Guide to the Papers of Charles Hawker

Series 1. Personal Correspondence, 1909-1938 - Box 1-3

This series comprises correspondence from Charles Hawker's family and friends outside the political arena for the years 1909-1938. Letters from his family are filed separately from those of his friends and are arranged in chronological order as are the letters from his friends.

The main family correspondents are: M.S. Hawker (Charles Hawker's father), his mother G.B. Hawker, brother Mick Hawker, sisters Isabelle and Lilias, his cousins Doris Hawker, and David Hawker for whose estate he was trustee, and his uncle Bertram Hawker of Norfolk, England.

Among his friends the main correspondents were Lionel B. Charles, a friend from Cambridge days, Lady (Maud) Brownlow, wife of Hawker's Commanding Officer in the British army, Jim Fairbairn, a school-friend from Geelong Grammar School days, and J. Darling, sometime headmaster of Geelong.

In addition the series contains the following sub-series.

(1) Correspondence from the War Office and Ministry of Pensions, London 1916-1935 concerning Charles Hawker's wound gratuities, war pension and repatriation to Australia in 1920. Official pension slips received from the Ministry of Pensions up to 1935 are also included in this sub-series.

(2) Correspondence concerning the purchase and management of Hawker's property 'Dillowie' in Hallett, S. Australia. The chief correspondent in this sub-series is Mr Fred Chomley, Manager of 'Dillowie'. There are also a few letters relating to M.S. Hawker's property, and some letters from neighbours and acquaintances of Hawker who knew him in his capacity as a pastoralist.

(3) Letters of sympathy to Charles Hawker on the death of his father in 1933.

(4) Correspondence relating to the estate of Doris P. McFarlane (nee Hawker), cousin of Charles Hawker, which he was trustee.

(5) School essays from Charles Hawker's days at Miss Lane's preparatory school and Geelong Grammar School.

(6) School papers from his days at Trinity College, Cambridge.

(7) Miscellaneous personal accounts and receipts from banks and clubs such as the Adelaide Polo Club and the Bath Club of London. Advices of parliamentary allowances also included in this sub-series, as well as Sale of wool and other accounts relating to property 'Dillowie' (1924-1937).

Series 2. Official Correspondence, 1922-1938 - Box 3-5

Correspondence in this series dates from 1922-1938 with the bulk concentrated in the years from 1929 onwards. The series is arranged chronologically in the main with certain sub-series filed separately but also chronologically.

The main series, concentrated in the years 1929-1938 comprises correspondence from numerous firms, associations and organisations such as The United Licensed Victuallers Association of Australia, Wine Overseas Marketing Board, Australian Dried Fruit Association, Rowntree and Co. Ltd., the National Roads Association of Australia, the Taxpayers Association of South Australia, the Renmark Growers' Distillery S.A., Federal Citrus Council, the Liberal and Country League, South Australian Farmers Co-Operative Union Ltd., the Women's Non-Party Association of South Australia, the Liberal Federation (requesting Charles Hawker to stand for Parliament), and the Rural Lessees Association.

Most of this correspondence relates to official requests to Charles Hawker as a Federal Member of Parliament for assistance in such matters as tariffs, bounties and dumping for example.

The series is dividied into the following sub-series.

(1) Correspondence from constituents and acquaintances (1922-1937) requesting favours, also includes letters of thanks for favours received.

(2) Correspondence mainly for the years 1929-1931 with some of 1935 and 1936 regarding introduction of mail and telephone services to rural areas of South Australia.

(3) Correspondence from the Returned Sailors and Soldiers League of Australia for the years 1930-1936. Includes letters from individual ex-soldiers requesting assistance.

(4) Correspondence from academics 1923-1932 including Sir Walter Young and Sir Leslie Melville of Adelaide University, Professor Edward Shann of Western Australia and D.B. Copland of Melbourne University.

(5) Correspondence from Daisy Bates on the treatment of Aborigines - 1930.

Series 3. Correspondence from Parliamentary Colleagues, 1921-1938 - Box 6

Letters in this series ranging from 1921-1938 include some from high ranking officials, members of the British and State Parliaments as well as Federal members, including those of cabinet rank.

Correspondents include S.M. Bruce, John Latham, J.H. Scullin, A.G. Cameron, J.G. Barley, Senator Massey-Green, J. Duncan-Hughes, Henry Gullett, J.A. Lyons, Malcolm McDonald, Earle Page, R. Casey, Keith Officer.

Significant single items include: (1) Letter of 31/1/1928 from S.M. Bruce informing Hawker of his appointment to the Commonwealth Board of Trade; (2) Letter of 20/11/1930 from S.M. Bruce thanking Hawker for offering to relinquish his parliamentary seat of Wakefield for Bruce; (3) Copy of Hawker's letter of resignation from the Cabinet - dated 22.9.1932; (4) Version of letter of resignation composed by Latham and submitted instead of (3).

Series 4. Hansard Reports, Speeches, Articles, notes on political matters. - Box 7-8

Papers in this series include speeches by Hawker reported in Hansard as well as speeches made outside the House. Articles and lectures as well as jottings on topical issues of the day are also contained in this series. The papers are sorted chronologically with the miscellaneous notes at the end of the series.

A bibliography of Hawker's speeches for years 1929-1932, compiled by the National Library of Australia in 1964 is contained at the beginning of the series.

Subjects covered in this series are Federal Assistance for South Australia, the treatment of Aboriginals, the wheat, Beef and Wool industries, Tariff protection, Parliamentary Salaries National Health and Pensions Insurance Bill of 1938.

Charles Hawker's speech made on the night he resigned as Minister of Markets (23.9.1932) is also included in this series.

Series 5. Ottawa Conference, 1932 - Box 8

This small series contains correspondence, articles, cables and speeches relating to the Commonwealth Trade Conference held in Ottawa in 1932 which led to the Ottawa Agreement of that same year.

Charles Hawker played a significant role in these negotiations along with other Australian officials such as Sir Henry Gullett.

Series 6. Australia/Japan Trade Dispute, 1936 - Box 8

This small series contains correspondence regarding the Australia/Japan Trade Dispute of 1936 as well as notes on the subject.

The main correspondents are Sir Henry Gullett, Dr. I. Clunies-Ross and Baron Sakatani, President of the Australia/Japan Society.

Series 7. Travel Notes - Box 9

This series contains notes on observations made on trips to:(1) Queensland - 1924; (2) Poland, Russia, Turkey, Egypt and Ceylon - 1925; (3) Russia - 1935; (4) China and Japan - 1936; as well as background notes on Japan.

Series 8. General - Box 10-11

This series contains letters from people who knew Charles Hawker to his sister Mrs Lilias Needham by way of assistance for the preparation of her brother's biography. Draft chapters of Mrs Needham's biography of her brother are also included in this series as well as photographs of Charles Hawker, his personal notebooks, various press cuttings, and posters of Geelong Grammar school.

Publications with a posthumous mention of Charles Hawker are also contained in this series.