Arthur Black (Liberal politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir Arthur William Black (28 February 1863 – 13 July 1947) was an English lace manufacturer from Nottingham
and a Liberal Party
politician who served in local government in Nottingham before holding a seat in the House of Commons from 1906 to 1918.
, becoming Sheriff from 1898 to 1899 and Mayor of Nottingham
from 1902 to 1903, a Justice of the Peace
and chairman of the Nottingham education committee.
As Chairman of the Nottingham Free Church Council in 1902 he shared a platform in a demonstration in Nottingham against the Education Bill which was addressed by the future Prime Minister H. H. Asquith
. He was a member of Alfred Mosely's Commission of Inquiry into the educational systems of the United States
in 1903, and visited the U.S. that year as part of the work of the commission. The Mosely Commission sought to learn from the American education system in the hope of bolstering Britain's industrial competitiveness in the face of growing industrial competition from Germany and the U.S., which they attributed to superior education. In 1909 he served as a member of Royal Commission
on international exhibitions.
unsuccessfully at the 1900 general election
in the Doncaster division
of the West Riding of Yorkshire
, losing to the sitting Conservative
MP by a margin of 2.8% of the votes.
At the 1906 general election
he was elected as MP for the Biggleswade division
of Bedfordshire, unseating the Liberal Unionist MP Lord Alwyne Compton
by a majority of 23% of the votes. He was re-elected at both the January 1910 and December 1910 elections, though with more modest majorities of 4.8% of 5.8% respectively. The Bigglewsade division was abolished for the 1918 general election
, when Black stood in the new Mid Bedfordshire
division. However, his Conservative Party
opponent Max Townley
had received the coalition coupon
, and took the seat with a majority of over 10%. After that defeat, Black did not stand for Parliament again.
He was knight
ed in 1916.
Black spoke out in 1930 against a proposal by the Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer
Philip Snowden
, to end the duty of imported lace. Although describing himself as a free trade
r, Black said that the end of the duty would be a "serious matter" for both workers and investors in the industry. He denied that the duty had led to higher prices, in the United Kingdom, saying that keen competition in the domestic market had prevented this.
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
and a Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician who served in local government in Nottingham before holding a seat in the House of Commons from 1906 to 1918.
Career
Black was born in Nottingham, the son of William Edward Black. He was educated there before entering into business as a lace manufacturer in 1888, and later became a director Turney Brothers and of the Sceptre Life Association. He was elected in 1895 to the Nottingham Town CouncilNottingham City Council
Nottingham City Council is the non-metropolitan district council for the unitary authority of Nottingham in Nottinghamshire. It consists of 55 councillors, representing a total of 20 wards, elected every four years. It is led by Jon Collins, of the majority Labour Party. The deputy leader of the...
, becoming Sheriff from 1898 to 1899 and Mayor of Nottingham
Lord Mayor of Nottingham
The Lord Mayor of Nottingham is a largely ceremonial role for the city of Nottingham, England. The position was historically Mayor of Nottingham; this was changed to Lord Mayor in 1928. The current Lord Mayor of Nottingham for 2010/2011 is Councillor Brian Grocock...
from 1902 to 1903, a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and chairman of the Nottingham education committee.
As Chairman of the Nottingham Free Church Council in 1902 he shared a platform in a demonstration in Nottingham against the Education Bill which was addressed by the future Prime Minister H. H. Asquith
H. H. Asquith
Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC, KC served as the Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916...
. He was a member of Alfred Mosely's Commission of Inquiry into the educational systems of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1903, and visited the U.S. that year as part of the work of the commission. The Mosely Commission sought to learn from the American education system in the hope of bolstering Britain's industrial competitiveness in the face of growing industrial competition from Germany and the U.S., which they attributed to superior education. In 1909 he served as a member of Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
on international exhibitions.
Parliament
He first stood for ParliamentParliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
unsuccessfully at the 1900 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1900
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
in the Doncaster division
Doncaster (UK Parliament constituency)
Doncaster was a Parliamentary constituency covering the town of Doncaster in England. The constituency was created in 1885 and abolished in 1983.- Boundaries :...
of the West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
, losing to the sitting Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP by a margin of 2.8% of the votes.
At the 1906 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
he was elected as MP for the Biggleswade division
Biggleswade (UK Parliament constituency)
Biggleswade was a county constituency in Bedfordshire which was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 until its abolition in 1918...
of Bedfordshire, unseating the Liberal Unionist MP Lord Alwyne Compton
Lord Alwyne Compton (politician)
Lord Alwyne Frederick Compton DL was a British Army officer who became a Liberal Unionist and then Unionist politician.-Family:...
by a majority of 23% of the votes. He was re-elected at both the January 1910 and December 1910 elections, though with more modest majorities of 4.8% of 5.8% respectively. The Bigglewsade division was abolished for the 1918 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
, when Black stood in the new Mid Bedfordshire
Mid Bedfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Mid Bedfordshire is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
division. However, his Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
opponent Max Townley
Max Townley
Maximilian Gowran Townley was a British land agent, agriculturist and politician. He served one term in Parliament as a Conservative, and later campaigned for policies to support agriculture...
had received the coalition coupon
Coalition Coupon
The ‘Coalition Coupon’, often referred to as ‘the coupon’, refers to the letter sent to parliamentary candidates at the United Kingdom general election, 1918 endorsing them as official representatives of the Coalition Government. The 1918 election took place in the heady atmosphere of victory in...
, and took the seat with a majority of over 10%. After that defeat, Black did not stand for Parliament again.
He was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed in 1916.
Black spoke out in 1930 against a proposal by the Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
Philip Snowden
Philip Snowden, 1st Viscount Snowden
Philip Snowden, 1st Viscount Snowden PC was a British politician and the first Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer, a position he held in 1924 and again between 1929 and 1931.-Early life: 1864–1906:...
, to end the duty of imported lace. Although describing himself as a free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
r, Black said that the end of the duty would be a "serious matter" for both workers and investors in the industry. He denied that the duty had led to higher prices, in the United Kingdom, saying that keen competition in the domestic market had prevented this.