VICTORIAN LABOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22864, 20 October 1937, Page 15

VICTORIAN LABOUR

RESIGNATION OF LEADER MR. TUNNECLIFFE'S CAREER (Received October 19, 5.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE. Oct.. 19 Mr. Thomas Tunnecliffe, who has been the leader of the Victorian Parliamentary Labour Party since 1932, has resigned. He has been succeeded by Sir John Cain. f Mr. Tunnecliffe was born at Steiglitz, near Ballarat, Victoria, in 1869. A bootmaker by trade, he first entered Parliament in 1903 as Labour member for West Melbourne. In 190" he was returned for Eaglehawk, and represented that electorate for thirteen years. Since 1921 Mr. Tunnecliffe has been member for Collingwood. His first taste of office was obtained as Chief Secretary in the Prendergast Labour Ministry of 1924. He was Minister of Railways and Minister-in-charge of Electrical Undertakings, 1927-28, Chief Secretary in the Hogan Ministry, 1929-32, and Leader of the Opposition, 1932-35. The Labour Party under Sir. Tunne-

cliflfo allied itself with the Country Party led by Mr. A. A. Dunstan, which was elected in 1935. The recent Victorian general election this month resulted in the coalition Government again being returned to office. Sir John Cain, who was knighted last January, entered polities in 1917. When the redistribution scheme altered the boundaries of his electorate of Jika .1 ika he stood for Northcote, Victoria, and was returned unopposed. Before he became a member of the Assembly, Sir John (then Mr. Cain) was an organiser of the Clothing Trades Union. As vice-president of the Northcote Football Club, he is well known among followers of tho Association game. A total abstainer, Mr. Cain has earned the name of being a good platform speaker and an effective debater. He lives at Northcote.