. LABOUR DAY - ITS SIGNIFICANCE

AND

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF E.J. HOLLOWAY

(1979 Labour Day Oration by Bill Richardson, Federal Secretary, Australian Council of Salaried and Professional Associations.)

i

LABOUR DAY - ITS SIGNIFICANCE

AND

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF E . J . HOLLOWAY.

(1979 Labour Day o r a t i o n by B i l l Richardson, Fede ra l S e c r e t a r y , A u s t r a l i a n Council o f S a l a r i e d and P r o f e s s i o n a l Assoc ia t ions ) .

Comrade Chair & Comrades,

I n t h e f i r s t i n s t a n c e I want t o thank t h e A u s t r a l i a n S o c i e t y f o r t h e Study of Labour Hi s to ry (Melbourne Branch) f o r t h e i n v i t a t i o n t o p resen t t h i s addres s today.

The A u s t r a l i a n Council o f S a l a r i e d and P r o f e s s i o n a l Assoc ia t ions (ACSPA) i s proud t h a t t h e Soc ie ty has asked i t s Fede ra l S e c r e t a r y t o speak today on t h i s s p e c i a l occas ion i n t h e h i s t o r y of t h e l abour movement. 1979 w i l l s e e t h e d isappearance of ACSPA a s w e become p a r t o f t h e ACTU l a t e r t h i s y e a r . However ou r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s w i l l con t inue t o a t t e n d t h i s ceremony each y e a r and honour t h e p ionee r s of t h e S h o r t e r Hours movement. .. My c o n t r i b u t i o n w i l l be i n two p a r t s : Labour Day - i t s s i g n i f - i cance and then t h e L i f e & T i m e s of E . J . Holloway.

LABOUR DAY - ITS SIGNIFICANCE:

Due t o a combination of c i rcumstances unionism i n A u s t r a l i a developed i n a f r e e r atmosphere, and more r a p i d l y , t han i n many o t h e r l ands .

From about 1825 combinations of workers began t o develop and s t r i k e s t r u g g l e s took p l a c e . Sydney had about 25 unions by 1850. The d iscovery o f go ld i n V i c t o r i a i n 1851 had a profound e f f e c t ; The popula t ion grew r a p i d l y . Almost t h e e n t i r e male popula t ion of Melbourne went o f f t o t h e d iggings . The Super- i n t e n d e n t o f P o l i c e o f f e r e d h ighe r pay t o h i s 55 c o n s t a b l e s b u t on ly 2 remained on duty . Governor LaTrobe complained t h a t he had only 4 4 s o l d i e r s l e f t . On January 6 , 1852, 35 f o r e i g n s h i p s l a y o f f Melbourne and on ly 3 had f u l l c r e w s . The weal th from gold d i s c o v e r i e s l e d t o a b i g demand f o r b u i l d i n g workers i n p a r t i c u l a r . Wages r o s e i n t h e boom atmosphere.

The Opera t ive kone Masons Soc ie ty (formed i n 1851) was r e v i t a l i s e d i n 1855 a f t e r thousands' had r e t u r n e d from t h e gold- f i e l d s . The demand f o r an 8 houc day was advanced by t h e Soc ie ty i n February 1856 (Stonenmsons a l o n e , among b u i l d i n g workers won t h i s ob jeckive i n Sydney t h a t month) .

I n t h e i n d u s t r i a l r e l a t i o n s atmosphere of today i t i s hard t o b e l i e v e t h e series o f e v e n t s t h a t followed. The employers agreed wi th t h e c la im, and pa id a l l expenses of a p u b l i c meeting of con t rac tu r sand a l l workers i n t h e t r a d e he ld on March 31, 1856, i n Melbourne. The Stonemasons s e c r e t a r y moved, and an employer seconded, a motion t h a t t h e 8 hour day commence - on A p r i l 21 .

Seve ra l unions w e r e formed i n o r d e r t o be organised f o r t h e b i g day. On t h e day i t s e l f a l l workers i n t h e indus txy downed, t o o l s and marched through Melbourne because two c o n t r a c t o r s had r e fused t o ag ree t o t h e c la im. They caved i n t h a t n i g h t a f t e r t h e workers c a r r i e d a r e s o l u t i o n no t t o r e t u r n t o work till they came i n t o l i n e .

The workers involved won a REDUCTION OF 1 2 HOURS PER WEEK - a s i x day week of 10 hours t o one of 6 of 8 hours. I t was an e x c i t i n g t i m e f o r t h e u n i o n i s t s of t h e day.

Within days an 8 Hours League was formed wi th t h e aim o f extend- i n g t h e v i c t o r y t o a l l workers. I n May 1856 a march was organ- i s e d t o c e l e b r a t e t h e e v e n t , and t h i s became a f e a t u r e of l i f e i n Melbourne each yea r u n t i l 1951.

The movement extended t o t h e o t h e r c o l o n i e s where t h e s t r o n g e s t o rgan i sed won t h e demand i n subsequent yea r s .

The annual Labour Day hol iday i n each S t a t e had i t s o r i g i n i n t h i s movement.

A r i s i n g d i r e c t l y o u t o f t h e even t s of 1856 t h e Melbourne Trades Hal l ( c o n s i s t i n g of a l a r g e wooden l e c t u r e h a l l w i th c lass - rooms on each of t h e wings) was opened i n May 1859. I t was t h e f i r s t b u i l d i n g of i t s k ind e r e c t e d i n any p a r t o f t h e world.

