THE World of Labour

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 438, 6 July 1915, Page 3

THE World of Labour

A Column for Workers

MORE AUSTRALIAN LEADERS. BIOd&APHICAI. SKETCHES. The personal element in a movement is always a matter of interest, and because of that, the dominant part played by Labour in the politics of Australia, and the all too-little knowledge we on this -side of the Tasman Sea possess concerning the nren who are at the helm of the movement, I need not apologise for continuing the "Australian Worker's" Inographieal sketches of those who attended the recent. Commonwealth Conference. New South Wales Delegates. J. D. Fitzgerald, M.L.C., occupies the position of president of the Political Babour League of New South Wales, and this is his first appearance at a Commonwealth Conference. He has been for a number of years associated with the Labour movement, and was one of the first batch of Labour members •elected in 1891. He has devoted considerable attention to the question of improved municipal conditions in relation, to housing problems,, and has written voluminously on this and other social subjects, demanding reform. He was recently made vice-president of the Executive Council and leader for the Hohnan Government in the Legislative Council, ,in succession to Mr Fred Flowers, who became presidont. .Richard Dennis Meagher, Speaker of the New South Wales Assembly, has had a stormy career, but ''fights on'' full of grit and determination. From the time of his joining the Labour Party ho paid close attention to the organisation side of the movement. He became president of the P.L.L. of New South Wales, arid when a stand had to be taken on important questions he "was not afraid to make it. An old Parliamentarian, Mr Meagher has made a good .Speaker, just as he had been capable in his duties as Chairman of Committees previously. On the platform Mr Meagher has proved a forcible exponent 'of democratic aini3, and few' men can handle with such consummate skill as he tho flaying of a political opponent. In the 1910 campaign, when the State Labour Party in N.S.W. sue-, ceeded-to tho Treasury benches, Mr Meagher was responsible for many impassioned addresses, and he mercilessly laid.bare the leg-iron and coercion acts of the Liberal Promior, Charles Gregory Wade.; Arthur Rao has been a life-long battler for the rights of the people. As a'political and industrial fighter he is courageous to a degree, and always in the firing line when advance is to be made. It was his action, in conjunction with Senator Albert Gardiner, that indirectly led to the hastening of the Federal double dissolution last year on the- question of preference to unionists. ■ He believed that the Fusion were attempting to thrust a sham measure on the Senate, and Arthur Bae and Albert Gardiner, supported by other Labour Senators, downed it on its first formal appearance. When Labour mustered' in tHe sixth Australian Parliament 73 strong there were deep expressions of regret that the virile, earnest Rae no longer beamed amongst them. Arthur Rae has a fine record of service in the Australian Workers' Union, and when a few months ago in annual Convention the delegates gave him -joyful cheers of welcome he smiling told them that "he would sooner be out of Parliament than out of the A.W.U.'' . Queensland. Senator Givens: It's a long way to Tipperary, and Senate President Thomas Givens comes from there. In Queensland he followed bush work and mining for a considerable time, and later on ably conducted a newspaper, in Cairns, which constituency he afterwards represented in the State Parliament. Senator Givens has always had the courage of his convictions. His enthusiastic advocacy of unionism in one town in Queensland led to the manager of the mine where he was employed discharging him. But Thomas Givens did not take it lying down. One day when the manager appeared on the main street the future President of the Senate produced a whip and*gave his former employer* the father of a thrashing, and the union pals of T.G. raffled the whip, netting a decent little sum. He entered the Senate in 1903 and became President on July 9, 1913, and an excellent ruler he has made. There are no frills about him as President. Victoria. L. Cohen is president of the P.L.C. of Victoria and a past president, of the

Conducted by D. G. SULLIVAN

Melbourne Trades Hall Council, of which body he is assistant secretary. Vehement as he is in the advocacy of industrial combination of the workers, he has always stressed the importance of political action. In those two great branches of the Labour movement, though he is a young man, lie has held the chief chairs, and won to them by reason of his steadfast adherence to principles. There is no beating about the bush when Laurence Cohen sets out to state a case, and as a result he has been a kind of permanent stand-by for "Argus" leader writers wishing to groan inkily about the unkind expressions used towards .the poor dear nonunionist. The Victorian State Conference at Easter was a signal personal triumph for Mr Cohen who, in conjuucton with the secretary and other members of the Central Executive had found it essential to take a definite stand on certain phases of the education question. Mr Cohen was re-elected president —something which had never occurred before —and all the recommendations of the executive were endorsed by large majorities. A member of the Operative Masons' Society, Mr Cohen conducted their appeal case agaiird. a lock-out with great skill, his native intelligence and intimate knowledge of the trade being worth a lot. more to his eo-workers than forensic flummery. It vyas better that. ho.should, be able to demonstrate how sloping letters were cut than expound the beauties of "Cliltty on Contracts." South Australian Delegates.

E. P. Biundell, M.H.A., who is Minister for Industry and Marine in the Vaughan Government, has been in the industrial movement since the inception of the Labour Party. He was a leading member "of the Tobacco Workers' Union at the time he was first returned to the State Parliament of South Australia. He has been president of the United Labour Party, and is still a member of the executive of that body, which controls the political movement in that State. He was Whip to the Verran Labour Government, and when the Labour Party came homo with a solid majority in March it was felt that Mr Blundoll would be certain for office. H. Jackson, M.H.A., Commissioner of Public Works in the Vaughan Ministry, was for many years located at Port Pirie (S.A.). He contested the Gladstone seat, but later on was successful for Stanley. He was Speaker during the reign of the Verran Government, and ably fulfilled the duties of the chair. He was returned unopposed for the new district of Port Pirie, and was elevated to office by his fellow members. Mr Jackson has always been strong on the necessity for organisation, and had been effective in local electoral'committee' work.. He has been President of the United Labour Party, and remains a member of the executive. West Australia.

Peter O'Loughlin, M.L.A. for Forrest iii the State Parliament, comes from the heart of the timber country in the West. He ia a highly popular man in the constituency which. he has resigned three times to opposo Sir John Forrest, but it is a big proposition to beat the "Emperor of the West" for the Swan electorate. Mr O'Loughlin safely got back to his State constituency, and on the last. Federal fight in 1914 Sir John Forrest had another Labour man against him, but still managed to "get home" all right. Tasmania. Senator Kudolph Keith Ready, on his first essay at a political contest, was returned to the Senate in 1910 for Tasmania. He was living at Campbelltown when in 1907 Mr Arthur Rao came along and issued to film the first ticket in the Tasmanian Branch of tho A.W.U. Ready proved a valuable lieutenant for Arthur Rao, and was of considerable assistance afterwards. They both afterwards worked together in the Senate—"the finest Upper House in the world," as the late Senator McGregor used to describe it. Senator Ready is whip for the Government in tho Senate, is a member of the Executive of the Worker' Political League, and divisional secretary for Franklin. He is a fluent speaker and writer, and was "Windjammer" in the old days of the "Clipper." More recently he contributed to an interesting series of articles' on "Socialism" in the "Worker," and is a great believer in the printed word for propaganda purposes. Tasmanian Delegates. •lames Belton, M.H.A., Minister of 'Lauds, Agriculture, and Works in the Earle Government, is a Victorian native who went to Tasmania. Thore on the North-west coast he commenced operations as a bacon manufacturer and "made good." Apart from business ability he has a sound knowledge of the land question, and he has shown administrative capacity in the work of his departments.