First cabinet of Southern Rhodesia


On 1 October 1923, Sir Charles Coghlan took charge as the first Premier of the Southern Rhodesia after the referendum in 1922 which decided not to join the Union of South Africa but chose responsible government instead.

List of ministers

Following is a list of the 8 ministers of the First Cabinet
DepartmentTitle of MinisterFirst Minister Senior Permanent Officials
Department of the PremierPremierSir Charles Patrick John Coghlan Chief of Staff
Secretary to the Premier & Chief Clerk to the Legislative Assembly
Department of Native AffairsMinister of Native AffairsSir Charles Patrick John Coghlan Chief Native Commissioner
Department of the Colonial SecretaryColonial SecretarySir Francis James Newton Secretary to the Department of the Colonial Secretary
Controller of Printing & Stationery
Audit DepartmentColonial SecretarySir Francis James Newton Auditor-General
Assistant Auditor and Inspector
Inspector
Senior Examiner
Department of Health, Education and Internal AffairsColonial SecretarySir Francis James Newton Medical Director
Director of Education
Department of the TreasuryTreasurerPercival Donald Leslie Fynn Secretary to the Treasury
Commissioner of Taxes
Controller of Customs
Postmaster-General
Department of the Attorney-GeneralAttorney-GeneralMajor Robert James Hudson Solicitor-General
Secretary to the Law Department & Legal Adviser
Senior Judge
Judge
Master of the High Court
Commissioner of Police
Registrar of Deeds
Department of DefenceMinister of DefenceMajor Robert James Hudson Secretary to the Department of Defence
Commandant of Southern Rhodesian Forces
Department of Mines and Public WorksMinister of Mines and Public WorksHoward Unwin Moffat Secretary
Accountant
Inspectors of Mines
Mining Commissioners
Registrar of Claims
Beacon Inspectors
Public Works DepartmentMinister of Mines and Public WorksHoward Unwin Moffat Director of Public Works
Assistant Architect
Assistant Inspectors
Roads DepartmentMinister of Mines and Public WorksHoward Unwin Moffat Engineer-in-Charge of Roads
Assistant Road Engineers
Assistant Road Engineer and Surveyor
Geological SurveyMinister of Mines and Public WorksHoward Unwin Moffat Director of Geological Survey
Geologists
Department of AgricultureMinister of Agriculture and LandsWilliam Muter Leggate Director of Agriculture
Chief Veterinary Surgeon
Director of Veterinary Research
Department of LandsMinister of Agriculture and LandsWilliam Muter Leggate Director of Lands & Surveyor-General

As well as financial matters, the Treasurer ran the postal, telegraph and telephone services, as well as customs and excise. The Attorney-General was responsible for the police and prisons as well as legal and judicial affairs.
Ministers were permitted to prefix their names with "The Honourable".
The High Commissioner retained his nominal authority over Southern Rhodesia, but his powers were mostly devolved upon the Governor in Council.
  • Sir Charles Coghlan, Premier and Minister of Native Affairs
  • Percival Donald Leslie Fynn, Treasurer