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|term_start = 16 May 1922
|term_start = 16 May 1922
|term_end = 29 March 1928
|term_end = 29 March 1928
|primeminister = [[Billy Hughes]]<br>[[Stanley Bruce]]
|primeminister = [[Billy Hughes]]<br/>[[Stanley Bruce]]
|deputy = [[Albert Gardiner]]<br>[[James Scullin]]
|deputy = [[Albert Gardiner]]<br/>[[James Scullin]]
|predecessor = [[Frank Tudor]]
|predecessor = [[Frank Tudor]]
|successor = [[James Scullin]]
|successor = [[James Scullin]]
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|term_start2 = 16 May 1922
|term_start2 = 16 May 1922
|term_end2 = 29 March 1928
|term_end2 = 29 March 1928
|deputy2 = [[Albert Gardiner]]<br>[[James Scullin]]
|deputy2 = [[Albert Gardiner]]<br/>[[James Scullin]]
|predecessor2 = [[Frank Tudor]]
|predecessor2 = [[Frank Tudor]]
|successor2 = [[James Scullin]]
|successor2 = [[James Scullin]]
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|profession = Trade unionist, politician
|profession = Trade unionist, politician
}}
}}
'''Matthew Charlton''' (15 March 1866 – 8 December 1948) was an Australian politician who served as leader of the [[Australian Labor Party|Labor Party]] from 1922 to 1928. He led the party to defeat at the [[Australian federal election, 1922|1922]] and [[Australian federal election, 1925|1925 federal elections]].
'''Matthew Charlton''' (15 March 1866 – 8 December 1948<ref name="adb"/>) was an Australian politician who served as leader of the [[Australian Labor Party|Labor Party]] from 1922 to 1928. He led the party to defeat at the [[Australian federal election, 1922|1922]] and [[Australian federal election, 1925|1925 federal elections]].


Charlton was born in [[Linton, Victoria]], but as a child moved to [[Lambton, New South Wales]]. He left school at a young age to work in the coal mines, initially as a [[Hurrying|hurrier]]. Charlton became prominent in the trade union movement, and in 1903 was elected to the [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly]] for the Labor Party. He switched to federal parliament [[Australian federal election, 1910|in 1910]]. Charlton was an [[Conscription in Australia|anti-conscriptionist]], and remained with Labor after the [[Australian Labor Party split of 1916|party split of 1916]]. He was elected party leader in early 1922, following the death of [[Frank Tudor]]. As [[Leader of the Opposition (Australia)|Leader of the Opposition]], Charlton increased Labor's vote in 1922 but suffered a backwards slide in 1925. He resigned as leader in early 1928, succeeded by [[James Scullin]], and left politics later that year.
Charlton was born in [[Linton, Victoria]], but as a child moved to [[Lambton, New South Wales]]. He left school at a young age to work in the coal mines, initially as a [[Hurrying|hurrier]]. Charlton became prominent in the trade union movement, and in 1903 was elected to the [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly]] for the Labor Party. He switched to federal parliament [[Australian federal election, 1910|in 1910]]. Charlton was an [[Conscription in Australia|anti-conscriptionist]], and remained with Labor after the [[Australian Labor Party split of 1916|party split of 1916]]. He was elected party leader in early 1922, following the death of [[Frank Tudor]]. As [[Leader of the Opposition (Australia)|Leader of the Opposition]], Charlton increased Labor's vote in 1922 but suffered a backwards slide in 1925. He resigned as leader in early 1928, succeeded by [[James Scullin]], and left politics later that year.

