Colin George Watt Davidson

Brief description

PER-88

Full description

Colin George Watt Davidson was born at Mudgee, New South Wales, on 18 November 1878, son of George Davidson, a solicitor, and his wife Jessie nee Watt. He was educated at Mudgee Public School, at the Grammar School, Mudgee, and at the University of Sydney (BA 1899, LLB 1901). (1)

Called to the New South Wales Bar on 24 October 1901, Davidson practised out of Denman Chambers (by 1903), Wigram Chambers (by 1906) and the University Chambers (by 1914). He co-authored, with J H Hammond, 'The Law of Landlord and Tenant in NSW' (1906, 2nd edition 1920). In 1913 he was appointed a 'reader' in Equity, Company Law, Probate and Divorce at the Law School in the University of Sydney and from 1921 to 1923 he was Challis Lecturer in Divorce. He was a member of the Council of the Bar of New South Wales from 1919/20 to 1925/26. On 12 March 1926 his appointment as a King's Counsel was approved by the Executive Council. (2)

Davidson was an acting Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales from 8 June 1926. His appointment was renewed in August and October 1926 and expired on 12 February 1927. He was made a Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court from 14 February 1927. By 1940 he was Senior Puisne Judge. He went on retiring leave, being farewelled by the Supreme Court on 19 November 1948, and retired on 17 November 1949. He was reputed to be the first graduate of the Law School of the University of Sydney to join the New South Wales Supreme Court. (3)

Davidson officiated at a number of Royal Commissions. In April 1929 he was sole commissioner over a New South Wales Royal Commission to investigate whether any attempt had been made to bribe a Minister of the Crown, Member of the Legislative Assembly or employee of Crown to further an application in October 1928 to ply motor buses between Campsie and Central Railway Station, via Earlwood. (4)

From May 1929 to February 1930 Davidson chaired the three person Royal Commission to inquire into the position of the coal industry in Australia, and New South Wales specifically. This included production, transport, export, distribution and sale of coal, and the causes which had led to the existing conditions. The Royal Commission was appointed jointly by the Commonwealth and the State of New South Wales and presented its final report on 28 March 1930. (5)

From 22 December 1930 to 30 January 1931, Davidson presided over an inquiry by New South Wales, under the Gas Act, 1912. This Royal Commission examined whether the 'standard' price of gas produced by the Australian Gaslight Company, Manly Gas Company Ltd and North Shore Gas Company Ltd should be increased to compensate for increases in the cost of production and distribution. (6)

According to Sir Frederick Jordan, the Chief Justice, Davidson was chairman in 1934 of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into and report upon the coal mining industry of Western Australia. However this Commission reported in 1931 and 1933. (7)

From August 1938 to May 1939, Davidson chaired the three person New South Wales Royal Commission on the safety and health of workers in coal mines. Its final report was presented on 12 July 1939 and resulted in the Coal Mines Regulation (Further Amendment) Act of 1941. (8)

Between 1939 and 1941 Davidson was chairman of a Commonwealth Advisory Committee to hear appeals under the National Security Act and was an official visitor to the Cowra, Hay and Orange internment camps. (9)

In February 1941 Davidson was appointed chairman of the Commonwealth Coal Board and in August a consultant to its replacement, the Commonwealth Coal Commissioner. From 12 January 1945 to 13 March 1946 he chaired the Commonwealth Board of Inquiry into the Coal Mining Industry, under powers conferred by the National Security (Inquiries) Regulations and the National Security (General) Regulations. (10)

Davidson was a Fellow of the Senate of the University of Sydney from 1939 to 1941. His knighthood was awarded on 1 January 1952 for services to the coal industry. The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy made him an Honorary Member in 1952. (11)

Davidson died at Chatswood on 8 July 1954. He was survived by his wife Phyllis Hinder nee Jones whom he married on 20 December 1928 at Sydney. They had no children. (12)

