People Australia

William George Mahony (1877-1962) labor politician

Birth: 1877 Kinsale, Cork, Ireland. Son of William, shipbuilder, and Bridget nee Manning. Married: Annie Amy Shaughnessy, 1909. They had one son and one daughter. Death: 28 August 1962 Randwick NSW. Catholic. Brother of Robert MLC (NSW)

• Educated to primary school;
• Grocery assistant; Organised Grocers Assistants’ Union and became first sec.; Associated with its development into Shop Assistants’ Union;
• In charge of Stores Branch, Sydney City Council;
• Member House of Representative, Dalley, (Federal), 1914-1927, succeeded Robert Howe on death; Had been Sec. for Howe in every campaign; Pres. Dalley Fed. Council; Member, PLL Balmain branch, c.1897; Pres. and Treasurer Balmain branch ALP and delegate to conferences; Member of Standing Committee on Public Works and on Sea Carriage; Member of Royal Commissions to investigate allegation of the administration of Cockatoo Island Dock, 1922; Member of Royal Commission on National Insurance, 1923; Stayed opponent of Bruce’s government’s referendum proposals, 1926;
• Interested in naval matters and shipbuilding;
• Organiser for Red Cross in WWII, and until death.

Rydon; Australian Worker, 26 Apr. 1917 p.5, 6 Nov. 1919 p.7, 25 Mar. 1925; Labor News 15 Nov. 1919 p.7; Labor Daily, 14 Nov. 1925 (Supplement); Westralian Worker, Mar. 19 1926 p.11, 21 Jan. 1927 p.2