A t t h e opening ceremony t h e t o a s t o f t h e evening was t h e "The 8 Hours System: may i t s p h y s i c a l , i n t e l l e c t u a l , moral , and s o c i a l advantages be extended t o every member o f t h e human fami ly . "

1000 people s a t a t t a b l e s i n t h e h a l i whi le many o t h e r s congre- ga ted o u t s i d e , accord ing t o newspaper r e p o r t s a t t h e t i m e .

By 1879 t h e movement had reached t h e l e v e l where it was p o s s i b l e t o o r g a n i s e t h e f i r s t In te r -Colonia l Congress (Sydney, October 1879) . I t i s s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t t h e f i r s t d e c i s i o n taken was a p o l i t i c a l one concerning t h e 8 hour working day, s o p o l i t i c s and unionism have been l i n k e d f o r very n e a r l y 100 y e a r s i n A u s t r a l i a . A t t h e t h i r d Congress ( ' ~ c t o b e r 1885) a p l an f o r t h e Fede ra t ion o f a l l unions, and t h e s e t t i n g up of Par l iamentary Committees was adopted b u t never implemented. Had t h e s e d e c i s i o n s been c a r r i e d i n t o e f f e c t t h e shape o f t h e l abour move- ment would be cons ide rab ly d i f f e r e n t today.

I n a l l e i g h t Inter-colon~.al..Conyr~~ssen were h e l d b e f o r e F e d e r a t i o n and many a f t e r , l e a d i n g up t o t h e d e c i s i o n i n 1927 t o form t h e A u s t r a l a s i a n Conqrcss of Trade Unions ( l a t e r re-named t h e A u s t r a l i a n Counci l o f Trade Unions) .

TElE LIFE AND TIMES OF E . J. 1;3LLtOl~JPIli (1875 - 1967: - -. .

( I t is 0 5 v i o 1 ~ s timt i n t!x p r e p a r a t i o n o f any a . r a t i o : ! ~ such. a s th.i-s t h a t t h s erid .~ , e su I . t i s n o t t h e work of one p e r s s n . I t ~ c ~ a l d . therefar.-. l i k e t o exp re s s a .ppracia t i .on t o t h e fo l l owing peop le who havc providc.d ne w i t h . in i !~rmat ion about. E . J. Holloway: Zohn A r r o w s m k t .h, Torn AudLey , B o h B:-odncy , Idendy Davern, P h i l i p Decry, Tom Gill- , Rezs PJilliarns) .

Edward John Wollaway was born i n Hobart on A p r i l 12 , 1875. H i s f a t h e r , J ~ s e p h Holloway, was a stonem+son, which i s o f s p e c i a l s i g n i f i c a n c e s i n c e stonemasons l e d t h e 8 hour day campaign. Holloway mar r i ed E d i t h C la rke i n Kelbourne i n 1904. They had a daugh te r and a son.

( A s u s u a l i n r e s p e c t t o t h e r o l e o f women i n o u r h i s t o r y - a l t h o u g h r e c e n t l y s t e p s were t aken t o c o r r e c t t h i s - t h e r e i s no h i s t . o r i c a 1 r eco rd o f t h e p .ar t p layed i n t h e l a b o u r movement by Edi-!.h Holloway, a l t hough it i s kamm t h a t Holloway's n e i c e was on t h e Execut:~ve o f t h e Cl-othing Trad.es Union) .

Holloway had L i t t l e s choo l ing i n Robar t . H e came t o ~ e l b 6 u r n e w i t h h i s widowed mother, a t t h e age o f 15. H e worked w i t h a shoemaking f i rm . H e s p e n t some y e a r s i n Broken H i l l a.nd on t h e W.A. g o l d f i e l d s . H e r e t u r n e d t o Melbourne, worked a s a - b o o t m a c h i n i s t i n Collingwood and becamc an o f f i c i a l of t h e Boot Trades Ercployees A s s o c i a t i o n .

> I n t.he e a r l y p a r t o f t h i s c e n t u r y e s t a b l i s h i n g co -ope ra t i ve s was one way o f z . s s i . s t ing members of *he V i c t o r i a n S o c i a l - i s t P a r t y . One such.-CO--opera-t ive was a boo t s t o r e w i t h E . J . Holloway i n cha rge ; it: w a s 1X:::rated a t 283 E l i z a b e t h S t r e e t i n t h e c i t y , n e x t door t o t h e S o c i a l i s t H a l l .

The 1908 V i c t o r i a n S t a t e E l e c t i o n s w e r e h e l d i n December 29 and t h e S o c i a l i s t P a r t y nominated Percy L a i d l e r f o r Collingwood on a s o c i . a l i s . t program, i n o p p o s i t i o n t o Labour P a r t y c a n d i d a t e s . Holloway w a s a p r i n c i p a l speake r a t L a i d l e r ' s f i r s t meet ing.

According t o my r e a d i n g t h e ' n e x t p e r i o d i n which Holloway was prominent was from 1914. By t h a t t i m e he had obv ious ly j o ined t h e L a b ~ r P a r t y .

I n J u l y 1914 Holloway was i n s t a l l e d as P r e s i d e n t o f t h e Melbourne Trades H a l l Counci l . World W a r 1 commenced s h o r t l y a f t e r w a r d s . The F i s h e r Labor Government, r e t u r n e d t o o f f i c e ' i n t h e September 5 , 1914, e l e c t i o n s dec ided t h a t A u s t r a l i a should p l a n f o r t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n and t r a i n i n g o f an e x p e d i t - i o n a r y f o r c e t o s e r v e ove r seas . A p ledge had been made i n t h e e l e c t i o n campaign t h a t " A u s t r a l i a i s i n t h e w a r t o t h e l a s t man and t h e l a s t s h i l l i n g N . I t was l a t e r s a i d : "They d i d n ' t g e t o u r l a s t man b u t t h e y d i d g e t o u r l a s t s h i l l i n g " !

