Honorific-Prefix: | The Honourable |
John Drew | |
Honorific-Suffix: | MLC |
Office: | Colonial Secretary of Western Australia |
Term Start: | 7 June 1905 |
Term End: | 5 August 1905 |
Predecessor: | George Taylor |
Successor: | Walter Kingsmill |
Office2: | Minister for Education of Western Australia |
Term Start2: | 16 April 1924 |
Term End2: | 24 April 1930 |
Predecessor2: | John Ewing |
Successor2: | Norbert Keenan |
Term Start3: | 7 October 1911 |
Term End3: | 27 July 1916 |
Predecessor3: | James Connolly |
Successor3: | Hal Colebatch |
Constituency Mp4: | Central Province |
Parliament4: | Western Australian |
Term Start4: | 14 May 1900 |
Term End4: | 21 May 1918 |
Predecessor4: | New position |
Successor4: | Joshua Mills |
Term Start5: | 16 April 1924 |
Term End5: | 17 July 1947 |
Predecessor5: | Joshua Mills |
Successor5: | Harold Daffen |
Birth Date: | 17 October 1865 |
Birth Place: | Northampton, Western Australia |
Death Place: | Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
Party: | Independent (1900–1910) Labor Party (1910–1947) |
John Michael Drew (17 October 1865 – 17 July 1947) was an Australian politician who served as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council for 41 years in two separate terms between 1900 and his death in 1947. Born at Wanerenooka, Northampton, Western Australia, Drew established and edited several newspapers circulating in the Geraldton region before entering politics. A strong opponent of federation, he was elected to the Legislative Council in 1900. Nominally independent, Drew aligned himself with the Labor Party, and served in several Labor ministries during the early 1900s, in positions such as Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Lands, and Colonial Secretary. He officially joined the party in 1911, having been admitted to caucus sittings the previous year. During World War I, Drew supported conscription, but this issue, coupled with the ineffectual Scaddan Ministry, led to him losing his seat at the 1918 election. He regained his seat at the 1924 election, and subsequently served as chief secretary of the party, as well as Minister for Education, Health, and the North-West. Drew died of cancer in 1947, and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.[1]