Mr James MCGIRR (1890 - 1957)**

Date of Birth: 06/02/1890 Place of Birth: Parkes, New South Wales, Australia Date of Death: 27/10/1957 Place of Death: Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia

Parliamentary Service

Position Start End Period Notes Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 25 Mar 1922 3 Apr 1952 30yr(s) 10day(s) Member for Cootamundra 25 Mar 1922 18 Apr 1925 3yr(s) 25day(s) 26th (1922 - 1925) Member for Cumberland 30 May 1925 7 Sep 1927 2yr(s) 3mth(s) 9day(s) 27th (1925 - 1927) Member for Bankstown 8 Oct 1927 18 Sep 1930 2yr(s) 11mth(s) 11day(s) 28th (1927 - 1930) Member for Bankstown 25 Oct 1930 18 May 1932 1yr(s) 6mth(s) 24day(s) 29th (1930 - 1932) Member for Bankstown 11 Jun 1932 12 Apr 1935 2yr(s) 10mth(s) 2day(s) 30th (1932 - 1935) Member for Bankstown 11 May 1935 24 Feb 1938 2yr(s) 9mth(s) 14day(s) 31st (1935 - 1938) Member for Bankstown 4 Mar 1938 18 Apr 1941 3yr(s) 1mth(s) 15day(s) 32nd (1938 - 1941) Member for Bankstown 10 May 1941 24 Apr 1944 2yr(s) 11mth(s) 15day(s) 33rd (1941 - 1944) Member for Bankstown 27 May 1944 29 Mar 1947 2yr(s) 10mth(s) 3day(s) 34th (1944 - 1947) Member for Bankstown 3 May 1947 22 May 1950 3yr(s) 20day(s) 35th (1947 - 1950) Member for Liverpool 17 Jun 1950 3 Apr 1952 1yr(s) 9mth(s) 18day(s) 36th (1950 - 1953) Minister for Health 4 Nov 1930 17 Jun 1931 7mth(s) 14day(s) Minister for Local Government 17 Jun 1931 13 May 1932 10mth(s) 27day(s) Minister for Transport 22 Mar 1932 13 May 1932 1mth(s) 22day(s) Minister for Local Government and Housing 16 May 1941 8 Jun 1944 3yr(s) 24day(s) Minister for Housing 8 Jun 1944 6 Feb 1947 2yr(s) 7mth(s) 30day(s) Minister for Agriculture 6 Feb 1947 13 Feb 1947 8day(s) Premier 6 Feb 1947 2 Apr 1952 5yr(s) 1mth(s) 28day(s) Colonial Secretary, Secretary for Mines, and Minister for National Emergency Services 8 Sep 1949 21 Sep 1949 14day(s) Colonial Treasurer 6 Feb 1947 2 Apr 1952 5yr(s) 1mth(s) 28day(s)

Political Party Activity

Australian Labor Party (ALP). Joined Parkes branch in 1906, president and secretary, president of Calare federal, electorate council and Ashburnham state electorate council; later member Bankstown branch; one of last to withdraw support from Lang 1939.

Community Activity

Commissioned as a Justice of the Peace in 1915

Qualifications, occupations and interests

Pharmacist. Grew up on dairy farm near Parkes; educated at Parkes and St Stanislaus' College, Bathurst; apprenticed to brother J.J.G. McGirr, pharmacist, broke apprenticeship to work in stockyards for short period, resumed apprenticeship, attended University of Sydney, Ph C; employed by Washington H. Soul and Co. in Pitt Street; opened a pharmacy in Parkes, specialising in veterinarians' prescriptions, later in partnership with brother, Marrickville and Kings Cross; bought 800 acre farm, wheat, sheep and cattle; other real estate investments; president of Maritime Services Board 1952-1955; retired to Strathfield, ran 268 acre property Kemps Creek near Liverpool, horses and cattle; member Pharmacy Board.

Personal

Son of John Patrick, farmer and Irish migrant, and Mary O'Sullivan. Married Valerie Cecilia Armstrong at Orange on 15 October 1932 and had issue, 2 sons and l daughter. Roman Catholic. Funeral in Roman Catholic cemetery in Parkes. Brother of John Joseph Gregory McGirr and Patrick Michael McGirr (qqv).

Additional Information

Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 15 Personal papers in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales: James McGirr - papers, 1931 - 1952 (MLMSS 3182)

Last modified 15/09/2008 13:29:54   :   Update this page