Trade u n i o n i s t s responded i n t h e i r thousands t o t h e c a l l f o r v o l u n t e e r s f o r o v e r s e a s s e r v i c e . I n 1915 Fish.er r e s i g n e d and Wil l iam Morr is Huyhc3 assumed t h e l e a d e r s h i p .

I n 1916 t h e s u s p i c i o n s o f t h e l a b o u r movement i n r e g a r d t o c o n s c r i p t i o n were confirmed and i n t h e words o f Holloway ("The A u s t r a l i a n V ic to ry o v e r C o n s c r i p t i o n , 1915-1917"): ".. and s o , i n t h e very e a r l y years of m y l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e i n d u . s t r i a 1 and p o l i t i c a l wings oE t h e V i c t o r i a n l a b o u r move- ment, I w a s t h r u s t a l s o i n t o t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e g r e a t e s t and most b i t t e r b a t t l e i n i t s h i s t o r y . That w a s t h e f i g h t t o p r e v e n t t h a t e v i l t h i n g from t h e Old World c o n s c r i p t i o n of human l i f e f o r wars bsyond o n e ' s own f r o n t i e r s " .

A number o f l a b o u r movement con fe rences were h e l d , c u l m i n a t i n g i n an A l l - A u s t r a l i a n Trade Union Conference, which IIolloway had been i n s t r u c t e d t o convene i n Melbourne. The con fe rence m e t G11 May 10 , 1916.

That conference r e s o l v e d :

On September 1, 1916, Hughes, w i t h t h e agreement o f t h e l e a d e r - s h i p o f t h e V i c t o r i a n Labor P a r t y ~ x e c u t i v e , add re s sed t h e S t a t e Execut ive . Of t h a t o c c a s i o n Holloway r e c o r d s :

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We pointed o u t t h a t h a l b t h e k O O m d i n t h e huge 7kades Hal l b u i l d i n g a lkeady had Honok Boakds hanging on t h e i k w a l l s and gave him t h e s t a t i s t i c s o 6 t k a d e un ion e n l i s t m e n t s . Pe,akce denied , t h a t he had made h i s chakges a g a i n s t men a t t h e 7kades Hal l and pkomised t o make i n q u i k i e s i n t o t h e & a i d s . He sa id we could p k i n t t h e Manibesto as it had been a l t e k e d by t h e Censok, bu t l pointed o u t t h a t o n l y t h e t i t l e and p k i n t e k s name weke l e d t .

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Peakce s a i d he d i d n o t b e l i e v e t h a t k e p k e s e n t a t i v e men w i t h o d d i c i a l p 0 6 i t i 0 ~ 6 i n t h e t k a d e unions ok p o l i t i c a l e x e c u t i v e s would s i g n such a document, t o which l immed ia t e l y he tohzed t h a t he w e l l knew l was t h e V i c t o k i a n Pkes iden t od t h e Labok Pakty and S e c k e t a k y o b t h e 7kades Hal l C o u n c i l , w h i l e Fkank Anstey ( a l s o i n t h e d e l e g a t i o n ) was a Fedekal Membek and we had bo th s igned it. Fkank had been on t h e dkab t ing commi t t ee , w h i l e l was s e c k e t a k y t o t h e Execu t i v e . He would n o t &a ide t h e ban; it d i d us make good t h a n hakm." ( 4 )

Holloway goes on t o record:

" F k o m t h e non-Laboh pkess we kece i ved no C O - o p e k a t i o n , even a t a commerrcial l e v e l . l t i s howevek, p l easan t t o k e c a l l t h a t on one occas ion duking Xhe second kedekendum 0 6 1 9 1 7 we appkoached t h e a d v e k t i s i n g chied 0 6 t h e Melboukne "Hekald" a d i n e man by t h e name 0 6 Davidson, and asked him doh a quo t e doh a d u l l page advek t i s emen t i n t h k e e d a i l y i s s u e s . commencing t h e dollowing Saturrday. He gave us t h e quo t e and agkeed t o handle an advek t i s emen t doh which we would t a k e t h e u s u a l k e s p o n s i b i l i t y . He sa id t h a t as U A he was concekned t h e whole addaik Wad puke ly a ~ U ~ ~ M C L A A t k a n s a t i o n .

We gave him auk cheque and when S a t u k d a y t s i s s u e appeaked he had been as good as h i s wokd - t h e h e was a w e l l s e t - u p bu l l - page a d v e t t i s ement pkes e n t i n g c o n c l u s i v e p k o o b t h a t Senatok Peakce had l i e d about t h e e x i s t e n c e 0 6 a S i x t h D i v i s i o n . 7 h i s caused such a s t i k t h a t on Sunday people a t t h e Yams Bank k e p t a s k i ~ g us whethek t h e "Hekald" had come ovek t o auk '

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s i d e . But t h a t was t h e end 0 6 it. Though l am duke he d i d n o t subbek d o h h i s a c t i o n , Davidson had t o t o e t h e l i n e and no make such advekt isenientb uppeahed. But t h a t one i s s a e on t h a t Satukday evening had been wbk,th i t s we igh t i n g o l d .

