David Hall (Australian politician)

David Robert Hall (5 March 1874 – 6 September 1945) was an Australian politician.

The Honourable David Hall
Member of the Australian Parliament for Werriwa
In office 12 December 1906 – 1 April 1912
Preceded by	Alfred Conroy
Succeeded by	Benjamin Bennett
Attorney General of New South Wales
In office 29 January 1914 – 23 July 1919
Preceded by	William Holman
Succeeded by	John Garland KC
Solicitor General for New South Wales
In office 2 April 1912 – 28 January 1914
Preceded by	Walter Bevan
Succeeded by	William Holman
Personal details
Born	5 March 1874 Harrietville, Victoria, Australia
Died	6 September 1945 (aged 71) Vaucluse, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Labor (1901–17) Nationalist (1917–20)
Alma mater	University of Sydney
Occupation	Barrister

Hall was born in Harrietville, Victoria, and studied law at the University of Sydney before becoming a barrister in 1903. By that time, he had already become involved in state politics, having been elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the member for the rural electorate of Gunnedah in 1901.[1]

Hall made a switch to federal politics at the 1906 election, contesting the House of Representatives seat of Werriwa for the Labor Party. He was successful, defeating Alfred Conroy, the sitting Free Trade Party member. Hall represented the electorate until 1912, when he resigned mid-term to return to State politics. At the subsequent by-election, the new Labor candidate, Benjamin Bennett, once again defeated Conroy.

New South Wales Premier James McGowen appointed Hall Minister of Justice and Solicitor General in April 1912 and had him appointed to the Legislative Council in July 1912. Hall moved to the Legislative Assembly when he won the seat of Enmore in December 1913, holding it until 1920. He was Attorney General between 1914 and 1919. Hall was Attorney General in the Holman Labor government from 1914 until 1916 when Holman and his supporters, including Hall, were expelled from the Labor Party for supporting conscription. Holman continued as Premier with the support of the Liberal Reform Party and Hall continued to be Attorney General, but was no longer Minister of Justice. In 1919 he became Minister for Housing until February 1920.[1]

Hall was appointed Agent General to London, but this appointment was cancelled by the incoming Storey Labor government.[2]

Hall subsequently had a legal career and ran unsuccessfully for the United Australia Party in the Senate in 1937. He died in Vaucluse.

References

1. "The Hon. David Robert Hall (1874-1945)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
2. Nairn, Bede. "Hall, David Robert (1874 - 1945)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 9 April 2007.