Henry Tassie


Henry Tassie was an Australian politician. He was a member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1918 to 1938, representing Central District No. 2 for three successive conservative parties: the Liberal Union, Liberal Federation and Liberal and Country League. He was Chief Secretary, Minister of Mines and Minister of Marine from 1927 to 1930 in the government of Richard Layton Butler.

History

He was born in 1863, a son of Robert Stewart Tassie of South Terrace, Adelaide. His father had emigrated from Scotland in 1854.
Henry was educated at W. S. Moore's Pulteney Street School and there won a scholarship to St. Peter's College, Adelaide. He served for three years with the Adelaide firm of W. & J. Storrie, then with D. M. Peek of Balaklava. In 1895 he started with a firm of stockbrokers, then started on his own account in Gay's Arcade in a business which became Tassie, McKee and Tassie.
He was for several years auditor for Broken Hill Proprietary, and a director of Office Equippers Ltd. He was president of the Institute of Accountants of South Australia and the Australian National Federation.

Politics

He was a councillor with Glenelg Council for several years and mayor 1924–1925.
He was elected a member of the Legislative Council for the Liberal Party in 1918, holding the seat until 1938, and was Chief Secretary and Minister for Mines from 1927 to 1930. He served as acting Premier on several occasions.

Other interests

He was secretary and president of the Balaklava Institute. He was a member of the Caledonian Society and their Secretary 1902–1905 and again in 1927.
He was a longstanding member of the Methodist church, and a member of the Methodist Federal Council. He was a Rechabite.

Family

He married Susan Dellow on 13 October 1885; their children included:
John Tassie, noted for his involvement with Minda Home, was a brother. A son John Tassie jun. was killed in France 25 April 1918.