And so t h e 1 9 1 6 d i g h t heached t h e l a s t hound, a d i g h t which had n o t o n l y s p l i t t h e A u s t k a l i a n Laboh Pakty b u t t h e . whole n a t i o n . Hughes and some 2 4 Fedekal Membeks l e d t t h e P a t t y on t h e mojrtow 0 6 t h e tebe/rendurn, U A d i d some l a b o t PtemLm and U i n i n t m i n dome o& the S Z u X a . Ou t s i de Pakeiarnent, too , a sni& ptopom%n 0 6 m m b m 0 6 the rsto vement br~o kc auu y . Labot suddmed dtom lthe s p U d o t

a ban a eleototral doh.tuna wme concaned. .. 8

But on Octobeh 26,men and women went t o t h e b a l l o t box and vo ted a4 t h e i h convictions ahd t h e i h conbcienceb t o l d them t o do . We wehe n o t a l lowed t o know t h e h e b u t t u n t i l t h e Monday mohn~ng b u t t h e n we knew t h a t t h e v i c t o h y l a y w i t h ub . The '6iguhea we head wehe a4 ~ O ~ ~ O W A :

S t a t e

New S o u t h Wale4 3 5 6 , 6 0 5 474,544 V i c t o h i a 353,930 3 2 6 , 2 1 6 Queenbland 144.200 . 1 5 6 , 0 5 1 S o u t h A u b t h a l i a 67,924 119,236 Webtehn A u a t h a l i a 94,069 40,684 Tab mania 46,493 37,833 Fedehal T e h h i t ~ h i e b 2,136 1 , 2 6 9

- And ao we t h o u g h t t h e ghea t 6igh.t a g a i n b t c o n a c h i p t i o n 60h ovehbeaa b e h v i c e had been ( o u g h t and won. We d e l t t h a t t h e people 0 5 A u b t h a l i a wehe e n t i t l e d t o bhea thea h i g h 0 6 h e l i e d t h a t t h i b d i s h u p t i n g i b a u e 0 6 c o n ~ c h i p t i o n wa4 dead. Noh d i d we d e e l . that , i n v i e w 0 6 t h e wondehdul buccebb od t h e v o t u n t a h y byatem i n A u b t h a l i a t h e h e waa any heUbOn doh any- t h i n g b u t ~ a t i ~ d a c t i o n a t i t s p a ~ ~ i n g dnom t h e b c e n e . " ( S )

Hughes and those who had left the Party with him merged with Labor's opponents to form the Nationalist Party and they made a further bid for conscription in 1917. This time the con - scription was for single men only. As Holloway said "Every effort was made to break down the opposition, to make one section enslave another." It was 1916 all over again!

The vote on December 20, 1917, resulted in a vote against conscription. Of course, not all Labor Party members or politicians supported the anti-conscription campaign and Holloway in his booklet describes the heart-burnings of a few. One example is described as follows:

" 7 had oitheh pa in6u l momenta 0 6 t h i ~ b o n t , .though t h e n e wehe, 0 6 couhae, p o l i t i c a l Laboh men who wehe h a l i d , ab w e l l a4 t h o h e who l e d 2 U A . The d e c i a i o n 0 6 t h e Pahty wab conveyed abou t t h e bame t i m e t o V i c t o h i a n Membehb 0 6 t h e Fedehal Pahl iament and Fedehal Laboh C a b i n e t . A t 6ihb.t ouh V i c t o h i a n E x e c u t i v e i n c o n b u l t a t i o n w i t h Fhanh Tudoh and S e n a t o h E . J . R u b b e l l , dec ided t h a t t h e a e two V i c t o h i a n s ahould n o t withdhaw 6hom t h e Hughea C a b i n e t u n t i l t h e d i e waa i h h e v o c a b l y c a a t .

When t h e t i m e seemed h i p e , l , as Phes iden t , was i n s t h u c t e d t o meet Tudoh and Ruase l ta t t h e Fedehal Theaauhy and a d v i s e them t o put i n t h e i h h e s i g n a t i o n s . I can s t i l l h e c a l l how h e l i e v e d and happy Fhank Tudoh waa t o g e t t h e w o h d . He sa id he wab anxious t o make h i s p o a i t i o n c l e a h a t t h e e a h l i e s t moment and would hand Hughes h i s h e s i g n a t i o n as boon as Cabinet convened t h a t day. But what 0 6 Senatoh Ruase l l? He t o o k up a d ibbehent a t t i t u d e . He s i m p l y s a i d , " A l l / r igh t E.J.., I know youh w i shes , bu t l do n o t t h i f i k t h e p o s ~ t i o n has q u i t e c h y s t a l l i a e d . " I could s e n s e a t once t h a t he had alheady made phomisea t o f f ug hes . Senatoh E . J . Ru66ell was t h e youngest membeh od Cabine t , a populah and capable young man, doh whom t h e Pahty had done much t o AeCuhe a 6utuhe p o l i t i c a l Caheeh. But a t t h e 6ihs.t t e s t 0 6 Pahty b o l i d a h i t y which thhea tened him w i t h a l i t t l e tempohahy l o s s 0 6 p h i v i l e g e s and income, he hedused t o accep t t h e ma joh i t y Pahty d e c i ~ i o n .

