Hamilton Knight (original) (raw)

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Australian politician

The HonourableHamilton Knight
Minister for Labour and Industry and Social Welfare
In office16 May 1941 – 29 October 1947
Preceded by	George Gollan
Succeeded by	Jack Baddeley
Personal details
Born	(1888-12-09)9 December 1888Sofala, New South Wales
Died	14 January 1964(1964-01-14) (aged 75)Marrickville, New South Wales
Political party	Labor Party Australian Labor Party (NSW) Australian Labor Party (Non-Communist)

Hamilton Knight (9 December 1888 – 14 January 1964) was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1927 until 1947 . During his parliamentary career he was, at various times, a member of the Labor Party (ALP), the Australian Labor Party (NSW) and the Australian Labor Party (Non-Communist). He was the Minister for Labour and Industry and Social Welfare for 6 years during the premiership of William McKell.

Early and personal life

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Knight was born in Sofala, New South Wales where his father had been a gold prospector. He was educated to elementary level at state schools near Sofala. At age 19 he traveled to New Zealand, where he worked as a coal miner, became a union activist and worked with his uncle, Bob Semple the Minister for Works in the first New Zealand Labour government. Knight returned to the western coal-fields of New South Wales in 1914 and worked as a miner until he was black-listed by the colliery owners because of his labour agitation in 1917. Attempts at working under an assumed name were unsuccessful but, in 1924, he was eventually employed in a state owned colliery in Lithgow, New South Wales. He was an official of the Miners Federation holding the positions of president of the Western New South Wales division and vice-president of the national federation. Knight was elected as an alderman of Lithgow Municipal Council between 1921 and 1928.[1]

Knight won pre-selection as an ALP candidate for the multi-member seat of Bathurst at the 1925 state election but was placed in the unwinnable third position behind James Dooley and Gus Kelly.[2] When New South Wales reverted to single member electorates at the 1927 election, Knight gained Labor endorsement for the re-created seat of Hartley. He was successful at the general election and held the seat until he resigned in 1947 after being appointed as a Commissioner of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. He was a supporter of Jack Lang and was a member of his breakaway parties; the Australian Labor Party (NSW) in 1932-1936 and the Australian Labor Party (Non-Communist) in 1940. At the 1935 election he easily defeated a challenge from the former Premier James Dooley, who stood as an Anti-Lang Labor candidate.[3]

With the election of William McKell's Labor government at the 1941 election, Knight was appointed as the Minister for Labour and Industry and Social Welfare . He held this position until his resignation from parliament.[1]

1. ^ a b "Mr Hamilton Knight (1988-1964)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
2. ^ Green, Antony. "1925 Bathurst". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
3. ^ Green, Antony. "Elections for Hartley". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 July 2020.