenkinson and their first-born son Alexander Clifford, born 1898
Contributed by Marc Dawson
He switched to the Country Party in 1917 becoming the Party’s deputy leader in 1921. In 1923, the party split between the majority of the party’s parliamentary wing, who favoured coalition with the Nationalist Party (Australia), and the party executive who favoured a more independent line.
Thomson led the three-member Executive Country Party to the 1924 election, where most of the Majority faction lost their seats. Thomson became leader of a reunited Country Party and led it until being defeated in his own seat by Arnold Piesse, an un-endorsed Country Party candidate, at the 1930 election.
He stood for and won a by-election for one of the South-East Province seats in the Western Australian Legislative Council on 26 September 1931 following the death of Hector Stewart, which he retained until his retirement at the 1950 Legislative Council election, at which his son, Jack Thomson, succeeded him. Jack went on to hold the seat for 24 years.
Over the intervening years, Alec Thomson had been director of the, Katanning Roller Flour Mill, founder of the Katanning Fresh Air League and the Katanning Historical Society, and was active in local affairs, including serving as president of the Katanning Bowling Club and the Katanning Club. He was also active in the Freemasons.
Thomson died at home on 18 November 1953, aged 80, and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.
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KATANNING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Great Southern Herald
7 August, 1930
The commercial interests of Katanning will henceforth take concrete form, owing to the formation of a Chamber of Commerce. This is the outcome of the initiative displayed by Mr. Alex Thomson, who since his retirement from political life, has taken an active interest in the business affairs of the town.
The object of a gathering last week was explained by the chairman, Mr. Alex Thomson, and after some discussion the following resolution was carried: –
”That in the interests of the business people of Katanning it is desirable that a Chamber of Commerce be formed. A committee comprising Messrs A. Thomson, A. H. Parkes, A. A. Stevens, A. D. Smith and W. E. Richmond was elected to prepare rules and regulations and set out the objects of the newly formed body. After further discussion the following motion was carried: –
This meeting of the business, men of Katanning protests against the unscientific manner in which the present Federal Government proposes to right the position in which the Commonwealth finds itself. It was resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. J. H. Prowse, M.H.R.; ‘Albany Advertiser.’
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OBITUARIES
KATANNING LOSES A RESPECTED CITIZEN
Great Southern Herald
20 November 1953
Death of the Hon. Alex Thomson
Although he had been failing in health during recent months, the death occurred suddenly in the early hours of Wednesday morning at his residence, “White House,” Katanning, of the Hon. Alexander Thomson, at the age of 81 years. His passing concluded a long and prominent career and took from Katanning one of its most respected and honoured citizens. His remains will be cremated at Karrakatta this morning, Friday, at 11 a.m.
VALE ALEX THOMSON
Great Southern Herald
20 November 1953
With the passing of the Hon Alex Thomson at his residence “White House” on Wednesday, Katanning lost one of its most respected citizens.
Born of Scottish parents in South Shields in 1872, he received his early education at Cullen, Banffshire emigrated to Australia with his parents in 1882 and lived with them in Melbourne until he left school. He became apprenticed to the carpentering trade and, when his time was served, followed his calling in various parts of Australia, eventually launching out as a building contractor.
In 1897 he married Edith Maud Jenkinson of Ballarat, Victoria, at Fremantle, having come to Western Australia a year previously himself.
A long public career commenced in 1903 when he became a member of the Buckland Hill Road Board. Shortly afterwards he attended a conference of Road Boards at Bridgetown and met many men who were to become firm friends when he decided to come to Katanning in 1905 to build the Exchange Hotel. Setting up then as a contractor in the town, the late Mr Thomson has been responsible for the erection of many fine public buildings and homes, not only in Katanning, but also in many Great Southern towns.
The “White House,” the Thomson family home
Located Cnr. Clive & Beaufort Streets
It is interesting to recall the extent of his building activities. Prior to coming to Katanning, he erected two buildings in the metropolitan area, now well-known; one the Tintern Lodge and the other the Davilak Hotel, Fremantle. On the Great Southern the many buildings erected by Mr Thomson include the Roman Catholic churches at Katanning and Kojonup; the Church of England at Collie; Presbyterian and Lutheran churches at Katanning; Royal Exchange Hotel, Katanning, and additions to the Katanning and Federal Hotels; Commercial Hotel, Kojonup; Tambellup Hotel; Weld, London and Esplanade Hotels, Albany; Park Hotel, Mt. Barker; Masonic Halls, Katanning and Kojonup; Town Hall (twice) and Rechabite Hall, Katanning, and Memorial Hall, Kojonup; Woodanilling Road Board Hall;
Presbyterian Church – Katanning
first portions of the hospitals at Katanning, Wagin and Kojonup; the block of shops in Austral Terrace belonging to the Piesse Estate and numerous other business premises including Dalgety & Co. Ltd., and Goldsbrough Mort & Co. Ltd. Private residences were also constructed in Katanning, Mt. Barker, Albany, Kojonup, Tambellup, Wagin, Woodanilling and Gnowangerup. In 1910 the premises in Daping Street, now occupied by Thomson Bros., was erected as a skating rink, but as the vogue for skating did not last, the building was turned into a joinery shop. “White House” was erected in 1915.
