Parliamentary activity
Information about members' parliamentary service including their positions held and biography.
Positions
| Position | Start | End | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vice-President of Executive Council and Representative of Government | Thu 13 April 1922 | Wed 17 June 1925 | 3 years 2 months 5 days | Granted title of 'Honourable' for life. |
| Vice-President of Executive Council and Representative of Government | Tue 20 December 1921 | Tue 20 December 1921 | 1 day | (Ministry resigned same day) |
| Member of the NSW Legislative Council | Wed 28 October 1908 | Sat 10 December 1932 | 24 years 1 month 13 days | Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 7 October 1908. |
| Member for St George | Tue 10 September 1907 | Wed 22 April 1908 | 7 months 13 days | |
| Library Committee No.3 | Tue 09 July 1907 | Fri 12 July 1907 | 4 days | |
| Standing Orders Committee No.4 | Tue 09 July 1907 | Fri 12 July 1907 | 4 days | |
| David Berry Hospital Bill Committee No.14 | Thu 22 November 1906 | Thu 06 December 1906 | 15 days | Chairman |
| Claim of Electric Tram-driver Arthur Simpson for improvements fitted to Steam Motors Committee No.8 | Thu 13 September 1906 | Tue 13 November 1906 | 2 months 1 day | |
| Library Committee No.2 | Tue 10 July 1906 | Tue 18 December 1906 | 5 months 9 days | |
| Standing Orders Committee No.3 | Tue 10 July 1906 | Tue 18 December 1906 | 5 months 9 days | |
| Sydney Corporation Amendment Bill Committee No.22 | Wed 15 November 1905 | Tue 28 November 1905 | 14 days | |
| Claim of Robert Roberts, late Bookbinder, Registrar-General’s Department Committee No.16 | Tue 12 September 1905 | Wed 25 October 1905 | 1 month 14 days | |
| Library Committee No.4 | Wed 28 June 1905 | Sat 09 December 1905 | 5 months 12 days | |
| Standing Orders Committee No.3 | Wed 28 June 1905 | Sat 09 December 1905 | 5 months 12 days | |
| Government Savings Bill Committee No.13 | Fri 02 December 1904 | Tue 06 December 1904 | 5 days | Chairman |
| Refreshment Committee No.5 | Wed 21 September 1904 | Sat 24 December 1904 | 3 months 4 days | |
| Library Committee No.4 | Wed 21 September 1904 | Sat 24 December 1904 | 3 months 4 days | |
| Printing Committee No.6 | Wed 21 September 1904 | Sat 24 December 1904 | 3 months 4 days | |
| Standing Orders Committee No.3 | Wed 21 September 1904 | Wed 09 November 1904 | 1 month 20 days | |
| Member for St George | Tue 06 September 1904 | Mon 19 August 1907 | 2 years 11 months 14 days | |
| Premier of New South Wales | Tue 30 August 1904 | Tue 01 October 1907 | 3 years 1 month 2 days | |
| Colonial Treasurer | Mon 29 August 1904 | Tue 01 October 1907 | 3 years 1 month 3 days | |
| Member for St George | Sat 06 August 1904 | Tue 30 August 1904 | 25 days | |
| Standing Orders Committee No.4 | Wed 01 July 1903 | Tue 01 December 1903 | 5 months 1 day | |
| Library Committee No.5 | Wed 01 July 1903 | Tue 01 December 1903 | 5 months 1 day | |
| Library Committee No.3 | Tue 17 June 1902 | Sat 20 December 1902 | 6 months 4 days | |
| Claims of Robert Roberts, late bookbinder in the Registrar-General’s Office Committee No.14 | Wed 20 November 1901 | Thu 19 December 1901 | 1 month | |
| Library Committee No.4 | Thu 08 August 1901 | Fri 20 December 1901 | 4 months 13 days | |
| Member for St George | Wed 03 July 1901 | Sat 16 July 1904 | 3 years 14 days | |
| Estate of the late S.M Swift of Petersham Committee No.3 | Tue 01 August 1899 | Thu 21 December 1899 | 4 months 21 days | |
| Colonial Treasurer | Mon 03 July 1899 | Wed 13 September 1899 | 2 months 11 days | |
| Land Fronting Throsby and Cottage Creek sold by A.A. Dangar, Esq. Committee No. 9 | Tue 30 August 1898 | Fri 23 December 1898 | 3 months 24 days | |
| Member for St George | Wed 27 July 1898 | Tue 11 June 1901 | 2 years 10 months 16 days | |
| Selection made by James Connelly, at Tamworth Committee No.35 | Tue 20 October 1896 | Wed 11 November 1896 | 23 days | |
| Pitt Town Settlement Committee No.30 | Tue 06 October 1896 | Thu 12 November 1896 | 1 month 7 days | |
| Gore and Artarmon Estates, North Shore Committee No.22 | Tue 11 August 1896 | Thu 12 November 1896 | 3 months 2 days | |
