The West Australian, Saturday 10 Jun 1944
(Perth, Western Australia)

MR W. C. ANGWIN
DEATH YESTERDAY
Long Political Career
 
Mr W. C. Angwin, CMG, for many years a prominent Labour politician in this State, died at his home at Fremantle yesterday at the age of 81.
 
Born in Cornwall on May 8, 1863, the late Mr Angwin migrated to Victoria in 1886, coming to this State six years later. He was a member of the first municipal council elected at East Fremantle and served on it from 1897 to 1927. He was Mayor of East Fremantle for three years and treasurer for 20 years. In 1904 he was elected as representative for North-East Fremantle in the Legislative Assembly and held the seat until 1927, when he resigned to become Agent-General.
 
From 1911 to 1914 he was Honorary Minister in the Scaddan Government and was Minister for Works and Industries from December, 1914, to July, 1916. In 1924, he was appointed Minister for Lands, Group Settlement and Immigration in the Collier Ministry. He was Deputy Premier in 1925.
 
Mr Angwin was a whole-hearted supporter of the group settlement scheme inaugurated by his friend and political rival, Sir James Mitchell, and when he took office in 1924 he continued to carry out the policy of his predecessor. He was Agent General from 1927 to 1933 and on his retirement from that office he was awarded the CMG. In 1934 he was appointed a member of the Fremantle Harbour Trust and in January, 1935, became chairman of the Royal Commission on the Bulk Handling of Wheat. In 1938 he was appointed chairman of the Royal Commission which inquired into the working of the Wheat Marketing Act.
 
Premier's Tribute
 
Referring to the death of Mr Angwin, the Premier (Mr Willcock) said yesterday he would like to pay a tribute to a man who had served Western Australia well. Mr Angwin had been a member of three Labour Governments, had been Deputy Premier, and later had served the State excellently during his six-year term as Agent-General in London.
 
"It can be truly said," added Mr Willcock, "that Mr Angwin, by his sterling work, sincerity, high character and great personality, won the respect of the whole of the community of Western Australia. As a colleague in the Government and in Parliament, and with an intimate knowledge of his work in other public positions which he filled so successfully, I regret the loss of a personal friend and an excellent citizen who over many years had done a great work for Western Australia."
 

Contributed by Bob Bolitho