Sir Charles Latham | |
Term Start1: | 7 July 1958 |
Term End1: | 21 May 1960 |
Term Start2: | 22 May 1950 |
Term End2: | 21 May 1960 |
Term Start3: | 14 December 1946 |
Term End3: | 21 May 1950 |
Successor3: | Electorate abolished |
Constituency3: | East Province |
Term Start4: | 25 April 1933 |
Term End4: | 7 October 1942 |
Successor4: | Arthur Watts |
Term Start5: | 17 April 1930 |
Term End5: | 7 October 1942 |
Successor5: | Arthur Watts |
Term Start6: | 21 November 1928 |
Term End6: | 17 April 1930 |
Predecessor6: | Bertie Johnston |
Successor6: | John Lindsay |
Term Start7: | 3 January 1952 |
Term End7: | 23 February 1953 |
Successor7: | Ernest Hoar |
Term Start8: | 24 April 1930 |
Term End8: | 24 April 1933 |
Successor8: | Frank Troy |
Term Start9: | 24 April 1930 |
Term End9: | 24 April 1933 |
Premier9: | James Mitchell |
Predecessor9: | Frank Troy |
Successor9: | Frank Troy |
Term Start10: | 24 April 1930 |
Term End10: | 24 April 1933 |
Premier10: | James Mitchell |
Successor10: | Selby Munsie |
Term Start11: | 12 March 1921 |
Term End11: | 7 October 1942 |
Successor11: | Charles Perkins |
Term Start12: | 8 October 1942 |
Term End12: | 20 August 1943 |
Successor12: | Dorothy Tangney |
Birth Name: | Charles George Latham |
Birth Date: | 26 January 1882 |
Death Place: | South Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
Resting Place: | Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, Western Australia |
Children: | 2 |
Residence: | Hythe Farm, East Kumminin, Western Australia |
Allegiance: | Australia |
Serviceyears: | 1916–1919 |
Battles: |
Sir Charles George Latham (26 January 1882 – 26 August 1968), often shortened to simply C. G. Latham, was an Australian politician, former leader of the opposition in Western Australia and the 10th President of the Western Australian Legislative Council. Latham served over twelve years as leader of the state's Country Party, and over thirty years in the Parliament of Western Australia. Latham also served roughly ten months in the Federal Parliament, as a Senator for Western Australia.
Latham was born in Hythe, Kent in England, and became an orphan before the age of 8 when his parents Thomas Latham (a coast guard) and Isabella (née Isum) died. Latham moved to New South Wales in Australia with his siblings in 1890 and married Marie Louisa von Allwörden on 24 June 1903 at Hay in the same state.
In 1910, Latham moved to Western Australia to take up 1000acres of land at East Kumminin (now Narembeen), 286km (178miles) east of Perth. In his early farming days, he was unsuccessful, but was not deterred by the 1914 drought and owned 2000acres of land in 1921 when he entered parliament.
In 1916 Latham enlisted in the entirely volunteer-run First Australian Imperial Force and was promoted to the rank of Corporal in January 1917. He was wounded in France in March 1918. Latham was promoted Sergeant in 1919 and was discharged in May of that year.
Latham became the Country Party (now National Party) candidate for the Legislative Assembly seat of York in 1921 and became a MLA following this endorsement. Before the First World War Latham was a member of the Bruce Rock Road Board before the war, but upon his return to Australia he became the chairman of the Narembeen Road Board in 1924. In 1930 Latham became the parliamentary leader of the Country Party and fervently rallied for farmers' rights. Later that year he joined the Party with the Nationalist Party and served as deputy Premier of Western Australia under James Mitchell from 1930 to 1933. From 1933 onwards, Latham was the Leader of the Opposition until 1942, when he resigned to fill a vacancy in the Australian Senate but lost the 1943 election.[1] Latham then returned to Parliament in 1946 to serve as a Member of the Legislative Council, became Minister for Agriculture in 1952–53 and retired in 1960, after another two years as the President of the Legislative Council.
Latham died on 26 August 1968 and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.
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