A METEORIC CAREER

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1935, Page 13 (Supplement)

A METEORIC CAREER

MR. J. H. SCULLIN’S RECORD

(By

H.E.C.)

The retirement of Mr. J. H. Scullin, ex-Prime Minister of Australia, from the leadership of the Federal' Labour Party in the Commonwealth Parliament is likely to have an important bearing upon Australian politics. Incidentally it apparently brings to a close a political life that has been metedric even in that land of political surprises. James Henry Scullin had little but his own ability and a capacity for hard work to aid him in his progress from a country township io the occupancy of the Prime Minister’s “Lodge” in Australia’s capital, Canberra. He was born 59 years ago at Trawalla, a township near Ballarat, and at that time gold mining was the chief industry of a neighbourhood that had not forgotten the hectic “fifties,” when the Ballarat diggings held notoriety throughout the world.

By the time Scullin left the country school the mining industry had begun to decline, and it is not surprising that he entered commercial training in Ballarat. He attended night schools there, and interested himself in the! then burning question of federation. He subsequently became a member of the Australian Natives Association, a movement of Australian-bom youth which was beginning to interest itself in national affairs. It was at A.N.A. debates and conferences that Scullin first developed the vigorous platform oratory that was to prove ’of such service in his political career. He studied elocution to such benefit as to become recognised as an authority, and for 14 years he acted as adjudicator in the Ballarat competitions, then the most important public tests of speakers, singers and musicians in the State of Victoria. In 1903 Scullin became a member of the Labour Party in Ballarat. He was then 27 years of age, and although not robust in health or of striking person? atity, his gift for trenchant political addresses soon gave him a local standing. Three years after he - had joined the Labour Party he gave an indication of his mettle in seeking to wrest the Ballarat seat from Alfred Deakin, then Prime Minister of Australia' and the Commonwealth’s foremost orator. At first Mr. Scullin’s candidature' was treated ’as insignificant, but the Prime Minister found his opponent could draw and hold an audience as well as he could, and before long < found it necessary to devote most of his time and attention to retaining his own seat. That was Scullin’s aim, and although Mr. ■, Deakin defeated him, tlie margin was small enough to give the Prime Minister and his party a warning of the growing strength of Labour. . By the time the next election was held the Labour had recognised Scultin’s ability and'forcefulness. He won the Corangamite seat, hitherto regarded as a “safe!’ anti-Labour constituency, and entered the House of Representatives when the first Labour Ministry to have a majority in the Commonwealth Parliament was formed .by Andrew; Fisher, with W. M. Hughes'as his. chief'lieutenant . -J ■■■/ /'■•:

Scultin’s political career suffered a settback .: three years, later,. when, he lost , his seat, and he returned to Ballarat to become managing-editor of a Labour paper, The Echo. 'He reriiained out of Parliament during the war years that saw the hitherto compact Labour Party-broken.-by -the conscription-issue, and the leader who had succeeded Fisher the head of a National .Government; ;

After mine years wandering in the 'political wilderness, Sculiin was-elected for the Melbourne constituency he has represented since 1922. He found the party dispirited ■: and >fractious. It .had lost its old-time, leaders and with them much of its effective force, even as an Opposition. .. . For six years S’cullln plugged away, gradually .increasing his hold of the soberer men of his party/and gaining respect for his character even from political opponents. In 1928 the leadership of the party becai vacant, and to the surprise of those who were, not in touch with the Labour movement Scullin. was chosen for. the position in ■ lieu of Theodore, the ex-Premier of Queensland who had carried through more radical legislation in that State than any other Labour leader had attempted. A man of outstanding ability, ruthless in his determination to see his policy carried out, and with a. strong personality, Theodore seemed the very leader' for the Labour forces then preparing ’ for the next year’s election campaign. But Sculiin was chosen, with Theodore as . his first lieutenant. In 1929 the Labour Party swept the field. They (held 48 of the 75 seats in the House of Representatives, and the Nationalist Prime Minister, Mr; S. M-" Bruce, lost his seat to an almost unknown Labour candidate. The choice for the leadership seemed to have been vindicated triumphantly.

Scullin had little opportunity however; to show what he was capable of as. a constructive statesman. Like most parties with a large Parliamentary majority his followers were inclined to independence, and his Treasurer,. .Theodore, became in* volved in some charges against his personal probity while a State Minister in Queensland. Although the charges were found to be untrue, Theodore had felt it desirable to'leave the Ministry' until they were heard.' ! An even graver difficulty was ap-j proaching-—the economic ' .*• depression which affected Australia as' well as the rest of the world. There ’ will always be argument' about Scullin’s handling of the problems ...thus ■ brought abput. His supporters claim that he initiated many of i the rehabilitation efforts for which others received credit. The fact remains, however, that the economic difficulties split the Labour majority, a National Government was formed, and since 1932 Scullin has been leader of an Opposition-that is divided into extremist and moderate Labour. He has displayed much fortitude in maintaining a public career in spite of physical disabilities, and the boy from the mining village leaves politics as ■ a member- of .'His Majesty’s Privy Council/ and, it is safe to say, assured of the goodwill of political opponents as well as of friends.