The prohibitive purchase cost of the required swimming costume was also mentioned. Spooner noted the change legalised costumes currently in use and removed the older "neck to knee" costumes ordinance, dating from 1910. The State of Victoria followed Spooner's regulation. The law was still in effect in NSW in 1950. Federal politics and later life In August 1940 Spooner resigned his seat and won the Federal seat of Robertson in the October election. In June 1941, he was appointed Minister for War Organisation of Industry in the third Menzies Ministry, a position he retained until the fall of the Fadden government in October 1941. He lost his seat in the 1943 election. He joined the new Liberal Party, but was almost expelled for questioning the White Australia Policy. He ran unsuccessfully against Prime Minister Ben Chifley in Macquarie in 1946. Spooner died of cancer in Sydney in 1952, survived by his wife, three sons and daughter. Notes |- |- |- Members of the Cabinet of Australia United Australia Party members of the Parliament of Australia Liberal Party of Australia politicians Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Robertson Members of the Australian House of Representatives 1891 births 1952 deaths United Australia Party members of the Parliament of New South Wales 20th-century Australian politicians Australian accountants