John Mervin Toms (23 January 1909 – 8 October 1971) was an Australian politician who was a Labor Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1956 to 1971.
Toms was elected to the Bayswater Road Board in April 1944, and would serve on the council until May 1971,[1] including as chairman from 1951 to 1956.
[2][3] He was recognised as an Honorary Freeman of the City in December 1971 due to his service on the board, and has the Mertome Village aged care complex named after him.
His elevation meant that the government and opposition had equal numbers on the floor of the Legislative Assembly, so he made frequent use of his casting vote as speaker.
During a sitting in October 1971, Toms collapsed and was rushed to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, where he died.