Endnotes
1. Fred Johns, Who's Who in Australia, 1927-28, Adelaide, the Author, 1927, p. 70; Who's Who in Australia, Melb., Herald and Weekly Times Ltd, 1933-34, p.107; 1935, p.145; 1938, p.154; 1941, p.217; 1944, p.283; 1947, p.273; 1950, p.203; Martha Rutledge, 'Davidson, Sir Colin George Watt (1878 - 1954)', in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 8, Melbourne University Press, 1981, pp.223-4; University of Sydney Calendar, 1896, p.227; 1899, pp.201, 205; 1901, pp.220, 242, 280, 287, http://calendararchive.usyd.edu.au/index.php (cited 18 March, 18 April, 12 May 2008).
2. Barristers Admission Board; NRS 13665, Roll of Barristers, 15 June 1876 - 1 December 1926; Reel 2147, p.13; New South Wales Law Almanac, Syd., NSW Govt Printer, 1902, p.42; 1903, p.42, 1906, p.45, 1914, p.58; 1921, p.64; 1927, p.67; Who's Who in Australia, op.cit.; JM Bennett (ed.), A History of the New South Wales Bar, Sydney, Law Book Company Ltd and NSW Bar Association, 1969, pp.102-3; University of Sydney Calendar, op.cit., 1914, p.405; 1922, p.567; Thomas Bavin (ed.), Jubilee Book of the Law School of the University of Sydney 1890-1940, Sydney, Halstead Press, 1940, pp.13, facing 16, 17; 'Bar Councillors 1902-2006', New South Wales Bar Association, http://www.nswbar.asn.au/docs/about/history/bclist1910_1920.php; http://www.nswbar.asn.au/docs/about/history/bclist1920_1930.php (cited 22 January 2008); New South Wales Government Gazette, No.35, 19 March 1926, p.1289; Attorney General's Department [III]; NRS 333, Letters received - Special Bundles, 1874-1984; [10/42917] Correspondence re appointment of King's Counsels, 1898-1941.
3. New South Wales Government Gazette, No.72, 4 June 1926, p.2438; No.105, 6 August 1926, p. 3402; No.129, 1 October 1926, p. 4069; No.21, 18 February 1927, p.1048; State Reports New South Wales, Syd., Law Book Company of Australasia Pty Ltd, Vol.26 (1926), Vol.27 (1927), Vol.40 (1940), Vol.48 (1948); New South Wales Law Almanac, Syd., NSW Govt Printer, 1941, p.45; 1953, p.41; Australian Law Journal, Vol.22 (10 December 1948), p.374; Vol.28 (22 July 1954), p.154.
4. D H Borchardt, Checklist of Royal Commissions Select Committees of Parliament and Boards of Inquiry, Part IV, New South Wales, 1855-1960, La Trobe, 1975, pp. 303-4.
5. D H Borchardt, ibid., p.304-5; Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Coal Industry, NSW Parliamentary Papers, 1929-30, Vol.3, pp.301-315, 317-852; 'National Archives of Australia - Agency notes for Agency CA7533', http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/AgencyDetail.asp?M=3&B=CA+7533 (cited 14 December 2007).
6. NRS 5849 Notebooks: Royal Commission on Standard Price of Gas [Justice C G W Davidson], 1930-31: [3/4999].
7. State Reports New South Wales, op.cit., Vol.48 (1948); Australian Law Journal, Vol.28 (22 July 1954), p.154; the Commission reported in 1931 and 1933 so the date may be incorrect.
8. D H Borchardt, Checklist of Royal Commissions Select Committees of Parliament and Boards of Inquiry, Part IV, New South Wales, 1855-1960, La Trobe, 1975, pp.323-4.
9. State Reports New South Wales, op.cit., Vol.48 (1948); Martha Rutledge, 'Davidson, Sir Colin George Watt (1878 - 1954)', in Australian Dictionary of Biography, op.cit., p.224.
10. National Archives of Australia: Agency CA703, Commonwealth Board of Inquiry into the Coal Mining Industry, http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/AgencyDetail.asp?M=3&B=CA+703 (cited 13 December 2007); S J Butlin, War Economy 1939-1942, Canberra, AWM, 1955, pp.416-21, http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/32/chapters/00.pdf (cited 13 December 2007).
11. University of Sydney, http://www.usyd.edu.au/senate/fellows1850onalpha.shtml (cited 12 December 2007); It's An Honour website http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au (cited 13 December 2007); Martha Rutledge, 'Davidson, Sir Colin George Watt (1878 - 1954)', in Australian Dictionary of Biography, op cit., p.224.
12. NSW Law Almanac 2005, Syd., NSW Govt Printer, 2005, p.26; Who's Who in Australia, op.cit.

Notes

Acting Judge, Supreme Court of New South Wales, 08/06/1926 - 12/02/1927
Puisine Judge, Supreme Court of New South Wales, 14/02/1927 - 17/11/1949
Sole Commissioner, Royal Commission to inquire into all matters, transactions, and negotiations in connection with application made ... on 23 Oct., 1928, and amended on 26 Oct., 1928, for permission to ply motor omnibuses between Campsie and Central Railway Station .... 1929.
Chairman, Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Coal Industry, 1929-30.
Sole Commissioner, Royal Commission re standard price of gas sold by the Australian Gaslight Company, Manly Gas Company Ltd and North Shore Gas Company Ltd, under the Gas Act, 1912, 1930-31.
Chairman, Royal Commission on Safety and Health of Workers in Coal Mines, 1938-39.
Fellow of the Senate of the University of Sydney, 10/11/1939 - 01/12/1941.
Chairman, Commonwealth Advisory Committee to hear appeals under the National Security Act, 1939-41.
Chairman, Commonwealth Coal Board, February-August 1941.
Chairman, Commonwealth Board of Inquiry into the Coal Mining Industry, 1945-46.