First Cabinet of Southern Rhodesia explained

Cabinet Number:1st
Jurisdiction:Southern Rhodesia
Date Formed:1923
Date Dissolved:1924
Government Head:Sir Charles Coghlan
State Head:George V
Political Party:Rhodesia Party
Previous:None

On 1 October 1923, Sir Charles Coghlan took charge as the first Premier of the Southern Rhodesia after the referendum in 1922 which decided not to join the Union of South Africa but chose responsible government instead.

List of ministers

Following is a list of the 8 ministers of the First Cabinet [1]

DepartmentTitle of MinisterFirst Minister (Electoral District)Senior Permanent Officials
Department of the Premier Premier Sir Charles Patrick John Coghlan (Bulawayo North) Chief of Staff
Secretary to the Premier & Chief Clerk to the Legislative Assembly
Department of Native Affairs Minister of Native Affairs Chief Native Commissioner
Department of the Colonial Secretary Sir Francis James Newton (Mazoe) Secretary to the Department of the Colonial Secretary
Controller of Printing & Stationery
Audit Department Auditor-General
Assistant Auditor and Inspector
Inspector
Senior Examiner
Department of Health, Education and Internal Affairs Medical Director
Director of Education
Department of the Treasury Treasurer Percival Donald Leslie Fynn (Salisbury North) Secretary to the Treasury
Commissioner of Taxes
Controller of Customs
Postmaster-General
Department of the Attorney-General Major Robert James Hudson (Bulawayo North) Solicitor-General
Secretary to the Law Department & Legal Adviser
Senior Judge
Judge
Master of the High Court
Commissioner of Police
Registrar of Deeds
Department of Defence Minister of Defence Secretary to the Department of Defence
Commandant of Southern Rhodesian Forces
Department of Mines and Public Works Minister of Mines and Public Works Howard Unwin Moffat (Victoria) Secretary
Accountant
Inspectors of Mines (2)
Mining Commissioners (4)
Registrar of Claims
Beacon Inspectors (3)
   Public Works Department Director of Public Works
Assistant Architect
Assistant Inspectors (2)
   Roads Department Engineer-in-Charge of Roads
Assistant Road Engineers (2)
Assistant Road Engineer and Surveyor
   Geological Survey Director of Geological Survey
Geologists (2)
Department of Agriculture Minister of Agriculture and Lands William Muter Leggate (Northern) Director of Agriculture
Chief Veterinary Surgeon
Director of Veterinary Research
Department of Lands Director of Lands & Surveyor-General

As well as financial matters, the Treasurer ran the postal, telegraph and telephone services, as well as customs and excise. The Attorney-General was responsible for the police and prisons as well as legal and judicial affairs.

Ministers were permitted to prefix their names with "The Honourable".

The High Commissioner retained his nominal authority over Southern Rhodesia, but his powers were mostly devolved upon the Governor in Council.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Southern Rhodesia. Register. 3 October 1923.