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Edward (Ted) Smith (1888–1954)

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Edward (Ted) Smith (1888-1954) tailor and trade union official

Birth: 1888 at Ararat, Victoria, son of native-born parents Joseph Oliver Smith (1860-1948), contractor, and Catherine (Cath) née Jones (1861-1926). Marriage: 1919 in Melbourne to Perth Adelaide Pattinson (1890-1968). They had two sons. Death: 30 August 1954 at McIlwraith Avenue, Balmoral Heights, Brisbane, Queensland. Religion: Methodist. 

  • Worked as a tailor.
  • Member of the executive of the Amalgamated Clothing and Allied Trades' Union (ACATU) from 1923. Melbourne organiser of the Victorian branch of the ACATU from 1923 and senior organiser in 1940.
  • About 1935, with Muriel Heagney, he organised a special research and recruitment campaign in Brunswick (Melbourne) to revive interest in the union, especially amongst female workers.
  • Was aligned with the Communist Party of Australia during World War II. Represented the ACATU on the Trades Hall Council (THC) and the Australian Labor Party.
  • Represented the branch on Federal Council of Unions. Opposed a Melbourne THC motion that only the ALP should be able to represent workers in parliament 1943. ACATU federal council mooted proposal for quota on number of women workers in clothing industry.
  • Junior vice-president of the Victorian branch. Assistant-secretary Victorian branch of the ACATU 194?-1947. Appointed secretary Victorian branch following resignation of Alf Wallis in 1946. Held office until 1954 (retired terminally ill). Easily defeated Grouper candidate G. Maynes in 1947 for position in ballot held in January 1948. Acting federal secretary of Clothing and Allied Trades' Union in the early 1950s. Well-known figure in the Victorian Labor Party.
  • With Don MacSween he worked actively against Groupers in both the ALP and Melbourne THC. Opposed proposals from pro-Groupers in SA and NSW branches for the introduction of secret ballots as a means of overcoming communist union leadership.
  • Cause of death: cerebral thrombosis (immediate) and hypertension (10 years).

Sources
Bradon Ellem, In women’s hands? A history of clothing trades unionism in Australia (Sydney, 1989(; Merrifield Card Index; Australian. Clothing Trades Journal, April 1940; Labor, October 1954, p 3; Voice, Winter 1948; Clothing Trades Gazette, 15 August 1923 p 15.

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Citation details

'Smith, Edward (Ted) (1888–1954)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/smith-edward-ted-34979/text44095, accessed 26 April 2025.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

1888
Ararat, Victoria, Australia

Death

30 August, 1954 (aged ~ 66)
Balmoral, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Cause of Death

stroke

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation or Descriptor
Key Organisations
Political Activism