William James Cleary
William James Cleary | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Redfern, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | July 20, 1973 (aged 87) |
| Occupation(s) | Brewing executive, Railway Commissioner, Broadcasting Chairman |
| Years active | 1900s–1945 |
| Known for | Commissioner of Railways (NSW), Chairman of Australian Broadcasting Commission |
William James Cleary (29 December 1885 – 20 July 1973) was an Australian executive in the brewing industry who was appointed by the New South Wales government as Commissioner of Railways during the economic hardships of the Great Depression. Subsequently, he held the position of chairman at the Australian Broadcasting Commission.
History
Born in Redfern, New South Wales, Cleary was the son of Thomas Patrick Cleary (1861 – 27 April 1946) and Elsie Petrie Cleary, née Rose (circa 1860 – 9 December 1940), who had wed in 1880. He attended Blackfriars Primary School and secured a scholarship to attend Sydney Boys' High School.
Business and academia
Cleary left formal education at age 14 to join his father's workplace, Tooth's Kent Brewery, while simultaneously pursuing economics studies at Sydney University, where he obtained his bachelor's degree in 1918. He introduced changes at Tooth's that led to swift advancement, reaching assistant manager by 1920. Around 1923, he took over from Sir Henry Braddon as a lecturer on business principles within the Faculty of Economics. By December of that year, he had been promoted to general manager of the brewery.
Railways
Amid rising railway deficits caused by competition from motor vehicles, the New South Wales Government shifted its management emphasis from engineering expertise to financial administration. On 8 November 1929, Premier Thomas Bavin appointed Cleary as Chief Commissioner of Railways with a statutory annual salary of £5,000, notably less than his previous remuneration at Tooth's. Bavin believed that appointing an outsider like Cleary would enable decisive actions in the State’s interest. Motivated partly by a desire to serve the public and embrace a challenge beyond mere financial achievement, Cleary accepted the position. He departed Tooth and Co. in November 1929 and officially commenced his role on 1 December.
Cleary recommended cutting the workforce by approximately 1,000 employees and restoring a 48-hour workweek, successfully convincing unions to accept these sacrifices. He voluntarily reduced his own salary by half, directing £2,000 toward union hardship funds and allocating £500 to help decrease the Railways' deficit. Despite these efforts, the deficit more than doubled within twelve months. Advocates credit him with maintaining railway operations throughout the Great Depression.
After Bavin’s government was defeated in November 1930, Labor Premier Jack Lang established the Commissioner for Transport position with a salary of £1,800 per annum to supervise Railways, Tramways, Main Roads, and Vehicular Traffic. Lang requested that Cleary assign Charles Joachim Goode to assist with legislative matters; however, Cleary declined due to an ongoing investigation involving Goode. In response, Lang marginalized Cleary and his commissioners.
In 1930, Lang amended the Industrial Arbitration Act to permit "rationing" of corporate members without pay. Cleary dismissed Goode in February 1931, but Lang later appointed him as Commissioner within that same year.
Following Lang’s dismissal by Governor Sir Philip Game in May 1932, a Royal Commission was convened to examine the Goode controversy. The investigation exposed Goode’s corrupt conduct. Goode resigned on 23 July 1932; subsequently, Cleary was appointed Chief Transport Commissioner on 3 August with an annual salary of £3,500. He stepped down in December 1932 citing "private reasons," amid declining confidence from colleagues due to contentious statements he had made. Thomas Joseph Hartigan succeeded him on 1 January 1933.
Broadcasting
In June 1934, Charles Lloyd Jones, the inaugural chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, stepped down to concentrate on his business ventures. The following month, Cleary was appointed as his replacement, securing a three-year tenure with an annual remuneration of £500.
Known for his extensive literary knowledge and refined musical preferences, Cleary envisioned the ABC as a platform to advance Australian cultural identity. This contrasted with General Manager W. T. Conder's focus on attracting a wider audience. Their differing perspectives eventually led Cleary to accuse Conder of financial misconduct, resulting in Conder’s resignation in June 1935. Subsequently, Secretary A. L. Holman served as acting general manager for a short period.
Although there were suggestions to consolidate the roles of General Manager and Chairman under Cleary’s leadership, he declined these proposals but discreetly groomed Charles Moses for the general manager position, which was publicly confirmed in November 1935.
In February 1945, Cleary unexpectedly resigned, reportedly due to internal conflicts and perceived conspiracies among his staff.
Family
On 20 April 1912, Cleary married Melanie Newton Lewis (5 July 1880 – 20 April 1966), daughter of accountant John Newton Lewis (who passed away on 22 September 1909). Their offspring included:
- Joan Lewis Cleary (20 May 1913 – October 1989), a commercial artist who wed Stafford Garland Crossman in 1939.
- Ruth Petrie Cleary (born 9 May 1914), who received her education at Abbotsleigh.
- Betty Newton Cleary (born 20 November 1917), educated at Queenwood in Mosman; she married Hereward "Herrie" Brudenell-Woods in 1941.
- Millicent "Babs" Cleary, also educated at Queenwood, Mosman; engaged in 1942 to Victor Clarke R.A.N.V.R., though no marriage record has been located.
- Pauline Cleary (born 1923), who attended Abbotsleigh, Scots College, and Queenwood.
In 1916, the family lived at 14 Leicester Street, Marrickville before relocating to Awaba Street in Edwards Beach, Mosman.
Cleary’s brother, Roy Victor Cleary (circa 1900 – circa 15 June 1928), held the position of advertising manager at the Ford Motor Co. of Australia.