First Cabinet of Southern Rhodesia

{{Short description|Government of Southern Rhodesia}}

{{Infobox government cabinet

|cabinet_number = 1st

|jurisdiction = Southern Rhodesia

|incumbent =

|image = Sir Charles Coghlan, circa 1925.jpg

|date_formed = 1923

|date_dissolved = 1924

|government_head = Sir Charles Coghlan

|government_head_history =

|deputy_government_head =

|state_head = George V

|current_number =

|former_members_number =

|total_number =

|political_party = Rhodesia Party

|legislature_status =

|election =

|last_election =

|legislature_term =

|budget =

|opposition_cabinet =

|opposition_party =

|opposition_leader =

|incoming_formation =

|outgoing_formation =

|previous = None

|successor =

}}

On 1 October 1923, Sir Charles Coghlan took charge as the first Premier of the Southern Rhodesia after the referendum in 1922 which decided not to join the Union of South Africa but chose responsible government instead.

List of ministers

Following is a list of the 8 ministers of the First Cabinet {{Cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65043007|title = Southern Rhodesia|newspaper = Register|date = 3 October 1923}}

class="wikitable"

!Department

!Title of Minister

!First Minister (Electoral District)

!Senior Permanent Officials

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| Department of the Premier

Premierrowspan=2|Sir Charles Patrick John Coghlan (Bulawayo North)Chief of Staff
Secretary to the Premier & Chief Clerk to the Legislative Assembly
----

| Department of Native Affairs

Minister of Native AffairsChief Native Commissioner
----

| Department of the Colonial Secretary

rowspan=3|Colonial Secretaryrowspan=3|Sir Francis James Newton (Mazoe)Secretary to the Department of the Colonial Secretary
Controller of Printing & Stationery
----

| Audit Department

Auditor-General
Assistant Auditor and Inspector
Inspector
Senior Examiner
----

| Department of Health, Education and Internal Affairs

Medical Director
Director of Education
----

| Department of the Treasury

TreasurerPercival Donald Leslie Fynn (Salisbury North)Secretary to the Treasury
Commissioner of Taxes
Controller of Customs
Postmaster-General
----

| Department of the Attorney-General

Attorney-Generalrowspan=2|Major Robert James Hudson (Bulawayo North)Solicitor-General
Secretary to the Law Department & Legal Adviser
Senior Judge
Judge
Master of the High Court
Commissioner of Police
Registrar of Deeds
----

| Department of Defence

Minister of DefenceSecretary to the Department of Defence
Commandant of Southern Rhodesian Forces
----

| Department of Mines and Public Works

rowspan=4|Minister of Mines and Public Worksrowspan=4|Howard Unwin Moffat (Victoria)Secretary
Accountant
Inspectors of Mines (2)
Mining Commissioners (4)
Registrar of Claims
Beacon Inspectors (3)
----

|    Public Works Department

Director of Public Works
Assistant Architect
Assistant Inspectors (2)
----

|    Roads Department

Engineer-in-Charge of Roads
Assistant Road Engineers (2)
Assistant Road Engineer and Surveyor
----

|    Geological Survey

Director of Geological Survey
Geologists (2)
----

| Department of Agriculture

rowspan=2|Minister of Agriculture and Landsrowspan=2|William Muter Leggate (Northern)Director of Agriculture
Chief Veterinary Surgeon
Director of Veterinary Research
----

| Department of Lands

Director of Lands & Surveyor-General

As well as financial matters, the Treasurer ran the postal, telegraph and telephone services, as well as customs and excise. The Attorney-General was responsible for the police and prisons as well as legal and judicial affairs.

Ministers were permitted to prefix their names with "The Honourable".

The High Commissioner retained his nominal authority over Southern Rhodesia, but his powers were mostly devolved upon the Governor in Council.

  • Sir Charles Coghlan, Premier and Minister of Native Affairs
  • Percival Donald Leslie Fynn, Treasurer

References