/ 3m PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA TUESDAY, 17 AUGUST 1982
CONDOLENCE MOTION FOR NORMAN MAKIN
I move " That this House expresses its deep regret at the death
on 20 July 1982 of Norman John Oswald Makin, a member
of this House for the Division of Hindmarsh from 1919 to
1946, Speaker from 1929 to 1931, Member for the Division of
Sturt from 1954 to 1955, Member for the Division of Bonython
from 1955 to 1963, a Minister of the Crown during the Second
World War, Ambassador to the United States of America from 1946
to 1951, first President of the Security Council-of the
United Nations in 1946 and 1947, and it places on record its
appreciation of his long and meritorious public service and
tenders its profound sympathy to his family in their bereavement.".-
All of us were saddened to learn of the death of Norman Makin
on 20 July. Norman Makin served Australia in a large number of
capacities with great distinction. In his maiden speech in this
House in March 1920, Mr Makin spoke of his intention to
further the interests of the country and to further its general
prosperity and progress. He worked to this end in and out
of the Commonwealth Parliament with distinction for the next
62 years. In his last speech in this place in October 1963,
he returned to that same theme of the need to build up
Australia, saying that the Australian people had the capacity
anid courage to continue to build up their country.
Norman Makin was born on 31 March 1889 at Petersham in New
South Wales. He was educated at the Central Public School
in Broken Hill and in 1918 was elected President of the
South Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party and was
first elected as a Member of the House of Representatives
for Hindxnarsh in 1919. When Mr Scullin became Prime Minister
in 1929, Norman Makin was elected Speaker of this House.
As Speaker he was committed to this institution and was well
respected by all who came into contact with him. Norman Makin
also served with distinction on a number of committees of
this House.
From 1922 to 1925, he was a member of the Commonwealth delegation
to the . Empire Parliamentary Association in the ' United Kingdom
and, in 1937, he was a member of the delegation which again
visited that country for the coronation of Ki ng VI. Norman
Makin was also a member of the Standing orders Committee
from 1932 to 1946 and from 1956 until his retirement from
this Parliament in 1963. / 2
2
.': Durinthe Second2: World.,.. War, :. Norman Makin.. was aomember : of. the
Australian Advisory . War Council from October 19.40.. to 1945...
-He served.-as Minister -for the Navy and Minister-for Munitions
from 1941 to 1946, during which time he presided over the rapid
expansion of the RoyaL--Australian Navy. He was. Minister.
ff-o r--Aircraft Production from 1945 to-1946.
'-In: 1946 he resigned-from the House of Representatives to
-become -Australia' s first Ambassador to-: the -United States,
z -F, -remaning: inithat. past. . until 1951.. . In-1.94: 6-and-19.47. he. -was
-a. lso the first President of the Security-Coticil of the
United Nations. In both posts he was able to serve this
nation-and the-cause of international peace. and-security
with distinction.
In the general election of 1954, Norman Makin was re-elected
to the House of Representatives as the Member for Sturt.
Following a redistribution of seats in 1955, he was
-elected as Member--for Bonython and retained this seat--untilhis
retirement from. Parliament in 1963.
,: Norman. M akin gave: many-years -ofzodevoted service. tothis
S-House-, andV to Austral ial.'-He-was a Minister, . Speaker -a Member
for many years and our ambassador in a post which was and stillis
vital to our interests. Above all, he was a man
-immensely proud of his country and the movement he so-ably
represented. He was awarded the Order-of Australia in 1980-.
Norman Makin-is survived by-two sons. His wife, Ruby,
S predeceased him. On-behalf of the Government-. and the m
people-of--Australi. a,-. I-extend my sympathies . to his family.-.
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