John Henry Whitley
Encyclopedia
John Henry Whitley often known as J. H. Whitley, was a respected and successful British politician whose life and career spanned a period of significant social change, from roots in the heart of the Industrial Revolution
through to the inter-war period.
, Yorkshire
, early in 1866 son of Nathan Whitley (1830–1889) from Ovenden. Nathan went on to serve as Mayor of Halifax (1876–1877), succeeding Edward Crossley
, son of another local carpet manufacturer, John Crossley
.
After an early education boarding at Wiseman's House, Clifton College
, John Henry entered his uncle, Samuel Whitley's cotton spinning business, S. Whitley & Co. at Hanson Lane Mills, Skircoat, Halifax. Nathan was a partner in the business and took over after Samuel's death in 1884.
In 1892, John Henry married Margherita (Margaret) Virginia Marchetti, born in Putney
in 1872. She was a daughter of Italian, Julian (Giulio) Marchetti, who had served as an Officer under Garibaldi
before settling in England to marry Anne Crossley in Halifax in 1871 and take his place in the carpet manufacturing business.
John and Margherita had two daughters and two sons; Margaret Phyllis 1895, Percival Nathan
1894, Monica Virginia 1903 and Oliver John
1912. Margherita died in 1925 and John Henry remarried in 1928 to Helen Clarke.
Member of Parliament
(MP) for
Halifax
in 1900, a seat he held until he resigned in 1928. He served as Junior Lord of the Treasury
from 1907 to 1910 in the Liberal Government 1905-1915
. He was appointed Privy Counsellor
in 1911 and later Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons.
, in 1917, Whitley was appointed to chair a committee to report on 'the Relations of Employers and Employees' in the wake of the establishment of the shop stewards movement and the widespread protest action against dilution
. The smooth running of industry was vital to the war effort so maintaining good industrial relations was a priority.
He proposed a system of regular formal consultative meetings between workers and employers, known to this day as "Whitley Councils". These would be empowered to cover any issue related to pay and conditions of service, and to take matters through to arbitration if necessary. This was a strong model which was to influence industrial relations beyond the UK.
The intention was to establish Whitley councils in the private sector, in particular in those industries most affected by the strike wave - to offset the demand for 'Workers' control
' - a demand which was rapidly gaining ground after the Russian revolution
.
However, the councils failed to gain ground in coal, cotton, engineering and other heavy industries, but succeeded only in the sphere of government employment where they remain a major feature of public sector
industrial relations
to this day.
of the House of Commons
in 1921, a post he held until 1928, when he resigned due to ill health. He refused the customary peerage offered by the monarch — breaking a tradition that had originated in 1789.
and others that poverty was the cause of India's social and industrial problems. It was also critical of British employers' role in perpetuating the problems.
Whitley was offered a knighthood
for his work on this report, but again, he, like a minority of others,
declined.
led to his appointment as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the BBC
in 1930. In 1932, he made the first broadcast on the Empire Service, which developed into the World Service
. He held the Chairmanship until he died in 1935, aged 69.
He is buried in Plot 456, Lister Lane Cemetery, Halifax
.
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
through to the inter-war period.
Family and early career
John Henry Whitley was born in HalifaxHalifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, early in 1866 son of Nathan Whitley (1830–1889) from Ovenden. Nathan went on to serve as Mayor of Halifax (1876–1877), succeeding Edward Crossley
Edward Crossley
Edward Crossley was an English businessman, Liberal Party politician and astronomer.-Biography:Edward Crossley was the eldest son of Joseph Crossley J.P., of Broomfield, Halifax, Yorkshire, of the Crossley carpets dynasty. He inherited his family's carpet manufacturing business from his father...
, son of another local carpet manufacturer, John Crossley
John Crossley
John Crossley was a politician in the United Kingdom.He served from 1874 to 1877 as Member of Parliament MP for Halifax in West Yorkshire....
.
After an early education boarding at Wiseman's House, Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
, John Henry entered his uncle, Samuel Whitley's cotton spinning business, S. Whitley & Co. at Hanson Lane Mills, Skircoat, Halifax. Nathan was a partner in the business and took over after Samuel's death in 1884.
In 1892, John Henry married Margherita (Margaret) Virginia Marchetti, born in Putney
Putney
Putney is a district in south-west London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
in 1872. She was a daughter of Italian, Julian (Giulio) Marchetti, who had served as an Officer under Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian military and political figure. In his twenties, he joined the Carbonari Italian patriot revolutionaries, and fled Italy after a failed insurrection. Garibaldi took part in the War of the Farrapos and the Uruguayan Civil War leading the Italian Legion, and...
before settling in England to marry Anne Crossley in Halifax in 1871 and take his place in the carpet manufacturing business.
