James Crawford, M.L.A.

Caricatures are inherently unflattering. The above 1914 caricature of local MP, James (‘Jim’) Crawford, doesn’t disappoint in that respect.

The son of a coal miner, Jim was born in Bulli (near Wollongong), New South Wales, in 1870. In his early years, he worked as a coal miner and railwayman. Seeking adventure abroad, he later worked in Scotland, Canada and New Zealand in various mining, farming and seafaring roles.

Jim came to Mount Morgan in about 1907 and found work as a miner. Dissatisfied with the lack of union representation for the miners, he formed the Fitzroy Miners’ Union and became its first secretary. He appeared on behalf of his fellow miners in the 1908 Mount Morgan Disaster Inquiry.

Having made a reputation for himself as a unionist, Jim then went into state politics. He became the Labor member for Fitzroy in the Legislative Assembly on 2 October 1909 and held the seat until 27 April 1912. In the 1912 state election, he was re-elected to the Assembly – but this time, as a ‘Ministerialist’ for the new seat of Mount Morgan. The 1913 edition of the

Webster’s Dictionary defines the archaic term as: ‘A supporter of the ministers, or the party in power’. The Liberals won the 1912 state election. Hence, Jim, as a ‘Ministerialist’, now supported the Liberal Party. Jim had fallen out with Labor in 1910 over his support for religious instruction in state schools. The below extract from the verse accompanying his caricature highlights the controversy about his break with Labor:

‘He entered Parliament ‘neath Labor’s flag, And in the straight path tried to go;

But when ‘twas sought his mouth to gag, And put the curb on, Jim said “No!”

Some call him “renegade” and “rat”, And at the poll have tried to beat him;

But, fighting hard, he won, and since has sat, Despite all efforts to defeat him …’

Whilst representing Mount Morgan, Jim’s underlying ambition was to enter the legal profession. He used the Parliamentary Library in Brisbane to study for his law degree. His verse concludes with:

‘… Now, as a student of the law, he sees Himself in ermine on the bench at ease’.

His involvement with the causes of the 1908 mining accidents ‘probably turned his thoughts in the direction of the law as a profession’ (Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878-1954), 28 August 1915).

Above:

Jim’s legal career took off after he lost his seat in the May 1915 election to James (‘Stoppy’) Stopford (Labor), who held the seat until it was abolished in June 1932. He passed his final bar examination and was admitted as a barrister to the Supreme Court of Queensland in late 1915.

Jim practised law in Clermont, Central Queensland, for about a year. Tragically, he drowned in the devastating Clermont flood on 28 December 1916 (aged 46). He and his wife, Myra (née Clarke), were swept away with their house. Myra survived and lived until 1957. The couple didn’t have any children. It’s eerie to think that Jim nearly drowned on two other occasions – stories told by his brother, Harry Crawford, in The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 18721947) in 1938, in which the above photograph of Jim was included. The first time was as a three year old when he fell into a well. The second instance of facing the same fate was on a boat full of cattle crossing the Atlantic during a severe storm. It appears that it was third time unlucky for Jim Crawford.

For more information about the first member for the new electoral district of Mount Morgan, James Crawford (1870-1916), and his successor, James Stopford (1878-1936), visit the ‘Former Members Register’ at the Queensland Parliament website: www.parliament.qld.gov.au.

Next Issue: Dr Oliver Smithson, F.R.C.S.

This author has made best efforts to provide accurate information for this publication of ‘Mount Morgan in Pictures’.