George Wishart Smith (1868 – before 1960), sometimes written Wishart-Smith, was a railway executive in Western Australia and Railway Commissioner in Tasmania, from which service he was suspended after mounting costs and deteriorating patronage.
History edit
Smith was born in Scotland, a son of David Smith and Catherine Wishart.
He emigrated to New South Wales, and was living at South Clifton, New South Wales when he married a daughter of A. Broadhead in 1894; they then left for Western Australia. He was accountant for the Midland Railway Company when he was appointed Assistant General Manager in 1898.[1] He was living at Midland Junction when he was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1909.[2]
He had been General Manager of the Midland Railway Company for 12 years when he was selected from 38 applicants to head the Tasmanian Government Railways (TGR) in 1911.[3]
He was awarded the OBE in 1921[4] but was unable to attend the ceremony.
He was suspended by the Premier (Sir Walter Lee) in September 1923 following a Royal Commission into operation of the railways and recommendations by the Executive Council, meeting in Launceston, which found that Smith was guilty of "negligence, incompetence and misbehavior"[5]
In suing the Tasmanian Government for wrongful dismissal he demanded specific details on each of these allegations,[6] but was met with a series of postponements and delays,[7] during which, of course, Smith received no salary.
Family edit
Smith was living at South Clifton, New South Wales when he married Elizabeth Jane Lindsay, (adopted?) daughter of Alfred Broadhead, licensee of the Scarborough Hotel, Clifton, on 4 Jun 1894.[8] Their children included:
- George Clifton Smith (1894–1983) made headlines when his wife of four days deserted him. They divorced in 1923.[9] He married Yvonne Wedlock in Sydney in 1930.[10]
- David Douglas Wishart-Smith (19 Nov 1897 – 1984) married Margaret Grace Murray on 16 April 1925[11]
- Alexander Baillie Smith (1900 – July 1906)[12]
- Hector Archibald Wishart-Smith (1902–1966) married Edna Clarice Day on 10 February 1931.[13]
- Madeline Jean Smith (9 December 1904[14] – 1987)
- Ian Wishart Smith (2 March 1913 – 1997) was a prominent golfer. He married Patricia Wilson on 29 December 1937.
References edit
- ^ "Classified Advertising". The West Australian. Vol. 14, no. 3, 935. Western Australia. 8 October 1898. p. 1. Retrieved 25 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The Day's Gossip". The Evening Mail. No. 1802. Western Australia. 4 December 1909. p. 2. Retrieved 25 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Commissioner of Railways". Tasmanian News. No. 9321. Tasmania, Australia. 2 June 1911. p. 4. Retrieved 25 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Distinguished Service Decorations". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CXV, no. 16, 899. Tasmania, Australia. 30 November 1921. p. 4. Retrieved 25 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Suspension". The World. Vol. VII, no. 385. Tasmania, Australia. 8 September 1923. p. 6. Retrieved 25 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Ex-Commissioner of Railways Pending Suit Against Crown". The Mercury. Vol. CXX, no. 14, 605. Tasmania, Australia. 18 March 1924. p. 7. Retrieved 25 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Action Against Crown". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. LXXXII, no. 70. Tasmania, Australia. 21 March 1924. p. 6. Retrieved 25 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The Scrap Album". Illawarra Mercury. Vol. XXXIX, no. 107. New South Wales, Australia. 14 June 1894. p. 2. Retrieved 25 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Four Days' Husband". The News (Hobart). Vol. II, no. 291. Tasmania, Australia. 7 May 1925. p. 4. Retrieved 25 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Saturday Night's Petersham Wedding". Evening News. No. 19594. New South Wales, Australia. 14 April 1930. p. 10. Retrieved 26 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Family Notices". The Advocate (Australia). Tasmania, Australia. 2 May 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 25 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Family Notices". The West Australian. Vol. XXII, no. 6, 349. Western Australia. 25 July 1906. p. 1. Retrieved 25 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Woman's World". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. LXXXIX, no. 36. Tasmania, Australia. 11 February 1931. p. 10. Retrieved 25 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Family Notices". Western Mail. Vol. XX, no. 990. Western Australia. 17 December 1904. p. 31. Retrieved 25 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.