The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Carruthers, Joseph Hector McNeil
Carruthers, Joseph Hector McNeil, M.L.A., ex-Minister of Public Instruction, New South Wales, son of John and Charlotte Carruthers, was born at Kiama, N.S.W., on Dec. 21st, 1857. He is a solicitor in Sydney, and has been four times returned to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Canterbury at the head of the poll, with the largest number of votes given for any single candidate in Australia. He was Minister of Public Instruction in the Parkes Government from March 1889 to Oct. 1891, and founded the Department of Technical Education (1889), instituted Arbour Day in New South Wales (1890), and formed the public school cadet force (1890). He is also the legislative author of the "Women's College Act" of 1889, and founder of the Training College for Teachers within the University of Sydney. Mr. Carruthers married at Sydney on Dec. 10th, 1879, Louise Marion Roberts, daughter of William Roberts, solicitor, Sydney. He is a trustee of the National Park.