| Ryan’s Conditional Purchase in the Wagga Wagga Land District Committee No.21 | Tue 04 August 1896 | Thu 10 September 1896 | 1 month 7 days | |
| Land fronting Throsby and Cottage Creeks, sold by A.A Dangar, Esquire Committee No.18 | Tue 28 July 1896 | Mon 16 November 1896 | 3 months 20 days | |
| Annual Leases of Owen McCosker, Cope’s Creek Committee No.16 | Tue 14 July 1896 | Thu 29 October 1896 | 3 months 16 days | |
| Narrandera Roman Catholic Church Trustees Enabling Bill Committee No.15 | Thu 02 July 1896 | Wed 22 July 1896 | 21 days | |
| Selection made by Martin Tully Committee No.8 | Tue 17 September 1895 | Thu 17 October 1895 | 1 month 1 day | |
| Member for St George | Wed 24 July 1895 | Fri 08 July 1898 | 2 years 11 months 15 days | |
| Conditional Purchase made by George Vincent, in the District of Gundagai. Committee No. 17 | Fri 19 April 1895 | Fri 05 July 1895 | 2 months 17 days | |
| Presbyterian Church Property Management Amendment Bill. Committee No. 10 | Thu 22 November 1894 | Fri 05 July 1895 | 7 months 14 days | |
| Holt’s Wingello Estate Bill. Committee No. 9 | Tue 13 November 1894 | Fri 05 July 1895 | 7 months 23 days | |
| Nepean Cottage Hospital Bill. Committee No. 8 | Tue 13 November 1894 | Fri 05 July 1895 | 7 months 23 days | |
| Cootamundra Racecourse Bill. Committee No. 7 | Tue 30 October 1894 | Fri 05 July 1895 | 8 months 8 days | |
| Selection made by James Connolly, at Tamworth. Standing Orders Committee No. 6 | Tue 04 September 1894 | Fri 05 July 1895 | 10 months 2 days | |
| Member for St George | Wed 08 August 1894 | Fri 05 July 1895 | 10 months 28 days | |
| Secretary for Lands | Fri 03 August 1894 | Mon 03 July 1899 | 4 years 11 months 1 day | |
| Member for St George | Tue 17 July 1894 | Fri 03 August 1894 | 18 days | |
| Homestead Protection Bill Committee No.12 | Tue 03 April 1894 | Wed 18 April 1894 | 16 days | |
| Children’s Protection Act Amendment Bill Committee No.9 | Tue 20 February 1894 | Tue 05 June 1894 | 3 months 17 days | |
| Calaghan’s Conditional Purchases, Braidwood and Queanbeyan Committee No.22 | Wed 01 March 1893 | Thu 02 March 1893 | 2 days | |
| Vice Suppression Bill Committee No.11 | Tue 25 October 1892 | Tue 18 October 1892 | ||
| Australasian Mining Exchange of Sydney Bill Committee No.35 | Mon 15 February 1892 | Tue 23 February 1892 | 9 days | |
| Casino School of Arts Enabling Bill Committee No.9 | Wed 05 August 1891 | Thu 17 September 1891 | 1 month 13 days | |
| Albury Mechanics Institute Enabling Bill Committee No.6 | Thu 30 July 1891 | Thu 06 August 1891 | 8 days | |
| Member for Canterbury | Wed 17 June 1891 | Mon 25 June 1894 | 3 years 9 days | |
| Hay Athenaeum Trustees Enabling Bill Committee No.48 | Thu 18 December 1890 | Sat 20 December 1890 | 3 days | |
| Tumut School of Arts Site Sale Bill Committee No.30 | Wed 27 August 1890 | Thu 04 September 1890 | 9 days | |
| Working of the Fisheries Act Committee No.13 | Tue 21 May 1889 | Tue 27 August 1889 | 3 months 7 days | |
| Member for Canterbury | Mon 18 March 1889 | Sat 06 June 1891 | 2 years 2 months 20 days | |
| Minister of Public Instruction | Fri 08 March 1889 | Thu 22 October 1891 | 2 years 7 months 15 days | |
| Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 | Fri 01 March 1889 | Thu 25 April 1889 | 1 month 25 days | |
| Member for Canterbury | Sat 02 February 1889 | Fri 08 March 1889 | 1 month 7 days | |
| Work of Unemployed on Roads at Hornsby and Holt Sutherland Estate Committee No.7 | Thu 15 November 1888 | Wed 16 January 1889 | 2 months 2 days | |
| Sydney and Suburban Hydraulic Power Company’s Bill Committee No.57 | Wed 02 May 1888 | Wed 06 June 1888 | 1 month 5 days | |
| Trades Conciliation Bill Committee No.53 | Tue 17 April 1888 | Thu 02 October 1890 | 2 years 5 months 16 days | |
| Deduction from Wages of Employees for Medical Attendance Committee No.50 | Tue 27 March 1888 | Tue 24 July 1888 | 3 months 28 days | |
| Saint Saviour’s Glebe Land Leasing Bill Committee No.40 | Thu 22 December 1887 | Thu 01 March 1888 | 2 months 9 days | |