Dalgety Building
Shortly after his arrival in Katanning, Mr Thomson again gave his attention to public matters and was elected a member of the Katanning Road Board. He became chairman in 1912. In 1914 he turned his attention to politics and was elected to the Legislative Assembly as Member for Katanning on October 21 of that year. Mr Thomson was Leader of the Country Party from 1923 to 1930 and played a prominent part in the formation of its Constitution and policy.
Mr Thomson was succeeded as Assembly Member in 1930 but re-entered politics again on September 26, 1931, when he was elected to the Legislative Council as member for the South-East Province. He retained the seat until he resigned in 1950 and assisted his son John in the latter’s successful campaign which resulted in him taking his father’s place in the Council. In all our old friend represented electors of the Great Southern areas for 35 years and, during the whole of that period, earned and retained a well-deserved reputation for loyalty to the State Country Party and unswerving adherence to the ideals expressed in his policy speech, delivered as Leader of the Party, in Katanning on February 1, 1924.
With such a lengthy period of public activity it would be almost impossible to give in detail his endeavours and achievements in the political arena. He fought vigorously against the system of day work on railway construction and other public works and although not entirely successful in that, did introduce a system whereby the Public Works Department was required to submit tenders in common with private enterprise for all major projects.
He fought with little success for the appointment of a Public Works Committee to scrutinise all proposed major public works but lived to see such a committee brought into being in the Federal Sphere, having within its personnel representatives of the Western Australian Country Party. He was strongly opposed to all State trading concerns excepting only the North-West shipping service, which he recognised as vital to the development of the northern parts of our State.
During the whole period of his public life Hon. Alex Thomson was a keen advocate of decentralisation as applied particularly to the out-ports and was a strong supporter of the development projects for the port of Albany approved and put in hand by the McLarty-Watts Coalition Government. He introduced in the Legislative Assembly a system for the compulsory Third-Party Insurance to safeguard not only the driver of a motor vehicle, but also others that might be involved in an accident to that vehicle. He was unsuccessful, but here again his ideas were subsequently accepted by Parliament.
In his association with the Country Party organisation first as the old Primary Producers Association and later the existing Country and Democratic League, he introduced suggestions for strengthening the organisation. In recognition of his many years of public service, on his retirement from Parliament and at the behest of the Leader of the Country Party, he was accorded the right to retain permanently the title of Honourable.
Despite an active and fruitful Parliamentary career, which was directly responsible for considerable development in this district, and which was marked by the passing of much creditable, legislation, the Hon Alex Thomson interested himself in the promotion and expansion of his hometown. In 1907, he instituted on his own a “workers’ home” type of scheme in Katanning and played a huge part in the provision of houses for many families in the town.
Building only in brick, and giving long-term repayment facilities, his project has been claimed as the forerunner of the Workers Home Board. Several sporting bodies received his support and at the time of his death he was still the patron of the Katanning Bowling Club.
In the earlier days in the history of the town, he fought lone handed to retain a large reserve for recreational purposes when the Premier of the day wished is alienated for workers homes. Today it stands in honour of his endeavours as Thomson Park, holding the recreational facilities of swimming pool, hockey ground, croquet and bowling rinks.
Many organisations in Katanning owe their origin to the Hon Alex Thomson. He was instrumental in the formation of the Katanning Chamber of Commerce. Assisted by a loyal friend, he was the prime mover in the establishment of the Infant Health clinic. He was responsible for the formation of the Katanning Branch of the W.A. Historical Society.
In more recent years his persistent endeavours resulted in the establishment of Silver Chain Nursing services in the town and, right to the time of his death, he missed no opportunity to promote the establishment of a Home for Aged People in Katanning. It is fitting that Alex Thomson, who battled against considerable opposition in the first place when he sought to establish the Silver Chain service in the town, received devoted attention from the nurses in the closing days of his life.
A number of local businesses received considerable assistance and encouragement from Mr Thomson in the early days of their existence. He was also the prime mover in the arrangements made to form a local company and take over the flour mills from F. and C. Piesse, when it appeared the town would lose that industry in 1926. The original option was made out in the name of “Alex Thomson M.L.A., and others”, and he was a member of the first board of directors when the new company took over in February, 1927.
Mr Thomson was always very keen that local residents should have good camping facilities at Albany. He was associated with the early organisation which resulted in the formation of the Fresh Air League, later to be known as Katanning Days at Albany, which arranged an annual excursion of Katanning people to the Southern port. He was also instrumental in obtaining the vesting of the reserve at Middleton Beach for the use of Katanning residents.
Predeceased by his wife in July, 1948, the passing of the Hon Alex Thomson is mourned, not only his sons Keith and John, and members of his family, but by a very great section of those people living in the Great Southern; people who appreciate that in the passing of Alex Thomson, they have lost a man who was a faithful representative during the period of his long and honourable Parliamentary career, and a man who had always been a very good friend to them.
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More reading
Alex Thomson’s working life in his own words
Great Southern Herald
31 October 1947
Katanning Branch, W.A. Historical Society.
Paper on Building Progress.
At the recent meeting of the Katanning branch, W.A. Historical Society, its President (Hon A. Thomson, M.L.C.) gave a very interesting account of the progress of building in these districts. As at the time referred to, he was a building contractor, his own work enters largely into the address, giving point to his remarks. Continue reading
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Alex Thomson’s maiden speech to parliament.
Mr Thomson was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1914 until 1930 representing the seat of Katanning, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council representing the South Province from 1931 until 1950. This is his Maiden Speech to the W.A. Parliament: CLICK HERE
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