James Wallace Sandford

Sir James Wallace Sandford (20 March 1879 – 9 July 1958), usually referred to as J. Wallace Sandford and later as simply Wallace Sandford, was a businessman and politician in the State of South Australia.

"Wallace Sandford" redirects here. For his father, A. W. Sandford, also called Wallace Sandford, see Alexander Wallace Sandford.

Sir James Wallace Sandford
Born20 March 1879
Footscray, Victoria
Died9 July 1958
NationalityAustralian
Occupation(s)Businessman and politician

History

Sandford was born in Footscray, Victoria the eldest son of Scottish-born businessman Alexander Wallace Sandford. They moved to Adelaide in 1880, where the dairy products business of A. W. Sandford & Co. had moved its head office. James was educated at St. Peter's College and Roseworthy Agricultural College, then the University of London.[1]

He joined A. W. Sandford & Co. in 1901; his father died in 1906 and James took over control of the company, which had diversified into an importer of agricultural machinery, in 1911. He was by this time generally referred to as simply "Wallace Sandford".

Politics

In 1931 Wallace Sandford was appointed chairman of a three-man committee (with Professor J. McKellar Stewart and the Director of Education, William J. Adey) to enquiry into the cost of education.[2] The panel recommended severe cost-cutting measures, which included the introduction of school fees, increases in the minimum sizes of country schools, amalgamation of high schools, and entrance examinations to high schools in order to halve enrolments.[3] Adey signed a minority report.[4]

In 1938 Sir Wallace, as he had become, was elected as a Liberal member of the Legislative Council for the Central No.2 district.[5] His politics were influenced by loyalty to the British Empire and the laissez-faire belief that capitalists should be relatively free from interference by Government.

Other interests

He was a director on the boards of the Adelaide Cement Co. Ltd,[6] Sun Insurance and the South Australian Gas Company.[7]

He acted as honorary consul in Adelaide for Sweden for 17 years.[8]

He was a keen golfer.[1]

Recognition

He was knighted in 1937.[1]

He was appointed Knight Commander, Royal Order of Vasa in 1932.[1]

Family

He married Kate Irene "Kittie" MacLeod on 10 April 1907. They had one daughter, born 21 September 1911 and one son, born 1 May 1916. They had a home at Avenel Gardens Medindie, then on East Terrace, Adelaide and a summer residence at Mount Lofty.[1]

References
  1. Richards, Eric (1988). "Sandford, Sir James Wallace (1879–1958)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  2. "£250,000 Less For Education?". Advertiser and Register. 23 June 1931. p. 7. Retrieved 17 October 2014 – via Trove.
  3. "Closing of 154 Country Schools Recommended". Advertiser and Register. 15 July 1931. p. 15. Retrieved 17 October 2014 – via Trove.
  4. "Adelaide – Toward Economy". The Australasian. 11 July 1931. p. 8. Retrieved 17 October 2014 – via Trove.
  5. "Hon Sir James (Sir Wallace) Wallace Sandford". Former members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  6. "Peace in Industry". The Advertiser. 2 June 1948. p. 4. Retrieved 18 October 2014 – via Trove.
  7. "Personal". The Advertiser. 1 December 1944. p. 6. Retrieved 18 October 2014 – via Trove.
  8. "Swedish Knight". The Advertiser. 19 July 1932. p. 8. Retrieved 18 October 2014 – via Trove.
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