Joshua Arthur

Joshua George Arthur (27 January 1906 – 20 May 1974) was an Australian schoolteacher and politician who represented the Hamilton and Kahibah districts for the Labor Party.

Born to Joshua Arthur, a blacksmith, and Ethel May Embleton in Adamstown, New South Wales. He was educated at Adamstown Public School, Newcastle High School and Sydney Teachers College, graduating in 1924. He taught for the New South Wales Department of Education from 1925 until 1935, in the Wellington, Sydney and Newcastle districts.

He served in the second Australian Imperial Forces. Enlisted in 1940, served in North Africa and on the staff of the Minister for the Army, Frank Forde, from 1943 until 1945.

Arthur was the member for Hamilton, winning the seat at the 1935, 1938, 1941, 1944 and 1947 State elections. Arthur transferred to the new seat of Kahibah at the 1950 State election, but resigned on 19 August 1953, causing the 1953 Kahibah state by-election after a Royal Commission was set up to investigate the association between Arthur and R. A. Doyle who was involved in company fraud and other dubious business dealings. The Royal Commission subsequently found that some of his dealings with Doyle had been improper but not corrupt.

Arthur was Minister for Tourist Activities and Immigration from 21 September 1949 until 30 June 1950 under Premier James McGirr. He was Secretary for Mines and Minister for Immigration 30 June 1950 until 23 February 1953 under Premiers McGirr and Joseph Cahill.

Arthur died on 20 May 1974. He was buried at Northern Suburbs Crematorium following a serve at St Stephens Church, Macquarie Street.