ARNOLD EDMUND PIESSE

Arnold Edmund Piesse

Arnold Edmund Piesse MLA
Parliamentary Photo

Arnold Edmund Piesse (2 April 1872 – 21 July 1935) was an Australian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1909 to 1914 and again from 1930 until his death, on both occasions representing the seat of Katanning.

Piesse was born in Guildford, Western Australia, to Elizabeth Ellen (née Oxley) and William Roper Piesse. Three of his brothers, Alfred, Charles, and Frederick Piesse, were also members of parliament.

After leaving school, Piesse worked in Northam for five years, employed by the merchant firm of George Throssell (a future premier). He then joined two of his brothers (Charles and Frederick) in business at Katanning, eventually taking over the company.

Piesse was eventually elected to the Katanning Road Board, and served as its chairman for a period. He first entered parliament in November 1909, winning the seat of Katanning unopposed at the by-election caused by the resignation of his brother Frederick. He was re-elected at the 1911 state election, standing for the Liberal Party, but after a period of ill health chose not to re-contest his seat at the 1914 election. After leaving parliament, Piesse went to England on a health trip, and did not return to Australia until 1925.

Standing as an unendorsed Country Party candidate, Piesse re-entered parliament at the 1930 state election, defeating Alec Thomson [2] (the sitting Country Party leader who had been Piesse’s successor in 1914). He was re-elected at the 1933 election, but died in office in July 1935 (aged 63).

He had left for a health trip to England in February of that year, and on the Cape Town–Fremantle leg of the return journey committed suicide by jumping overboard. His daughter had died suddenly while he was away, and it was thought that this news might have been a factor in his own death.

Piesse had been married, firstly to Margaret Mary Chipper in 1897, with whom he had three children. He was widowed in 1902, and remarried in 1904 to Lille Johnston, with whom he had another two children. One of his sons, Edmund Piesse, became a Country Party senator, but like his father committed suicide while in office.

MR. A. E. PIESSE, M.L.A.
SUDDEN DEATH AT SEA.

West Australian
24 July, 1935

Long Career of Public Service.
KATANNING, July 23.

News of the sudden death at sea on Sunday night of Mr. Arnold Edmund Piesse, M.L.A. for the Katanning electorate was received in a wireless message this morning by Mr. Harold V. Piesse, M.L.C., Mr. Arnold Piesse’s nephew. The late Mr. Arnold Piesse was a passenger by the liner Nestor, which is expected to arrive at Fremantle on Saturday. It is understood that the remains will not be returned to Australia but will be buried at sea.

Mr. Piesse left Fremantle early In February for an extended health trip to England and according to messages received from time to time by his relatives, he had benefited greatly by the change and rest. Although it had been endeavoured to prevent word of the death of his daughter Dorothy (Mrs. Aberdeen), who died at Northam last week, from being wirelessed to the Nestor, it is thought possible that the news did reach the ship and that the sudden shock affected Mr. Piesse fatally.

Mr. Piesse, who was in his sixty-fourth year at the time of his death, had been closely associated with the Katanning and surrounding districts for the greater part of his life. With his death, the last link has been snapped with the old firm of F. and C. Piesse, the original members of which were Mr. F. H. Piesse, C.M.G., and Mr. C. A. Piesse, M.L.C., merchants and millers, of Katanning, Wagin and Narrogin, for whom Mr. Arnold Piesse was manager.

During his long association with the district, Mr. Arnold Piesse was at all times prominently connected with public affairs in his capacity as a member and chairman of the Katanning Road Board, and as member for the district for an extended period. It can be truly said that he lived for his district and for the State.

Great sympathy is felt for his son, Edmund Piesse, in the loss first of his sister, and then of his father, within so short a time.

The late Mr. Piesse, whose family has long been identified with the political life of the State, was a son of Mr. William Roper Piesse, of Toodyay. He was born at Guildford in 1872 and was educated at the Toodyay State school.

After working on the staff of the late Mr. George Throssel, he joined his brothers, Messrs. F. and C. Piesse, who were carrying on business as merchants and millers at Katanning and was for many years business manager and a director. He later took over the agency department and carried it on as Arnold Piesse and Co., forming it into a limited company, of which he was chairman of directors.

He devoted a great deal of his time to farming and pastoral pursuits, establishing the well-known Langweira Merino stud to 1905. He was for 11 years chairman of the Katanning Road Board and was president of the Great Southern Districts Pastoral and Agricultural Society for two successive terms.

Mr. Piesse was elected to the Legislative Assembly as member for Katanning in 1909, succeeding his brother, the late Mr. F. H. Piesse. C.M.G., but retired in 1914 owing to ill health. In 1930 he was again elected for Katanning and was re-elected in 1933. Of never-failing kindliness and courteousness, he carried out his political work conscientiously and without making an enemy.

In 1897, Mr. Piesse married Miss Margaret Mary Chipper, and one son and two daughters (Dorothy Ellen, b. 1898, Katanning, d. 10 July 1935 – age 37 years; Edmund Stephen Roper, b. 5 January 1900, Katanning, d. 25 Aug 1952 – age 52 years; Margaret Maud, b. 1902, Katanning, d. 1967 – age 65 years) were born, his wife dying in 1902.

In 1904, he married Miss Lillie Johnston, another son and daughter (Stillborn F. Piesse, b. 1905, Katanning, d. 1905, Katanning – age 0 years; Isobel Lorraine plus one other) being born. A widow and four children survive him.

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