Percy Blesing
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Albert Percy Blesing (9 September 1879 – 2 March 1949) was a farmer and politician from
South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
who served as Minister for Agriculture (1933–1944), for Local Government (1933–1938) and for Afforestation (1938–1944). He was a founding member of the Country Party in South Australia and served in the governments of
Richard Layton Butler Sir Richard Layton Butler KCMG (31 March 1885 – 21 January 1966) was the 31st Premier of South Australia, serving two disjunct terms in office: from 1927 to 1930, and again from 1933 to 1938. Early life Born on a farm near Gawler, South Austr ...
and
Thomas Playford IV Sir Thomas Playford (5 July 1896 – 16 June 1981) was an Australian politician from the state of South Australia. He served continuously as Premier of South Australia and leader of the Liberal and Country League (LCL) from 5 November 1938 to 10 ...
. Percy Blesing was born in
Hamilton, South Australia Hamilton (postcode 5373) is a small township in the Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia. It is about 120 km northeast of Adelaide, South Australia, about 23 km north of Kapunda. Once a stop for the mining carts going from Adelaide to ...
to Ernst Gotthilf Blesing and his wife Elizabeth (née Flower). Percy's grandparents had emigrated from Germany in 1841 and his family settled in the northern farming areas of South Australia. In 1893, Percy's family moved to Glenholme, a 1400ha mixed farm at Bangor in the lower
Flinders Ranges The Flinders Ranges are the largest mountain range in South Australia, which starts about north of Adelaide. The ranges stretch for over from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna. The Adnyamathanha people are the Aboriginal group who have inhabit ...
. After several years working as a farmhand and shearer around Australia and in New Zealand, Percy married Eliza Muriel Annie Glasson and took over Glenholme. Percy and Annie had five children, Ida, Gwen, Lloyd, Ned, and Jabez. Jabez died of whooping cough at a young age.


Political career

Percy soon became involved in politics, being a founding member of the Country Party in South Australia and being elected to the
South Australian Legislative Council The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the South Australian House of Assembly, ...
for the Northern District in 1924, a seat he would hold for the rest of his life. The family moved to Prospect in the northern suburbs of Adelaide. Percy was involved in the defeat of the
James Scullin James Henry Scullin (18 September 1876 – 28 January 1953) was an Australian Labor Party politician and the ninth Prime Minister of Australia. Scullin led Labor to government at the 1929 Australian federal election. He was the first Cathol ...
government in 1931 and, with fellow South Australian
Archie Cameron Archie Galbraith Cameron (22 March 18959 August 1956) was an Australian politician. He was a government minister under Joseph Lyons and Robert Menzies, leader of the Country Party from 1939 to 1940, and finally Speaker of the House of Represe ...
, negotiated the formation of the
Liberal and Country League Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and ...
in South Australia. As part of the final agreement in the formation of the LCL, Blesing was promised a cabinet post in any future LCL government.
Richard Layton Butler Sir Richard Layton Butler KCMG (31 March 1885 – 21 January 1966) was the 31st Premier of South Australia, serving two disjunct terms in office: from 1927 to 1930, and again from 1933 to 1938. Early life Born on a farm near Gawler, South Austr ...
led the LCL to power in 1933, and per the agreement, Blesing was appointed Minister for Agriculture and Local Government. As a farmer, Blesing was an effective local representative and a strong advocate for rural issues. He served on the board of the South Australian Voluntary Wheat Pools Ltd and on the advisory committee to the State Bank of South Australia. Despite his achievements in overseeing rural rehabilitation, expansions in agricultural education and industry, road improvements and pine plantations, Blesing came into conflict with other members of his coalition. A jovial, good-natured man, Blesing enjoyed a day at the races more than reading his departmental briefs. He had little time for political conniving and his enthusiasms lead him to be nicknamed the "Minister for Billiards". Not all of his colleagues disapproved, however, at least in private. Butler resigned as Premier in 1938 over a dispute over betting shop legislation and leadership was taken over by
Thomas Playford IV Sir Thomas Playford (5 July 1896 – 16 June 1981) was an Australian politician from the state of South Australia. He served continuously as Premier of South Australia and leader of the Liberal and Country League (LCL) from 5 November 1938 to 10 ...
. Tom Playford was a regular visitor to the Blesing household where he was able to indulge in activities frowned upon by his family and colleagues. By 1944, however, Playford had lost patience with Blesing's gaffes and his frequent visits to
Tattersalls Tattersalls (formerly Tattersall's) is the main auctioneer of race horses in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Founding It was founded in 1766 by Richard Tattersall (1724–1795), who had been stud groom to the second Duke of Kingston. T ...
. He asked for Blesing's resignation, and when Blesing refused, Playford simply submitted the resignation of his entire cabinet and appointed a new one, without Blesing.D. Jaensch (ed) 1986. The Flinders History of South Australia: political history, Wakefield Press, Adelaide, p266. Blesing was devastated by Playford's political betrayal but, despite voting against him occasionally, never betrayed Playford's personal trust. Blesing died following a gall bladder operation in 1949 and was buried at Wirrabara after a state funeral. He was survived by his wife, two daughters and two sons.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blesing, Albert 1879 births 1949 deaths Members of the South Australian House of Assembly Members of the South Australian Legislative Council Liberal and Country League politicians