Revision as of 18:11, 13 March 2018

Matthew Charlton
Leader of the Opposition
Elections: 1922, 1925
In office
16 May 1922 – 29 March 1928
Prime MinisterBilly Hughes
Stanley Bruce
DeputyAlbert Gardiner
James Scullin
Preceded byFrank Tudor
Succeeded byJames Scullin
Leader of the Labor Party
In office
16 May 1922 – 29 March 1928
DeputyAlbert Gardiner
James Scullin
Preceded byFrank Tudor
Succeeded byJames Scullin
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
13 April 1910 – 17 November 1928
Preceded byFrank Liddell
Succeeded byRowland James
ConstituencyHunter
Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly
In office
6 August 1904 – 28 February 1910
Preceded byJohn Norton
Succeeded byWilliam Kearsley
ConstituencyNorthumberland
In office
5 December 1903 – 6 August 1904
Preceded byArthur Hill Griffith
Succeeded byJohn Estell
ConstituencyWaratah
Personal details
Born
Matthew Charlton

(1866-03-15)15 March 1866
Linton, Victoria, Australia
Died8 December 1948(1948-12-08) (aged 82)
Lambton, New South Wales, Australia
Resting placeSandgate Cemetery
Political partyLabor
Spouse
Martha Rollings
​
(m. 1889)​
EducationLambton Public School
ProfessionTrade unionist, politician

Matthew Charlton (15 March 1866 – 8 December 1948[1]) was an Australian politician who served as leader of the Labor Party from 1922 to 1928. He led the party to defeat at the 1922 and 1925 federal elections.

Charlton was born in Linton, Victoria, but as a child moved to Lambton, New South Wales. He left school at a young age to work in the coal mines, initially as a hurrier. Charlton became prominent in the trade union movement, and in 1903 was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for the Labor Party. He switched to federal parliament in 1910. Charlton was an anti-conscriptionist, and remained with Labor after the party split of 1916. He was elected party leader in early 1922, following the death of Frank Tudor. As Leader of the Opposition, Charlton increased Labor's vote in 1922 but suffered a backwards slide in 1925. He resigned as leader in early 1928, succeeded by James Scullin, and left politics later that year.

Early life

Little is recorded about Charlton's early life, as he grew up in a relatively unknown mining district. It is known, however, that Charlton was born on 15 March 1866 in Linton, Victoria, a small town near Ballarat that today has less than 500 residents.[2] He was born to Matthew Charlton, an English miner from Durham, and Mabel (née Foard). In 1871, the five-year-old Charlton's father moved with his family to Lambton, a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales. After primary education at Lambton Public School, Charlton began work at Lambton Colliery as a coal trapper; a children's-only job opening trapdoors for coal carts.[3] When too old for the job, Charlton was given a job at the coal-face. At 23 he married Martha Rollings at nearby New Lambton.[4][1]

Emerging interest in politics

In 1896 plans to reduce coal workers' wages led to strike action. Charlton supported the struggle against wage reductions, but the effort failed and, along with many other miners, he moved to the goldfields near Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. After two years there, Charlton returned to Lambton and became an official in the Colliery Employees' Federation,[5] becoming treasurer in 1901. While occupying that position, Charlton also prepared arbitration cases. Battling for an improvement in mine workers' conditions, he attended a trade union congress in November 1902, at which he moved for nationalisation of the coal mining industry, believing it would "eliminate cut-throat competition between owners that depressed miners' wages and conditions".[1] That idea was opposed as being too radical but a compromise was drawn up urging state governments to open and run their own coal mines, while affirming the ultimate desirability of full nationalisation.[1]

State political career

Colleagues urged Charlton to stand for the state electoral district of Waratah, and on 5 December 1903 Charlton became the second member for the district in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. His representation of that district was short-lived, as the next year he transferred to Northumberland, replacing John Norton. Charlton became the unofficial spokesperson for the miners, speaking principally about mining matters in parliament. In 1909 a coal miners' strike struck New South Wales and Charlton was called upon by the Colliery Employees' Federation to represent it in front of a wage board. Charlton was unsuccessful in gaining better conditions for the miners but he did settle the dispute, talking to miners around the state and convincing them to return to work. He resigned from state politics and in 1910 Charlton wrested the federal Division of Hunter from the sitting Frank Liddell. Hunter has remained a safe Labor seat ever since.[1][6]

