Joshua "Joe" Mills (13 January 1859 – 21 March 1943) was an Australian politician who was a member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia from 1918 to 1924. Prominent in the state's Murchison and Mid West regions, he served a single six-year term in parliament.
Mills was born at Narra Tarra, a locality on the Chapman River, near Geraldton. Before standing for parliament, he worked variously as an inspector of stock, a sheep farmer (at Narra Tarra), a station manager (at Wurarga, Barnong, and Gabyon), and an Agricultural Bank inspector.[1] Mills stood as an "independent Nationalist" candidate for Central Province at the 1918 Legislative Council elections.[2] He defeated Labor's John Drew, who had become personally unpopular in the seat. Mills' age (he was 59 when he first stood for office) led to him being nicknamed "Uncle Joe" by The Sunday Times.[3] After briefly joining the Ministerial Country Party in 1923 (a Country Party splinter group), Mills stood as an endorsed Nationalist candidate at the 1924 election, but was defeated by Drew.[2] He stood again in 1926, but was defeated by Country candidate George Kempton.[4]
After losing his seat, Mills farmed with his son at Waggrakine. He had married Hannah Maley in 1892, and the couple had one son and one daughter together, but she died in childbirth in 1905.[5] Her brothers, Charles and Henry Maley, were both later members of the Legislative Assembly (for Irwin and Greenough, respectively).[6] Mills' own sister, Harriet Mills, was married to Everard Darlot, who was the inaugural MLA for Murchison.[7] He was consequently the brother-in-law of three other MPs in Western Australia. Mills died in Geraldton in 1943, aged 84, and was buried at Narra Tarra.[1]
^ abBlack, David, and Bolton, Geoffrey (1990). Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia: Volume One (1870–1930) 16 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine, p. 139.
^For instance, in "Notes and Comments" (19 May 1918), "PEEPS at PEOPLE" (16 June 1918), and "THE CHAMBER OF HORRORS" (25 April 1920).
^(11 March 1926). "Central Province Election." – Geraldton Guardian.
^"The Children of John & Elizabeth Maley" – Greenough Museum. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
joshua, mills, australian, politician, joshua, mills, january, 1859, march, 1943, australian, politician, member, legislative, council, western, australia, from, 1918, 1924, prominent, state, murchison, west, regions, served, single, year, term, parliament, jo. Joshua Joe Mills 13 January 1859 21 March 1943 was an Australian politician who was a member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia from 1918 to 1924 Prominent in the state s Murchison and Mid West regions he served a single six year term in parliament Joshua MillsMember of the Legislative Councilof Western AustraliaIn office 22 May 1918 21 May 1924Serving with Henry Carson 1918 1920 James Hickey 1918 1924 Thomas Moore 1920 1924 Preceded byJohn DrewSucceeded byJohn DrewConstituencyCentral ProvincePersonal detailsBorn 1859 01 13 13 January 1859Narra Tarra Colony of Western AustraliaDiedMarch 21 1943 1943 03 21 aged 84 Geraldton Western AustraliaPolitical partyInd Nationalist 1918 1923 MCP 1923 1924 Nationalist from 1924 Mills was born at Narra Tarra a locality on the Chapman River near Geraldton Before standing for parliament he worked variously as an inspector of stock a sheep farmer at Narra Tarra a station manager at Wurarga Barnong and Gabyon and an Agricultural Bank inspector 1 Mills stood as an independent Nationalist candidate for Central Province at the 1918 Legislative Council elections 2 He defeated Labor s John Drew who had become personally unpopular in the seat Mills age he was 59 when he first stood for office led to him being nicknamed Uncle Joe by The Sunday Times 3 After briefly joining the Ministerial Country Party in 1923 a Country Party splinter group Mills stood as an endorsed Nationalist candidate at the 1924 election but was defeated by Drew 2 He stood again in 1926 but was defeated by Country candidate George Kempton 4 After losing his seat Mills farmed with his son at Waggrakine He had married Hannah Maley in 1892 and the couple had one son and one daughter together but she died in childbirth in 1905 5 Her brothers Charles and Henry Maley were both later members of the Legislative Assembly for Irwin and Greenough respectively 6 Mills own sister Harriet Mills was married to Everard Darlot who was the inaugural MLA for Murchison 7 He was consequently the brother in law of three other MPs in Western Australia Mills died in Geraldton in 1943 aged 84 and was buried at Narra Tarra 1 References Edit a b 24 March 1943 LATE MR JOSHUA MILLS Geraldton Guardian a b Black David and Bolton Geoffrey 1990 Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia Volume One 1870 1930 Archived 16 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine p 139 For instance in Notes and Comments 19 May 1918 PEEPS at PEOPLE 16 June 1918 and THE CHAMBER OF HORRORS 25 April 1920 11 March 1926 Central Province Election Geraldton Guardian The Children of John amp Elizabeth Maley Greenough Museum Retrieved 29 March 2015 Black and Bolton 1990 p 133 Black and Bolton 1990 p 58 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joshua Mills Australian politician amp oldid 1166624578, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