I t was a gheat p i t y 6hom evehy po in t 0 6 v iew. He was neveh a happy man again . He tuhned away 6hom h i s dhiends and no t long a6tehwahda became m e n t a l l y unbalanced. To t h e genuine h o ~ ~ h o w 0 6 hi4 h e l a t i v e b and dhiendb 0 6 e a h l i e h day4 he neveh hecovehed. 7 had ghOWn up w i t h him - we had a t tended t h e same s t u d y c i h c l e a t one t i m e - and knew him w e l l . I am AUhe he h e a l l y hated conachip t ion a4 I d i d , b u t he was oveh-pehauaded and e n t i c e d away 6 h 0 m h i s own. . 06 j u s t one mohe doh whom 7 b e l t and have cont inued t o b e e t gheat sohhow, I must say a wohd. W . G . . S p l n c e , M . H . R . , was a h e a l Laboh man and a boundeh and A t a L ~ a h t ob t h e A . W . U . and i t s Fedehal Phes iden t ; a t i h e l e a a ohganiseh, a powehbul wh i t eh and one whobe w h l e l i d e had been s p e n t i n and d o h t h e Aus tha l ian Laboh Movement. f f e was a vehy o ld and c l o s e co l l eague and dhiend 0 6 W . M . f fughea. I am co.htain it waa h i s s.th0fig pcmomtattachmenlt t o t h a t enohmously s thong-w i l l ed man which ovehhode h i s judgment and h i s attachment^ t o t h e Union and t h e Paaty he had done a o much t o bu i ld . " ( 6 )

The conscription struggle had a shattering effect on the political wing. On July 1, 1916, Labour commanded a majority of Federal and State Governments. Six months later only Queensland had a Labor Government. In the Federal sphere Labor did not regain power again for more than a quarter of a century (although it held office from 1929-31 and from 1941-44 without majorities in both Houses) . .

Hdloway records: I

I1Fok a l l t h a t , t h e h e weke c o m p e n a a i i o n ~ . T h e hank4 weke c t o a e d and we aenaed a p u k i d y i n g e b b e c t : i n t h e w i l d e k n e a a we l o o k e d t o h i g h e k a tandakda 0 6 u n i @ a n d s o t i d a k i t y aa we b e t a b o u t h e b u i l d i n g . I t Was d e c i d e d , a4 e a k l y as Pecembek,' 1916 , when a S p e c i a l F e d e k a l Conbekence waa convened i n Me lboukne t o d e a l w i t h t h e c k i a i s , t h a t a b i k m and l a a t i n g b a s i a doh t h e b u t u k e a h o u l d be l a i d by c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y d e d i n i n g t h e e x t e n t 0 6 t h e pukge w h i c h had a c t u a l l y occukked . 1 was i n t h e c h a i k o n t h a t o c c a a i o n and p k e a i d e d ovek a l o n g and b u a i n e s a - l i k e d i d c u a b i o n ob

. - a k e a o l u t i o n move'd by t h e b u t u k e Labok Pkime M i n i ~ t e k , J . f f . S c u l l i n , and seconded by my o l d c o l l e a g u e , Akch S t e w a k t , who was b o t h F e d e k a l and V i c t o k i a n S t a t e S e c k e t a k y od t h e A u s t k a l i a n Laboh P a k t y : "

I

" T h a t aa computsoky m i l i t a k y a e k v i c e i a o p p o ~ e d t o t h e p k i n c i p l e a embodied i n t h e A u s t k a l i a n Labok P a k t y ' s p l a t - bokm, a l l F e d e k a l Membehs who a u p p o k t - ed C O ~ ~ U ~ A O ~ Y ovekaeas m i l i t a k y a e k v i c e , o k who l e b t t h e P a k l i a m e n t a k y Laboh P a h t y and bohmed a n o t h e k p o l i Z . L c a t p a h t y ake heheby e x p e l l e d bkom t h e A u s t h a l i a n Laboh P a k t y . " ( 7 )

For an insight into E.J. Holloway's attitude to many questions, I quote from the last page of his booklet:

" l had suggested t h a t i n mos t c h i s e s s u c h as t h o a e I have d e a c k i b e d i n Z h i a c h a p t e h , o u t s i d e pheasuke and e n t i c e m e n t s p l a y t h e h o l e ob P a k t y wheckek . 1 am a u k e t h i s i s s o . 1 c a n n o t apeah bkom b i k s t h a n d e x p e k i e n c e i n t h e s e n s e ob h a v i n g eve& been s u b j e c t t o it p e k s o n a l l y . No

, o v e k t u k e s have eveky been made t o me ovek a l l my yeaka i n t h e Movement. Pekhaps t h i s i s be- - cauae I have nevek been a membeh ob any s o c i e t y o k o k g a n i s a t i o n , h e l i g i o u s , s o c i a l ok economic , o t h m t h a n t h e Laboh Movement i t d e l b . T h i s has made me moke d i d d i c u l t t o apphoach , o n ( and I hope t h i s waa t h e c a a e ) t h e y knew bebckehand w h a t my k e a c t i o n w o u l d be. My knowledge 0 6 t h e pkocess 0 6 w k e c k i n g have been based n a t h e k o n close-up o b s e h v a t i o n and pkoobs a u p p l i e d me by c o l l e a g u e s and b k i e n d s . Encumbeked by o u t s i d e a b b i l i a t i o n a and s i t t i n g s o l o n g a t t h e c e n t n e ob p o l i t i c a l and i n d u ~ t k i a l Labok , 1 have been a b l e t o t e l l i n advance i n n i n e cases o u t 0 6 t e n how my c o l l e a g u e s w o u l d / r e a c t when t h e p k e s s u k e ob a c k i b i b was on .

