People Australia

Archibald Dobson, 1908

Labor Call (Melbourne), 4 June 1908, p 3

Archibald (Dobbie) Dobson (1868-1926) cabinetmaker, trade union official 

Birth: 4 October 1868 at Swanpool, near Benalla, Victoria, son of Scottish-born parents Alexander John Dobson (1829-1917), a farmer from Edinburgh, and Jessie, née Robertson (1835-1906), a house servant from Musselburgh. Marriage: 1891 in Victoria to native-born Matilda Roberts (b. c. 1866, d. 3 March 1926). Described as ‘lovable Mrs Dobson’, she was prominent in the trade union movement. They had one son and two daughters. Death: 8 April 1926 in his home at Flemington, Victoria. Religion: Presbyterian. 

• Joined Furniture Trades society in 1882. In 1886 became a member of the Anti-Chinese League and worked for the Chinese Restriction Bill. On 6 September 1894 became honorary secretary of the Victorian branch of the United Furniture Trades Society and remained in office until his death.
• In the 1890s, worked ‘to save the industry from passing into the hands of the Chinese’, addressing many street meetings re anti-Chinese cause. ‘One of the first to recognise the need to recognize the necessity of a White Australia’ and provided politicians with ‘startling evidence as to the inroads of the Mongolians on the industrial and social life of Victoria that the Munro government passed the Restriction Act’.
• Was federal secretary of the Federated Furnishing Trades Society from 1909 until his death.
• One-time mayor of Flemington and Kensington. Active in Friendly Society work, he was secretary, Mistletoe Lodge, United Ancient Order of Druids
• Occupied many positions including president of Melbourne Trades Hall Council, 8-Hour Celebration Committee and Australian Labor Party, Victoria. Union delegate to ALP conferences for many years. Director and member of the board of management of Labor Call (Melbourne).

Sources
Furnishing Worker, 5 May 1926; Labor Call (Melbourne), 11 March 1926, p 7, 15 April 1926, p 5 [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/250184668], and 30 September 1926, p 10 [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/250186921]; photo and profile Worker (Wagga), 24 May 1906, p 2 [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/145726436].