James Hutchison (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
James Hutchison was a Labor
representative in the South Australian House of Assembly
and the Australian House of Representatives
.
Hutchison was born in Aberdeen
, Scotland
, received a primary educated and was eventually apprenticed as a compositor on the Daily Free Press and attended the mechanics' institute. He migrated to South Australia in 1884 with fellow worker, John McPherson
and they found work on the South Australian Register. In 1886 he married Mary Jane Trebilcock. In 1888, Hutchison and McPherson were sacked for taking part in a strike over their paper's opposition to union labor. In 1889 Hutchison established a press, Hutchison, Craker & Smith with two other sacked compositors and in 1890 began publishing a satirical paper, Quiz.
member for the seat of East Adelaide in the House of Assembly died and Hutchison won the subsequent by-election. In the House he supported the federation of Australia
and White Australia
. In his opposition to a bill authorising the take-over and electrification of some of Adelaide's horse tram
lines, he made remarks about Charles Tucker, a supporter of the bill, which led Tucker to sue for libel, backrupting Hutchison in April 1902. He lost his seat at the May 1903 election.
At the 1903 election, he won the House of Representatives seat of Hindmarsh
. From November 1908 until June 1909 Hutchison was an honorary minister in the first Fisher ministry
representing the Minister for Defence
in the House of Representatives. He died suddenly in Melbourne
from "inflammation of the kidneys and gall bladder", survived by his wife and six children.
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
representative in the South Australian House of Assembly
South Australian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. The other is the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.- Overview :...
and the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
.
Hutchison was born in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, received a primary educated and was eventually apprenticed as a compositor on the Daily Free Press and attended the mechanics' institute. He migrated to South Australia in 1884 with fellow worker, John McPherson
John McPherson
John McPherson was a Scottish footballer who played for Kilmarnock and Rangers.-Early career:Born in Kilmarnock, McPherson started his career with his local side Kilmarnock F.C., moved to Cowlairs in 1888, then joined Rangers in 1890...
and they found work on the South Australian Register. In 1886 he married Mary Jane Trebilcock. In 1888, Hutchison and McPherson were sacked for taking part in a strike over their paper's opposition to union labor. In 1889 Hutchison established a press, Hutchison, Craker & Smith with two other sacked compositors and in 1890 began publishing a satirical paper, Quiz.
Politicical career
In 1898, McPherson who had been elected as the United Labor PartyAustralian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
member for the seat of East Adelaide in the House of Assembly died and Hutchison won the subsequent by-election. In the House he supported the federation of Australia
Federation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
and White Australia
White Australia policy
The White Australia policy comprises various historical policies that intentionally restricted "non-white" immigration to Australia. From origins at Federation in 1901, the polices were progressively dismantled between 1949-1973....
. In his opposition to a bill authorising the take-over and electrification of some of Adelaide's horse tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
lines, he made remarks about Charles Tucker, a supporter of the bill, which led Tucker to sue for libel, backrupting Hutchison in April 1902. He lost his seat at the May 1903 election.
At the 1903 election, he won the House of Representatives seat of Hindmarsh
Division of Hindmarsh
The Division of Hindmarsh is an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia covering the western gulfside suburbs of Adelaide.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir John Hindmarsh, who was Governor of South Australia 1836-38. For many years it was one of the safest Labor seats...
. From November 1908 until June 1909 Hutchison was an honorary minister in the first Fisher ministry
First Fisher Ministry
The First Fisher Ministry was the seventh Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 13 November 1908 to 2 June 1909.Australian Labor Party...
representing the Minister for Defence
Minister for Defence (Australia)
The Minister for Defence of Australia administers his portfolio through the Australian Defence Organisation, which comprises the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force. Stephen Smith is the current Minister.-Ministers for Defence:...
in the House of Representatives. He died suddenly in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
from "inflammation of the kidneys and gall bladder", survived by his wife and six children.