imported>Jevansen: added :Category:Australian MPs 1922–1925

2024-12-20T20:19:08Z

added Category:Australian MPs 1922–1925

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{{Short description|Australian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Joshua Whitsitt
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Joshua_Whitsitt.png
| constituency_MP = [[Division of Darwin|Darwin]]
| parliament = Australian
| majority =
| predecessor = [[George John Bell|George Bell]]
| successor = [[George John Bell|George Bell]]
| term_start = 16 December 1922
| term_end = 3 October 1925
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1869|9|26}}
| birth_place = [[Rosslea]], County Fermanagh, Ireland, United Kingdom
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1943|9|14|1869|9|26}}
| death_place = [[Cooee, Tasmania]], Australia
| nationality = [[Irish Australian]]
| spouse =
| party =
| relations =
| children =
| residence =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Farmer
| profession =
| religion =
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Joshua Thomas Hoskins Whitsitt''' (26 September 1869 – 14 September 1943) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the [[Tasmanian House of Assembly]] from 1909 to 1922 and a member of the [[Australian House of Representatives]] from 1922 to 1925.

==Early life and business career==

Whitsitt was born in [[County Fermanagh]] and attended college in [[Belfast]]. He visited [[Tasmania]] at the age of eighteen, intending to return to Ireland, but instead remained in Australia. He worked as an accountant for the [[Bank of Australasia]] at [[Burnie, Tasmania|Burnie]], where he was also a prominent tennis player, winning the state doubles championship and the 1894 intercolonial matches. He married Bertha Quiggin in May 1899.<ref name=advobit>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article68824390 |title=OBITUARY MR. J. T. H. WHITSITT, BURNIE |newspaper=[[The Advocate (Tasmania)|The Advocate]] |location=Tasmania|date=15 September 1943 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=2 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64882434 |title=Lawn Tennis. |newspaper=[[Wellington Times and Agricultural and Mining Gazette]] |volume=IX |issue=16 |location=Tasmania|date=6 November 1894 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=3 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39595996 |title=INTERCOLONIAL LAWN TENNIS. |newspaper=[[Launceston Examiner]] |volume=LIV |issue=284 |location=Tasmania|date=28 November 1894 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=6 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64894658 |title=RAILWAY EXTENSION. |newspaper=[[The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times]] |volume=1 |issue=58 |location=Tasmania|date=19 May 1899 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=2 |via=Trove}}</ref> He resigned from the bank in 1900 to become resident secretary of the Blyth Iron Mine Company, while also becoming a farmer and grazier at "Roselea", his property at [[Cooee, Tasmania|Cooee]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64820407 |title=North-Western Agricultural Areas. |newspaper=[[The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times]] |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=26 August 1908 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=4 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64577662 |title=Advertising |newspaper=[[The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times]] |location=Tasmania|date=21 June 1900 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=3 |via=Trove}}</ref>

==State politics==

In December 1908, Whitsitt announced that he would contest the [[1909 Tasmanian state election|1909 state election]] as an independent candidate for the multi-member seat of [[Division of Darwin (state)|Darwin]]. He advocated a "reformation scheme" including reforming the system for the selection of Crown lands, prioritising agricultural and mining industries and developing the west coast, altering the role of local government in rates assessment and taxation collection, and changes to the overall taxation system. He also supported a [[poll tax]], opposed further extension of the Legislative Council franchise, opposed the nationalisation of industries and the introduction of industrial relations legislation, and supported increasing the salary of members of parliament while reducing their number in both houses. Whitsitt suggested that he could prevent industrial strife by "studying mankind", and upon being asked at a public meeting how he would protect workers from unscrupulous employers, he answered "are there any?"<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65159901 |title=State Politics. |newspaper=[[The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times]] |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=3 December 1908 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=3 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12654133 |title=A POLITICAL ADDRESS. |newspaper=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |volume=XC |issue=12,080 |location=Tasmania|date=4 December 1908 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=6 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65161651 |title=MEETING AT BURNIE. |newspaper=[[The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times]] |location=Tasmania|date=4 December 1908 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=4 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65161652 |title=Darwin State Election. |newspaper=[[The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times]] |location=Tasmania|date=4 December 1908 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=4 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article84525896 |title=Zeehan and Dundas Herald. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1908. |newspaper=[[Zeehan and Dundas Herald]] |volume=XX |issue=46 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=5 December 1908 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=2 |via=Trove}}</ref>

