People Australia

John Carr

Chronicle (Adelaide), 13 June 1929, p 50

John Carr (1870-1929) waterside worker, trade unionist and politician 

Birth: 15 July 1870 at Port Adelaide, South Australia, son of Thomas Carr, mariner, and Maria, née Hunt. Marriage: 7 September 1893 at Port Adelaide to Margaret Thomas (1873-1929). They had three sons and one daughter. Death: 6 June 1929 at Port Adelaide. Religion: Methodist. 

• Educated at Port Adelaide Public School. Became secretary of the Port Adelaide Storemen’s Union, local secretary of the Federated Marine Cook’s Association and of secretary of the Port Adelaide Co-operative Accident Relief Society. Active in Port Adelaide branch of Waterside Workers’ Federation.
• His father had been one of the founders of the Port Adelaide Working Men’s Association, and John was its corresponding secretary from 1903 to 1915, and thrice president. The association later became a branch of the Waterside Workers’ Association.
• Joined the United Labour Party at Port Adelaide on its inauguration and was sometime assistant secretary, vice-president and president of the branch. Elected unopposed to South Australian Legislative Council for central district No. 1. on 12 March 1915. Held the seat until his death.
• Appointed Justice of the Peace. Was president of the Port Adelaide Football Association and also secretary for two years of the West Torrens Football Club, later affiliated with the South Australian League.
• His brother Frederick Alfred Carr (1883-1941) was long-time secretary of the Port Adelaide branch of the Waterside Workers’ Federation.

Sources
Howard Coxon, John Playford and Robert Reid, Biographical Register of the South Australian Parliament 1857-1957 (Adelaide, 1985)