James McGowen
Encyclopedia
James Sinclair Taylor McGowen (16 August 1855 – 7 April 1922) was an Australia
n politician and the first Labor Premier of New South Wales from 21 October 1910 to 30 June 1913.
and was born at sea, on the "Western Bride", on the way to Melbourne
. His father worked building in bridges, initially in Victoria
, and later in New South Wales
. After limited schooling he was apprenticed as a boiler maker in 1870. He became a member of the United Society of Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders of New South Wales on its establishment in 1873,
he became secretary in 1874. He entered the railways department and in 1888 was elected president of the executive of Trades Hall committee. He worked hard and successfully to raise funds to build the Trades Hall at Sydney
.
established the Labor Electoral League, which developed into Australian Labor Party
, and McGowen stood for election to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
seat of Redfern
and was one of 35 Labor candidates to win and the most experienced unionist. He held the seat continuously to 1917.
While the Australian Labor Party eventually became the most disciplined in the world, the first Labor parliamentarians were almost as independent as their fellow parliamentarians. McGowen was one of three to sign the "pledge" to abide by party discipline. As a result of his increasingly skillfulness as a parliamentarian and his relative seniority he became Labor's parliamentary leader in 1894. After the 1898 election George Reid's
Protectionist
Government was dependent on Labor to push through New South Wales' adoption of Federation
. McGowen's support for Federation was critical to Labor maintaining its support for the adoption of measures to implement Federation, even though it remained opposed to the Constitution adopted, which it saw as biased in favour of business interests. McGowen stood for the Federal seat of South Sydney
in 1901, but was narrowly defeated.
. As well as Premier, he was also Colonial Treasurer during most of 1911 and Colonial Secretary from December 1911, both important portfolios. In 1913, while Holman was in England, he attempted to settle a gas workers' strike by threatening to replace them with non-union labour. This alienated the party and Holman deposed him as leader on his return in June 1913. McGowen became Minister for Labour and Industry until January 1914.
In regards to social reform, the new state Labor government carried out an active policy of subsidising hospitals and dispensaries in order to bring about the realisation of universal health care system. However, opposition by doctors to state control forced the government to concentrate on financing new and existing institutions, such as nursing services for remote bush districts, while Friendly Societies were subsidised and membership encouraged. As a result of the state Labour government’s efforts, improved low-cost medical services were made widely available throughout New South Wales.
Three of his sons served in World War I
, including one killed at Gallipoli
in 1915 and he was a strong supporter of Australia's involvement in the war. The 1916 Labor conference decided to oppose conscription
. McGowen disagreed and was expelled along with most of the parliamentary party.
At the 1917 election he was defeated by the official Labor candidate William McKell
, but, now Nationalist
, Premier Holman appointed him to the then unelected Legislative Council
in July 1917.
He died of heart disease in Petersham
and was survived by his wife, five of their seven sons, and two daughters.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician and the first Labor Premier of New South Wales from 21 October 1910 to 30 June 1913.
Early life and family
McGowen was the son of James McGowen, a boilermaker, and his wife Eliza Ditchfield, immigrants from LancashireLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and was born at sea, on the "Western Bride", on the way to 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...
. His father worked building in bridges, initially in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, and later in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. After limited schooling he was apprenticed as a boiler maker in 1870. He became a member of the United Society of Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders of New South Wales on its establishment in 1873,
he became secretary in 1874. He entered the railways department and in 1888 was elected president of the executive of Trades Hall committee. He worked hard and successfully to raise funds to build the Trades Hall at Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
Political career
In 1891, the New South Wales Trades and Labour CouncilLabor Council of New South Wales
The Labor Council of New South Wales is a representative body of Trade union organisations in the State of New South Wales, Australia. As of 2005 there are 67 unions and 8 Rural and Regional Trades & Labor Councils affiliated to the Labor Council, representing 800,000 workers in NSW...
established the Labor Electoral League, which developed into Australian Labor Party
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...
, and McGowen stood for election to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
seat of Redfern
Electoral district of Redfern
Redfern was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1880, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Redfern...
and was one of 35 Labor candidates to win and the most experienced unionist. He held the seat continuously to 1917.
While the Australian Labor Party eventually became the most disciplined in the world, the first Labor parliamentarians were almost as independent as their fellow parliamentarians. McGowen was one of three to sign the "pledge" to abide by party discipline. As a result of his increasingly skillfulness as a parliamentarian and his relative seniority he became Labor's parliamentary leader in 1894. After the 1898 election George Reid's
George Reid (Australian politician)
Sir George Houstoun Reid, GCB, GCMG, KC was an Australian politician, Premier of New South Wales and the fourth Prime Minister of Australia....
Protectionist
Protectionist Party
The Protectionist Party was an Australian political party, formally organised from 1889 until 1909, with policies centred on protectionism. It argued that Australia needed protective tariffs to allow Australian industry to grow and provide employment. It had its greatest strength in Victoria and in...
Government was dependent on Labor to push through New South Wales' adoption of Federation
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...
. McGowen's support for Federation was critical to Labor maintaining its support for the adoption of measures to implement Federation, even though it remained opposed to the Constitution adopted, which it saw as biased in favour of business interests. McGowen stood for the Federal seat of South Sydney
Division of South Sydney
The Division of South Sydney was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It was located in the south of the city of Sydney....
in 1901, but was narrowly defeated.
Premier
McGowen's honesty and judiciousness were reassuring the public and were a major factor in Labor's 1910 election win. While he was Premier from to 1913, he was not an effective director of the parliamentary party, which he left to his deputy, William HolmanWilliam Holman
William Arthur Holman was an Australian Labor Party Premier of New South Wales, Australia, who split with the party on the conscription issue in 1916 during World War I, and immediately became Premier of a conservative Nationalist Party Government.-Early life:Holman was born in St Pancras, London,...
. As well as Premier, he was also Colonial Treasurer during most of 1911 and Colonial Secretary from December 1911, both important portfolios. In 1913, while Holman was in England, he attempted to settle a gas workers' strike by threatening to replace them with non-union labour. This alienated the party and Holman deposed him as leader on his return in June 1913. McGowen became Minister for Labour and Industry until January 1914.
In regards to social reform, the new state Labor government carried out an active policy of subsidising hospitals and dispensaries in order to bring about the realisation of universal health care system. However, opposition by doctors to state control forced the government to concentrate on financing new and existing institutions, such as nursing services for remote bush districts, while Friendly Societies were subsidised and membership encouraged. As a result of the state Labour government’s efforts, improved low-cost medical services were made widely available throughout New South Wales.
Three of his sons served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, including one killed at Gallipoli
Battle of Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli, took place at the peninsula of Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during the First World War...
in 1915 and he was a strong supporter of Australia's involvement in the war. The 1916 Labor conference decided to oppose conscription
Conscription in Australia
Conscription in Australia, or mandatory military service also known as National Service, has a controversial history dating back to the first years of nationhood...
. McGowen disagreed and was expelled along with most of the parliamentary party.
At the 1917 election he was defeated by the official Labor candidate William McKell
William McKell
Sir William John McKell GCMG , Australian politician, was Premier of New South Wales from 1941 to 1947, and was the 12th Governor-General of Australia. He was also the oldest Governor General of Australia, at 93 when he died....
, but, now Nationalist
Nationalist Party of Australia
The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the name given to the pro-conscription defectors from the Australian Labor Party led by Prime...
, Premier Holman appointed him to the then unelected Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
in July 1917.
He died of heart disease in Petersham
Petersham, New South Wales
Petersham is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Petersham is located 6 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Marrickville Council...
and was survived by his wife, five of their seven sons, and two daughters.