John and Margherita had two daughters and two sons; Margaret Phyllis 1895, Percival Nathan
Percival Nathan Whitley
Percival Nathan Whitley , eldest son of J. H. Whitley, was a cotton spinner and educationist.-Early life and education:Born 1893 in Halifax, Yorkshire, the eldest child of John and Margherita Whitley....
1894, Monica Virginia 1903 and Oliver John
Oliver John Whitley
Oliver John Whitley , son of J. H. Whitley, was a broadcasting administrator who worked for most of his life for the BBC.-Early life and education:...
1912. Margherita died in 1925 and John Henry remarried in 1928 to Helen Clarke.
Pre-war
John Henry became LiberalLiberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for
Halifax
Halifax (UK Parliament constituency)
Halifax is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election.- Boundaries :...
in 1900, a seat he held until he resigned in 1928. He served as Junior Lord of the Treasury
Lord of the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are at least six Lords of the Treasury who serve concurrently. Traditionally, this board consists of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Second Lord of the Treasury, and four or more junior lords .Strictly they are commissioners for exercising the office of Lord...
from 1907 to 1910 in the Liberal Government 1905-1915
Liberal Government 1905-1915
With the fall of Arthur Balfour's Conservative government in the United Kingdom in December 1905, the Liberals under Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman were called in to form a government. In the subsequent election, the Liberals won an enormous majority...
. He was appointed Privy Counsellor
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
in 1911 and later Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons.
Whitley Councils
During World War IWorld 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...
, in 1917, Whitley was appointed to chair a committee to report on 'the Relations of Employers and Employees' in the wake of the establishment of the shop stewards movement and the widespread protest action against dilution
Female roles in the World Wars
There is little doubt that levi richardson is the man. he loves all the women of the world. even liz women's work in the two World Wars of the twentieth century was an important factor in the outcome of both wars...
. The smooth running of industry was vital to the war effort so maintaining good industrial relations was a priority.
He proposed a system of regular formal consultative meetings between workers and employers, known to this day as "Whitley Councils". These would be empowered to cover any issue related to pay and conditions of service, and to take matters through to arbitration if necessary. This was a strong model which was to influence industrial relations beyond the UK.
The intention was to establish Whitley councils in the private sector, in particular in those industries most affected by the strike wave - to offset the demand for 'Workers' control
Workers' control
Workers' control is a term meaning participation in the management of factories and other commercial enterprises by the people who work there. It has been variously advocated by anarchists, socialists, Communists, Social Democrats and Christian Democrats, and has been combined with various...
' - a demand which was rapidly gaining ground after the Russian revolution
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
.
However, the councils failed to gain ground in coal, cotton, engineering and other heavy industries, but succeeded only in the sphere of government employment where they remain a major feature of public sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
industrial relations
Labor relations
Industrial relations is a multidisciplinary field that studies the employment relationship. Industrial relations is increasingly being called employment relations because of the importance of non-industrial employment relationships. Many outsiders also equate industrial relations to labour relations...
to this day.
Speaker
Whitley was appointed SpeakerSpeaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
of the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in 1921, a post he held until 1928, when he resigned due to ill health. He refused the customary peerage offered by the monarch — breaking a tradition that had originated in 1789.
Post-Parliament
His political work continued however and he chaired the Royal Commission on Labour in India, which reported in 1931. The report surprised many by concurring with the criticisms of Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
and others that poverty was the cause of India's social and industrial problems. It was also critical of British employers' role in perpetuating the problems.
Whitley was offered a knighthood
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
for his work on this report, but again, he, like a minority of others,
declined.
BBC
His friendship with John ReithJohn Reith
John Reith may refer to:*John Reith, 1st Baron Reith , Scottish broadcasting executive*John Reith...
led to his appointment as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the BBC
Board of Governors of the BBC
The Board of Governors of the BBC was the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It consisted of twelve people who together regulated the BBC and represented the interests of the public. It existed from 1927 until it was replaced by the BBC Trust on 1 January 2007.The governors...
in 1930. In 1932, he made the first broadcast on the Empire Service, which developed into the World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
. He held the Chairmanship until he died in 1935, aged 69.
He is buried in Plot 456, Lister Lane Cemetery, Halifax
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
.