People Australia

Benjamin Howe, n.d.

Howe, Benjamin (Ben) (1892-1950)  fitter, trade union official and parliamentarian 

Birth: 21 March 1892 at Darlinghurst, Sydney, New South Wales, son of Irish-born parents Benjamin Howe (1837-1999), real estate agent, formerly water police constable, born in Kinsale, Ireland, and Isabella, née Sullivan (1851-1929), probably from Athlone, Westmeath. Marriage: 26 August 1915 to native-born Alma Thew (1895-1960), a clerk. They had two daughters. Death: 14 February 1950 in Royal North Shore Hospital, Crows Nest, Sydney, New South Wales; usual residence Palmer Street, North Sydney. Religion: Anglican. 

• His father committed suicide when young Ben was aged 6.
• Apprenticed in engineering at Mort’s Dock Engineering Co. Fitter and turner in tramway workshops, Randwick, from 1921 to 1930 and from 1938 to 1950.
• Member, Amalgamated Engineering Union. Shop delegate, organiser and representative of Tramways section.
• Joined Australian Labor Party in 1915; was president of St Leonards (North Sydney) branch.
• Contested State seat of North Sydney in 1927 and 1935. Stood for the Federal seat of North Sydney against former prime minister Billy Hughes in 1928.
• Elected member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for the North Sydney on 25 October 1930. Defeated in elections on 11 June 1932.
• Ran soup kitchen with wife, who was an active supporter of Labor, in North Sydney during Depression.
• Champion swimmer.
• Cause of death: carcinomatosis (months).

Sources
Heather Radi, Peter Spearritt & Elizabeth Hinton (eds), Biographical Register of the NSW Parliament 1901-1970 (Canberra, 1979).