HIS ENTRY IN "WHO'S WHO"
~EMPLE, Hon. Robert, MP for Miramar, B Sofala, NSW, 1873, s of John Semple; m 27.6.1898 Margaret, d of Thos McNair, of Vic (formerly of NZ); 3s, 2 d. Ed Sofala sch; worked for 26 yrs on goldfields of Australia (1st as trucker; {hen as miner); was in Coolgardie -in rough ‘days of. mining; at about 23 yrs of age entered trades union movement; associated with unions in various states, chiefly Vic and WA; arrd. NZ ’03; employed in state mines on W coast. and formed Ist miners’ union at Runanga (pres for some years); assisted to form Ist Miners’ Fedn of NZ about ‘08 (pres); when this merged into Fedn of Labour (better known as ‘"‘Red Fedn’’), about '10, became organiser; '12 Fedn became nationally involved as result of miners’ strike at Waihi; 13 helped to organise and took leading part in Unity Conference, out of which grew Social Demoe Party and United Fedn of Labour, many unions coming in; Prof Mills. was elected organiser of political wing and Mr. Semple (unopposed) as organiser of industrial wing; involved in waterside workers’ strike °13, in which specials were mobilised; imprisoned and bound over to keep peace for 12 months in bond of £2000 (heaviest bond imposed on any labour representative); remained in organisation until *tvond "expired, and resigned as organiser "15 6n going to S Is to engage in co-operative tunnelling contracts at Otira tunnel (8 months); elected by large majority as miners’ agent, and inspector, .which post held for 5 vears, having» many big fights with mineowners; lived at W’ton during war; imprisoned for 3 years for resisting conscription (served 12 months); MP for W’ton S ‘18-19, manager for Orongorongo co-operative tunnelling party °’21-24; with picked party of men carcrmed out work successfully, beating Australasian records for tunnelling (excluding drink, gambling, .etc., from ‘camps and devoting whoie. raergies to work); on completion of 14 appointed organiser for Freezing and Related Trades: contested Otdhi *25; MP for W’ton E ’28-46; since | f mar; in Savage and Fraser ministries ‘85-49 held portfolios of Public Works, " port, Marine, National Service and War Administrn ‘42; W’ton City Cl '25: contested mayoralty: Harb Bd. :
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19550211.2.15
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 32, Issue 811, 11 February 1955, Page 7
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365HIS ENTRY IN "WHO'S WHO" New Zealand Listener, Volume 32, Issue 811, 11 February 1955, Page 7
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
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