| The Chinese Committee No.37 | Tue 20 December 1887 | Tue 24 July 1888 | 7 months 5 days | |
| Combination Trucks Committee No.25 | Tue 08 November 1887 | Fri 20 July 1888 | 8 months 13 days | |
| Pharmaceutical Society of New South Wales Incorporation Bill Committee No.8 | Wed 28 September 1887 | Tue 18 October 1887 | 21 days | Chairman |
| The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 | Tue 20 September 1887 | Tue 20 September 1887 | 1 day | Chairman |
| Parliamentary Hansard Committee No.28 | Thu 09 June 1887 | Tue 12 July 1887 | 1 month 4 days | Chairman |
| Mittagong Coal Mining Company’s Railway Act Amendment Bill Committee No.24 | Wed 18 May 1887 | Wed 08 June 1887 | 22 days | Chairman |
| Saywell’s Tramway Bill Committee No.6 | Thu 17 March 1887 | Wed 23 March 1887 | 7 days | Chairman |
| Member of the NSW Legislative Assemble | Sat 12 February 1887 | Wed 22 April 1908 | 21 years 2 months 11 days | |
| Member for Canterbury | Sat 12 February 1887 | Sat 19 January 1889 | 1 year 11 months 8 days |
Biography
Community activity
Foundation Member of the University Debating and Literary Society 1874 (it is assumed that this refers to Sydney University; unfortunately the Parliamentary Archives can find no mention of this Society in the Sydney University Archives). Member Sydney School of Arts Debating Society. Founder St George School of Arts. Trustee National Park from 1891 and of National Art Gallery from 1899. Chairman of trustees of Cook's Landing Place, Kurnell. Represented Australia at celebrations of Cook's landing, Hawaii, 1928. President of New South Wales Chamber of Agriculture. Member Royal Agriculture Society of New South Wales. President of New South Wales Cricket Association 1907, Chairman of Trustees. Senior Vice President of Rugby Football Union.
Honours Received
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George 1904 (KCMG). Honorary LLD at St Andrews University, Scotland in 1908.
Personal information
Fifth son of John Carruthers, farmer and Scottish immigrant, and his wife Charlotte Prince. Married (1) Louise Marion Roberts on 10 December 1879, daughter of William Roberts, solicitor, and they had issue. Divorced in 1895. Married (2) Alice Burnett on 15 January 1898, daughter of Alexander Burnett, Superintendent of Mails in Sydney, and had issue, 3 sons and 4 daughters. Protestant.
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Lawyer (solicitor). Educated at William Street and Fort Street schools, Sydney; then boarder at George Metcalf's Goulburn High School. University of Sydney (B. A 1876, M. A 1878). Articled to A. H. McCulloch (q. v.); Admitted as solicitor 28 June 1879 and started practice. Soon began to invest in land and acquired grazing properties Jindabyne W. and Hiawatha in the Monaro district, and other country and city property. Trustee Mutual Life and Citizens Assurance Company Limited 1911- 1932. Director of Kembla Grange Racecourse Limited, Moorefield Racecourse Limited, Timor Oil Company, National Insurance Company, Mudgee Slate Company, Monaro Community Settlement Co-operative Society, and Australia Widows' Fund. Associated with 'Million Farms' campaign after World War I. Active in instituting Empire Day (now Commonwealth Day) in 1905. Author of 'Captain James Cook Royal Navy: one hundred and fifty years after', 1930. Estate valued for probate at £19,490. Recreational interests included bowls, shooting and fishing.
Additional information
Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7
Beverly Earnshaw, 'One Flag, One Hope, One Destiny: Sir Joseph Carruthers and
Australian Federation' 2000
Carruthers Collection, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales (ML
MSS 1638 and ML MSS 2914; pictorial material at Picture Acc. 1422)
PRS 84. LA/P - Legislative Assembly, Carruthers Collection, 1889 - 1905 (New
South Wales Parliamentary Archives).
Personal papers in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales: 1.
J. H Carruthers - papers, 1870 - 1924 (MLMSS 2914); 2. J. H Carruthers - papers,
1778 - 1948 (MLMSS 1638); 3. J. H Carruthers - letterbook 1910 August 3 - 1911
March 9 (MLMSS 3141). Photographs in the PICMAN Database.