Summary heading

Function and purpose

This series consists of one personal letter dated 7 May 1924 from Prime Minister Stanley Melbourne Bruce to South Australian Nationalist Party Senator RV Wilson, who was Honorary Minister from February 1923 to January 1925. Wilson was overseas at the time and shortly returning to Australia. The letter deals with political circumstances in Australia and primarily focuses on relations between the partners in the 'Composite Government', the Nationalist and Country Parties. The letter covers the fragile nature of the 'Composite Ministry', the tensions that had arisen between the two Parties and within the Nationalist Party while Bruce was in Britain at the Imperial Conference and discussions with Earle Page to devise an electoral arrangement between the Parties. Bruce also discusses strategies for the running of the Government, such as joint Party meetings and shared publicity, and options if a stable coalition could not be sustained. The letter also refers to letters from RV Wilson to Stanley Melbourne Bruce and further letters sent to Wilson by Bruce, although these are not contained in the file.

Related legislation

Using the series

Language of material

Physical characteristics

System of arrangement and control

Relationships with other records

Finding aids

Access conditions

Series history

Provenance

Immediate source of acquisition

Custodial history

Quantity in agency custody

Disposal history

Publication note

Additional information

End notes

Sources