Early federal career

Charlton shortly after his election to federal parliament

Charlton was an immediate success with Andrew Fisher and was promoted to the temporary chairmanship of committees in the House in 1913, however Charlton threatened to resign in 1915 over a dispute in government delays in granting the committee increased powers. Fisher mollified him and in 1916 Charlton proved his loyalty to the new Labor leader Billy Hughes by voting for Hughes' conscription referendum bill, even though he was vehemently opposed to conscription and fought hard against it.[7] However, Charlton seemed to accept the affirmative result of the referendum and again proved his loyalty to Hughes by defending him when he became the target of caucus criticism. Charlton attempted to deflect attacks made on Hughes to a party conference, but Hughes left the party before a decision could be made.[1][7]

The new Labor leader Frank Tudor was a weak leader in health and political prowess. A successor-designate was chosen by the caucus but it was not Charlton. T. J. Ryan was chosen over him,[8] but he died in 1921 and Charlton filled the deputy leadership position. During election year, 1922, Tudor died also, and Charlton became Leader of the Opposition going into the 1922 election. Charlton defeated Albert Gardiner for the leadership by 22 votes to 2.[9]

Leader of the Opposition

Charlton offered alternative policies and looked to be favourite until he was hospitalised with illness halfway through the campaign. Labor still won the most seats as a single party, but Charlton was unable to defeat a strong government coalition. Labor remained in opposition.[1]

Because of great losses during World War I, Charlton opposed military training and commitments of Australian forces. In 1924 Charlton was invited to a League of Nations (now United Nations) conference in Geneva, Switzerland. At the conference Charlton strongly opposed war, and the Geneva Protocol took form. Upon his return to Australia, Charlton advocated adoption of the protocol, but the government sided with the British and refused to observe it.[1][10]

Charlton lost the 1925 election, largely due to his stance on industrial relations and continual militant union action which plagued his campaign. Charlton always aided in maintaining amicable relations in the party and many times lent his expertise to conflicts within the NSW branch of the Labor Party. He resigned from his positions on 29 March 1928. His successor James Scullin went on to become the Prime Minister of Australia, something Charlton never managed to do.[1]

Final years

Charlton in 1928

Following retirement from federal politics, Charlton took an interest in local government and became an alderman on the Lambton Council from 1934 to 1938 (before its merger with the City of Newcastle). He died at Lambton, New South Wales, on 8 December 1948, the place where he had grown up and lived most of his life. Charlton was buried in the general section of Sandgate Cemetery. Martha Charlton died on 8 June 1955 and is interred with him. Their sons Matthew and Percy predeceased both of them. [1][11]

The Division of Charlton in the Hunter Region was named in his honour, and was a safe Labor seat from its creation in 1984 until its abolition in 2016.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Perks, Murray (1979). "Charlton, Matthew (1866–1948)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
  2. ^ "Linton, Victoria". Postcodes Australia. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
  3. ^ "Early Coal Mining History". Bill Riley's Pitwork.net. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Search Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 2008-03-10)
  5. ^ "Colliery Employees Federation of the Northern District..." New South Wales electronic regional archives. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
  6. ^ Adam Carr. "Index of Members 1901–2002". Psephos. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
  7. ^ a b Fitzhardinge, L. F. (1979). "Hughes, William Morris (Billy) (1862–1952)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
  8. ^ Johnston, W. Ross (1988). "Ryan, Thomas Joseph (1876–1921)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 12 December 2007. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Rhodes, Campbell (15 September 2015). "Leadership spills: nothing new to history". Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Old Parliament House. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  10. ^ "High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Protocol". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
  11. ^ NSW Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine – Death Record Search (accessed 2008-03-10)
  12. ^ "Charlton – Electoral Profile (AEC)". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member for Hunter
1910–1928 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Leader of the Australian Labor Party
1922–1928 		Succeeded by
Leader of the Opposition
1922–1928

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