LABOUR LEADER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22200, 29 August 1935, Page 11

LABOUR LEADER

RESIGNATION OF POST MR. SCULLIN'S DECISION MELBOURNE, Aug. 28 Mr. J. H. Scullin, leader of the official Labour Opposition in the Commonwealth Parliament, has tendered his resignation of that office owing to indifferent health. It is regarded as certain that his successor will be Mr. Francis Michael Forde, member for Capricornia, Queensland, who has been deputy leader of the party since 1931. Mr. J. H. Scullin was born near Ballarat, Victoria, and spent his youthful days in the country. He first joined the Labour movement in 1903, when he became a member of the first branch of the Australian Labour Party formed in Ballarat. In 1906 he opposed the then Prime Minister, Mr. Deakin, for the Ballarat seat in the House of Representatives, but was unsuccessful. He then became political organiser for the Labour Party in Victoria, which position he held for two years. At the general elections in 1910 he was elected for Corangamite, Victoria, but was defeated when he stood for re-election three years later by Mr. J. C. Manifold. He was then appointed managing editor of the Ballarat Echo, a Labour newspaper, and remained in that position until 1922, when he was elected to the House of Representatives for Yarra at a by-election and again at the general election of the same year. Upon the resignation of Mr. Anste.v from the deputy-leadership of the Parliamentary Labour Party in March, 1927, Mr. Scullin was elected to that position. In April. 1928. he was appointed Leader of the Labour Party in place of Mr. Matthew Charlton, resigned. At the Federal general election in October, 1929. the Labour Party gained power and Mr. Scullin became Prime Minister. He held office until December, 1931, when his party was defeated at the general election. For some time ho has not enjoyed good I health.