Ernest Thomas Hall | |
Office1: | Controller-General of the Department of Trade and Customs |
Term Start1: | 1927 |
Term End1: | 1933 |
Occupation: | Public servant |
Nationality: | Australian |
Ernest Thomas Hall was a senior Australian public servant. He was Controller-General of the Department of Trade and Customs between 1927 and 1933.
Hall entered the Victorian Customs department in 1888. He was private secretary to several State Ministers.[1] He was licensed under Victorian law as a shorthand writer in 1890.[2]
At federation, Hall transferred to the federal Department of Trade and Customs.[3]
In 1916, Hall traveled to the United States, tasked with opening the Australian Customs Office in New York City and making extensive war supply purchases.[1] On his return in 1920, he was appointed Collector of Customs in Adelaide.[3]
In December 1924, Hall was appointed to the newly created position of Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs.[4] He served in the role until March 1927 when he was appointed Chairman of the Tariff Board.[5]
When Customs Comptroller-General Robert McKeeman Oakley died in August 1927, Hall began acting in his position.[6] He resigned his position at the Tariff Board in October 1927.[3] His appointment as permanent Comptroller-General was confirmed in March 1928.[7]
Hall retired from the position of Comptroller in 1933, due to poor health. The Minister for Trade and Customs Thomas White paid tribute to Hall's valuable and able administration.[8] [9]
Hall was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in June 1929.