James Mathews (Australian politician)
James Mathews | |
---|---|
Member of the Australian Parliament for Melbourne Ports | |
In office 12 December 1906 – 27 November 1931 | |
Preceded by | Samuel Mauger |
Succeeded by | Jack Holloway |
Personal details | |
Born | 1865 |
Died | 16 October 1934 (aged 68–69) |
Nationality | Australian |
Political party | Australian Labor Party |
James Mathews (1865 – 16 October 1934) was an Australian politician. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1906 to 1931, representing the electorate of Melbourne Ports.
Mathews was born in the
Mathews contested the 1903 federal election, but was defeated by incumbent Protectionist Samuel Mauger. Mauger moved to the new seat of Maribyrnong in 1906 and Mathews won the seat in his absence. He was then re-elected nine times, often running unopposed and never polling less than 65% of the primary vote.[6] He was described The Courier-Mail upon his death as "a speaker of great force" and "an apt interjector" in the House.[7] Mathews was always opposed to war and militarism, and campaigned against conscription in the bitter referendums of 1916 and 1917. In 1917, he was one of several political figures prosecuted under the War Precautions Act with having "made false statements of a kind likely to affect the judgment of the electors" in the referendum, but represented himself and was acquitted.[8][9] Mathews was struggling with serious health issues by the mid-1920s, and retired due to ill health at the 1931 federal election.[10][2]
He died in October 1934 and was cremated at Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park.[1]
References
- ^ a b "OBITUARY". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 27, 508. Victoria, Australia. 17 October 1934. p. 6. Retrieved 9 December 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "PEEPS AT LABOR LEADERS". Labor Call. Vol. XIX, no. 981. Victoria, Australia. 20 August 1925. p. 9. Retrieved 9 December 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Death of Mr. Jim Mathews". Record. Vol. XXXIX, no. 42. Victoria, Australia. 20 October 1934. p. 2. Retrieved 9 December 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Advertising". Record. Vol. IX, no. 23. Victoria, Australia. 11 June 1904. p. 4. Retrieved 9 December 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Honoring Labor Stalwart". Record. Vol. XXXVII, no. 26. Victoria, Australia. 2 July 1932. p. 7. Retrieved 9 December 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Psephos". Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- The Courier-mail. No. 355. Queensland, Australia. 17 October 1934. p. 13. Retrieved 9 December 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Dealt With". Westralian Worker. No. 599. Western Australia. 1 February 1918. p. 2. Retrieved 9 December 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- Daily Herald. Vol. 8, no. 2406. South Australia. 5 December 1917. p. 4. Retrieved 9 December 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Federal Member". The Week (Brisbane). Vol. CX, no. 2, 879. Queensland, Australia. 27 February 1931. p. 18. Retrieved 9 December 2019 – via National Library of Australia.