Such knowledge has b.een anything but a c o n s o l a t i o n . P o l i t i c s , which should be t h e n o b l e s t 0 6 a l l c a l l i n g s because 0 6 t h e gheat poweh which it a66ohds t o detehmine t h e happiness oh othehwise 0 6 ouh people , and 0 6 otheh peoples , has been a l l t o o od ten deghaded b y t h e s e misehable l i t t l e demonsthations 0 6 d i s l o y a l t y oh WOhbe. Such pehsonal ( h a i l t y saps t h e d a i t h and condidence 0 6 people i n t h e i h i n s t i t u t i o n s . Such a heac t i on o j couhse, could, i d h u b b i c i e n t l y deve loped , undehmine demochacy i - t s e l b . " ( b )

Ber tha Walker i n " S o l i d a r i t y Forever!" r eco rds t h a t " E . J . Holloway, s e c r e t a r y of t h e THC w a s a s i n c e r e and hones t man, b u t he was a c o n c i l i a t o r . H e endeavoured t o keep a ba lance between r i g h t and l e f t and p l e a s e both." She went on t o say: "During t h e f o u r y e a r s t h a t Percy L a i d l e r w a s on t h e THC whenever anyth ing new w a s r a i s e d i n a motion, t h e p o l i c y w a s t o set up a committee .... Reading t h e minutes today it seems e v i d e n t t h a t t h e Execut ive w a s always p l ay ing f o r t i m e . "

On t h e o t h e r hand, Ian Turner ( " I n d u s t r i a l Labour and P o l i t i c s " ) when r e f e r r i n g t o Holloway i n t h e c o n t e x t of 1918 i n d i c a t e s , t h a t h e w a s "prominent on t h e l e f t wing of t h e movement."

The 1920 44 hour week C a s e :

I n 1920 unions sought a 44 hour week. M r . J u s t i c e Higgins , t h e then p r e s i d e n t of t h e A r b i t r a t i o n Court (as it w a s t hen c a l l e d ) p res ided over t h e inqu i ry . A s S e c r e t a r y o f t h e THC, Holloway, p resen ted t h e c a s e "on behal f of t h e A u s t r a l i a n Trades Union Movement." I am informed t h a t o t h e r persons w e r e a l s o ve ry a c t i v e i n t h e i n q u i r y , from t h e union s i d e , b u t i n a ' "backroom sense." They w e r e Charles Mundey, Char les C r o f t s and Harry Gibson.

The Court,: a l though wi thou t t h e b e n e f i t of any views from t h e Fede ra l Government on t h e s u b j e c t , g ran ted a 44 hours working week t o Timber Workers and some s i x months la ter (May,1921) extended it t o engineers . . The economic s i t u a t i o n i n A u s t r a l i a d e t e r i o r a t e d and t h e Court a t t h e c l o s e o f 1921, r e i n s t a t e d t h e o l d 48 hours as i t s s t anda rd . I n 1927 t h e Court i n t h e Main Hours Case once more allowed a 44 hours working week t o eng inee r s and o t h e r s .

(For a synops is of t h e 1920 44 - Hour Week Enquiry you are i n v i t e d t o r e a d t h e documents i n t h e LaTrobe L i b r a r y ) .

The Murray Hanging

I n 1924 an escapee from Geelong gao l , was sentenced t o d e a t h f o r a murder t h e prev ious yea r . A t t h e t i m e Holloway s a i d t h e THC be l i eved c a p i t a l punishment was b r u t a l , and t h e c a r r y i n g o u t o f t h e t e r r i b l e work was more awful than t h e act o f murder.

Holloway and 3. Morse, President ~f the 8 Hours Committee, were speakers at rallies attended by an estimated 12,000 people.

These activities did not save Murray, who many believed was innocent. He was executed on April 14. Thousands gathered outside the Old Melbourne Gaol. Bertha Walker records:

"Women - wokking cladd women - wehe phobably i n t h e m a j o k i t y . l n fhode p o o k day4 a man i n employment could n o t a6dokd t o t a k e a day 0 6 6 and it wad l e d t t o houdewived, o l d men, unemployed, c k i m i n a l ~ and union o h d i c i a l ~ t o pay t h e i k l a d t kebpec tb and en t ek pko t ed t . "

(Perhaps union officials'would not agree with that order!-W.R.)

Walker further records:

"Adtek t h e e x e c u t i o n t h e ckowd jeeked a t t h e P o l i c e ' and 4 hawed a g m a t ded i ke t o do domething . A

makch on Pakliament Houde demanding k e d i g n a f i o n ob t h e Goveknment wad pkopoded. " "Meanwhile Ted f f o l l oway had te lephoned Laid lek and adked him would be come up and a d d k e ~ d t h e ckowd t o calm them . . .. An e y e w i t n e d ~ daid t h a t f f o l l oway wab neak l y i n t e a k d . f f o l l oway wab a veky ~ e n b l t i v e and compaddionate man and had he a t tempted t o addkebb them himdel6 t h e k e i b l i t t l e doubt he would have bkoken down." ( 9 )

ACTU Formed:

In 1927 the Australasian Council of Trade unions was formed, the Melbourne THC (with Holloway as Secretary), having formally convened the congress which established the ACTU.

The 1929 Timber Workers Strike.

On January 23, 1929, Judge Lukin of the ~rbitration Court gave a decision involving an increase of hours from 44 to 48 (and a reduction in wages) for 20,000 timber workers, which met with promst resistance of the unions. First in Melbourne and then in Sydney and Adelaide the workers refused to start at the earlier hour necessitated by the new award, and the employers refused to engage them, and proceeded to apply to the Court for a declaration that a strike existed, in order that the Arbitration Amendment Act passed the year before might be invoked against them.

