William Richard Motherwell

William Richard Motherwell, agrarian activist, politician (b at Perth, Canada W 6 Jan 1860; d at Regina 23 May 1943). An early homesteader in Saskatchewan, he was a cofounder 1901 of the Territorial Grain Growers' Association, which under his leadership exacted legislation to curb monopolistic practices by line elevator companies and the CPR. Appointed Saskatchewan's first minister of agriculture in 1905, he was a tireless advocate of techniques that enabled the dry belt to be cultivated effectively; he also helped establish the College of Agriculture. A LAURIER Liberal, he resigned in 1918, largely in opposition to the provincial party's support of CONSCRIPTION. Between 1921 and 1930 he served twice as federal minister of agriculture under PM Mackenzie KING and initiated important national measures to increase farm production.

See alsoMOTHERWELL HOMESTEAD.