He retired from the campaign in February on the basis that he had "urgent business interests" requiring travel to England, but re-entered the race in March, postponing his trip until April.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64875903 |title=The State Elections. |newspaper=[[The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times]] |location=Tasmania|date=22 February 1909 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=3 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64880360 |title=RIANA. |newspaper=[[The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times]] |location=Tasmania|date=11 March 1909 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=2 |via=Trove}}</ref> He missed the postal cutoff for the close of nominations but saved his candidacy by engaging a motor from the [[Emu Bay Railway]] to send the form to [[Zeehan]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article152042828 |title=PERSONAL |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|Daily Telegraph]] |volume=XXIX |issue=93 |location=Tasmania|date=20 April 1909 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=4 |via=Trove}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=August 2018}} He won the sixth and final seat in Darwin at the expense of Treasurer [[Don Urquhart]], whom he had criticised heavily in the campaign.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article85613444 |title=STATE GENERAL ELECTIONS. |newspaper=[[Zeehan and Dundas Herald]] |volume=XX |issue=172 |location=Tasmania|date=5 May 1909 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=2 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64807723 |title=The State Finances. |newspaper=[[The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times]] |location=Tasmania|date=25 June 1909 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=4 |via=Trove}}</ref> Following his election, there was considerable debate in the media and in parliament about the possibility that he could be unseated due to being overseas and thus being unable to be personally sworn in during the first sitting of parliament.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64812454 |title=MR. WHITSITT'S POSITION. |newspaper=[[The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times]] |location=Tasmania|date=8 May 1909 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=5 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64807149 |title=Position of Mr Whitsitt. |newspaper=[[The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times]] |location=Tasmania|date=7 July 1909 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=2 |via=Trove}}</ref> This was resolved in July by granting Whitsitt a leave of absence, allowing him to be belatedly sworn in on 21 September. He then took his seat on the government benches (of [[Elliott Lewis (politician)|Elliott Lewis]]).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64812760 |title=POSITION OF MR. WHITSITT |newspaper=[[The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times]] |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=8 July 1909 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=2 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64868717 |title=BURNIE. |newspaper=[[The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times]] |location=Tasmania|date=6 September 1909 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=2 |via=Trove}}</ref>

He voted to support the Lewis government in a no-confidence vote in September, but crossed the floor to bring the Lewis government down in October, reaffirming his independence and noting that as the 1909 anti-Labor Fusion that had formed the [[Commonwealth Liberal Party]] had happened whilst he was in England, it did not apply to him. He then crossed the floor again within the same week to bring the new Labor [[John Earle (Australian politician)|Earle]] government down. He cited as his reasons for the abrupt turnaround being disagreement with the Lewis government over government policy on the potato industry, the resolution of a "mutiny" within the Liberals by [[Norman Ewing]] and his supporters, and Whitsitt's opposition to a Labor attempt to introduce full adult suffrage.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9994983 |title=THE POLITICAL CRISIS. |newspaper=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |volume=XCII |issue=12,328 |location=Tasmania|date=24 September 1909 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=7 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9996887 |title=MINISTERIAL CRISIS. |newspaper=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |volume=XCII |issue=12,345 |location=Tasmania|date=14 October 1909 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=5 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9996975 |title=THE POLITICAL CRISIS |newspaper=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |volume=XCII |issue=12,346 |location=Tasmania|date=15 October 1909 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=5 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50390161 |title=LABOUR MINISTRY |newspaper=[[The Examiner (Tasmania)|The Examiner]] |volume=LXVIII |issue=253 |location=Tasmania|date=23 October 1909 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=8|edition=DAILY |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64867685 |title=Pre-Historic Politics. |newspaper=[[The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times]] |location=Tasmania|date=29 October 1909 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |page=4 |via=Trove}}</ref>

He successfully defended his seat in 1916 and 1919.<ref name="advobit" /><ref name="Joshua Whitsitt Tas parl">{{cite Tas Parliament |id=whitsitt318 |title=Joshua Thomas Hoskins Whitsitt |access-date=26 July 2022}}</ref>

==Federal politics==

In 1922, he transferred to federal politics, winning the federal seat of [[Division of Darwin|Darwin]] in the [[Australian House of Representatives]] for the [[National Party of Australia|Country Party]], defeating sitting [[Nationalist Party of Australia|Nationalist]] member [[George Bell (Australian politician)|George Bell]]. He retired in 1925, returning to farming. Whitsitt died in 1943.<ref name=Psephos>{{cite web|last=Carr |first=Adam |title=Australian Election Archive |work=Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive |url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-11-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717093439/http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/ |archivedate=17 July 2007 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
 
{{start box}}
{{s-par|au}}
{{succession box | title=Member for [[Division of Darwin|Darwin]] | before=[[George Bell (Australian politician)|George Bell]]| after=[[George Bell (Australian politician)|George Bell]]| years=1922–1925}}
{{end box}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitsitt, Joshua}}
[[Category:1869 births]]
[[Category:1943 deaths]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Liberal Party politicians]]
[[Category:Independent members of the Parliament of Tasmania]]
[[Category:National Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia]]
[[Category:National Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Tasmania]]
[[Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Darwin]]
[[Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly]]
[[Category:Irish emigrants to colonial Australia]]
[[Category:Politicians from County Fermanagh]]
[[Category:Australian MPs 1922–1925]]

Joshua Whitsitt - Revision history

imported>Jevansen: added :Category:Australian MPs 1922–1925