The timber workers thereupon called out the carters and crane drivers, and the Central Strike Committee of the A.C.T.U. summoned a special conference on February 7, at which representatives of over thirty unions agreed -

1. to extend the strike to a general movement in favour of a 44-hour week;

2. to boycott the Federal Industrial Court; and 3. to entrust the conduct of the strike to the

A.C.T.U.

Prime Minister Stanley Melbourne ~ruce threatened to maintain the legislation and insist on its observance.

A further development of the struggle was its effect on the Industrial Peace Conference, which had been set up on the recommendation of the ~ritish 'Economic Mission during its recent visit to Australia. preliminary meetings had been held, and things were going fairly smoothly, until the out- break of the timber strike, followed by the threat to dis- miss over 10,000 N.S.W. miners, brought the protest of' the militant workers to a head. The conference was adjourned, a result which was generally welcomed by rank and file workers.

From this point official coercion increased, and the Arbitrator proceeded to take his revenge on the workers who had flouted his award. On February 25 Judge Lukin ordered a secret ballot of the timber workers in Victoria and New South Wales. On March 1 he imposed the maximum fine of& 1,000 under the Arbitration Amendment Act on the Timber Workers Union, and this was followed up by a fine of A50 against E.J. Holloway, the Secretary of the Melbourne Trades Hall, for encouraging the officials of the T.W.U. to "do something in the nature of a strike!" Holloway records in his booklet : " I refused - t o

. pay and have never paid to this'day." Demonstrations and conflicts with the police became more frequent as time went on. .. The stike came to an end on June 24, after five months. The terms included resumption on the basis of a 48-hour week, pending an independent inquiry into the financial condition of the industry. The employers undertook to employ as many unionists as the state of the industry permits, but "the interests of the volunteers (scabs) are to be safeguarded."

The strike was noteworthy for its defiance of the ~rbitration Amendment Act, which revealed the impotence of the Government to enforce its recently enacted anti- abour legislation. a Following upon the imposition of the 1,000 fine on the Timberworkers Union, 38 strikers were charged with absenting themselves from work, and were ordered to return under penalty of &l00 fine or three months imprisonment, but for five months, in spite of fines, prohibitions and threats, the strikers refused to go back, and the Government was powerless to make them.

The results of the secret ballot ordered by Judge Lukin under the Act also proved a victory for the strikers. The figures in Victoria and New South Wales were 5000 - 700 against accept- ance of the award.

~ u t even t h e s e f i g u r e s a i d n o t f u l l y r e p r e s e n t t h e f e e l i n g o f t h e s t r i k e r s . A t a demonstrat ion on March 25, 25,000 t r a d e u n i o n i s t s ga the red a t t h e Sydney Trades Ha l l t o p r o t e s t a g a i n s t t h e Lukin award and a g a i n s t t h e f i r s t a t t empt t o e n f o r c e a secret b a l l o t . A s t h e 3,000 s t r i k e r s qa the red a t t h e Trades H a l l they threw t h e i r b a i l o t papers i n f o kerosene-soaked sacks , which w e r e p u b l i c l y burned. A p rocess ion was then formed which marched t o Hyde Park and burned an e f f i g y o f Judge Lukin.

Throughout t h e s t r i k e s o l i d a r i t y p r e v a i l e d ; p i c k e t i n g w a s good and s c a b s w e r e few, whi le a s much a s &3,000 a week came t o t h e Disputes Committee from o t h e r unions. The women w e r e e s p e c i a l l y a c t i v e . Weekly meetings o f t h e s t r i k e r s wives w e r e h e l d , and a number w e r e p rosecuted and s e n t t o g a o l f o r . c o l l e c t i n g . . A month a f t e r t h e s t r i k e was a t an end, seven t r a d e union l e a d e r s , i n c l u d i n g t h e S e c r e t a r y o f t h e N.S.W. Labour Counci l , t h e S e c r e t a r y o f t h e Timber Workers Union and t h e Chairman o f t h e Disputes Committee, w e r e charged wi th "unlawful consp i racy by v i o l e n c e and t h r e a t s o f v io l ence" t o prevent t h e t imber workers from con t inu ing work. A ju ry subsequent ly r e l e a s e d t h e union l e a d e r s .

I n t h e same yea r (1929) Holloway s tood a g a i n s t P r i m e M i n i s t e r Bruce i n t h e ' b l u e r ibbon ' seat o f F l i n d e r s and d e f e a t e d him - t h e on ly occas ion t o d a t e t h a t a P r i m e M i n i s t e r has been swept n o t on ly from o f f i c e b u t from Par l iament i t s e l f . ------- I n 1931 t h e S c u l l i n Labor Government was re-elected: Caucus m e t on March 2 and decided f o r a Cabine t " s p i l l " . s c u l l i n and Theodore w e r e r e -e l ec t ed P r i m e M i n i s t e r and Treasurer/Deputy Leader. On t h e t h i r d b a l l o t E . J . Holloway was s u c c e s s f u l and w a s g iven t h e p o r t f o l i o o f A s s i s t a n t M i n i s t e r f o r I n d u s t r y and A s s i s - t a n t t o t h e Treasurer .

P r e m i e r s ' Plan:

By June, 1931, agreement had been reached by a l l Government l e a d e r s on t h e g e n e r a l a p p l i c a t i o n of what became known as t h e P r e m i e r s Plan.

The fo l lowing 5 measures w e r e c e n t r a l t o t h e plan:

1. A g r e a t convers ion l o a n t o s e c u r e r e d u c t i o n .of 2235% tn t h e i n t e r n a l i n t e r e s t burden;

2. Reduction by 20 p e r c e n t ( a g a i n s t 1929-30) o f a l l a d j u s t a b l e government expend i tu re (wages, salaries, materials, s o c i a l s e r v i c e s , pens ions , etc.) ;

3. Add i t iona l revenue t o b e ob ta ined from both Commonwealth and S t a t e Taxat ion;

4 . Reduction of bank interest on both deposits and advances.

5. State Parliaments to give relief in respect of private mortgages.

So much for the hopes of the Commonwealth Labor Ministers who on March 19, 1931, recorded this minute: "Cabinet definitely declared against any cut in old age and invalid pensions and war pensions," and on May 27,for the guidance of Scullin and Theodore, away at the financial conferences then in progress, they reaffirmed that they were "adverse to reductions in pensions and ... the basic wage in the Commonwealth Public Service. "

In June, 1931, the Government legislation to put the Premiers' Plan into effect was introduced. The Lang Labox Group and ten other Labor members of the House of Representatives voted against it, but the measure was passed with the support of the Opposition. Holloway resigned his portfolio because of opposition to the legislation.

A t the end of the year the Government was forced to an election, having been defeated on the floor of the House. Labor was defeated. Holloway, however, won his seat, which was then Melbourne Ports; he held that electorate until 1951.

In the 1941 Curtin Cabinet, only Chifley, Forde, Beasley and Holloway had previous experience as a Cabinet Minister. Curtin and the other 14 members of his team were completely untried as Ministers. In this ministry Holloway held the portfolio of Minister for Health and Social Services (1941-1943). ~ddie Ward held the portfolio of Labour and National Service ( a new Department created in 1940). However, in 1943, after Ward was suspended from Cabinet (the background to such action being too lengthy for my contribution today) - Holloway was temporarily appointed to the Labour & National Service port - folio, as well as retaining the Health and Social Services cabinet position. . He retained the Labour & National Service portfolio until 1949 when the Chifley Government was swept from office. Information provided to me indicates that Holloway was acting Prime Minister in April-May,'l949; my reading to date, limited because of other commitments, has not been able to confirm this.

As a further insight into Holloway; I now turn briefly to a period under Chifley.

The Bretton Woods International Agreement provided for the establishment of two international monetary institutions: an International Manetary Fund and an International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to assist devastated-:or under- developed member nations requiring longer-term loan capital.

W *

The Agreement touched a particularly sensitive area of Labor convictions and emotions. To many Labor stalwarts it smelt of international financiers , Wall Street, "The 'Money Powertt - the ultimate forces of capitalistic evil which Labor had felt itself to be fighting right down the years. '+

In the minds of its overseas sponsors the Agreement was plainly hailed with further schemes being evolved in the field of international commercial policies and these were seen by most Labour people as a threat to their Party's traditional protectionism and, potentially, to Australia's employment levels and living standards. Holloway was one of these people.

Chifley was Prime Minister then and in ~ovember/~ecember, 1946 the Labor Caucus was de6ating the Agreement again. As L.F. Crisp records in his book "Ben Chifley": "Chifley had to contend not only with the Wardites but also with a more formidable and decisive - because of middle of the road - group headed by such widely respected men as his cabinet colleague Holloway, who was one of Chifley's most respected colleagues. On the final day of the debate Holloway made a fervant appeal for rejection and when the vote was taken Chifley had suffered a reverse by 3 votes." The question was referred to the A.L.P. Federal Conference. Subsequently the Party supported the Agreement. Holloway accepted the Party's decision and voted accordingly.

That sums up my reading of the life and times of E.J. Holloway, a loyal, active and devoted member of the labour movement. However to complete the picture it is recorded that Edward John Holloway died on December 3, 1967, which was the 113th anniversary of the Eureka uprising. His funeral service was conducted by the Unitarian Church.

Concludins comment: .

The perioii during which Holloway lived,and was active in the Political and Industrial Movement, provided many lessons for the labour movement of today.

One can draw parallels between the actions of Bruce and the actions of Fraser. Incidentally, in February 1929, Bruce asserted:

"3

"Conditions have greatly improved and there are encouraging indications that the coming year will witness a return to normal prosperity."

F i f t y yea r s l a t e r , i n February, 1979, F rase r a s s e r t ed :

"1 be l i eve t h a t 1979 is t h e year i n which t h e f r u i t s of our p o l i c i e s w i l l become c l e a r l y apparent , a year i n which t he economy w i l l t ake a f u r t h e r s t e p on t h e road of recovery." !!!!

Perhaps t h e Trade Union Movement can l e a rn from t h e demands of t h e p ioneers who sought a reduct ion i n t h e working week a s an immediate goal no t some apparent ly i l l u s o r y s h o r t e r working l i f e - then again , with a uni ted movement, perhaps both a r e a t t a i n a b l e ?

These l e s sons of t h e p a s t a r e worth remembering on t h i s Labor Day. It is by l ea rn ing from t h e t h e p a s t t h a t w e w i l l make p rogress i n t h e fu tu r e .

Thank you ,

- 18 -

"The Australian Victory over Conscription. In 1916 - 1917 " P5. E.J.,Holloway (1966)

Ibid, P6.

Ibid. P7.

Ibid. P10/11

Ibid. P12.

Ibid. P16/17

Ibid. P17/18

Ibid. P19.

"Solidarity Forever!" - Bertha Walker.