Fred Paterson
Encyclopedia
Frederick Woolnough Paterson (13 June 1897 – 7 October 1977) was an Australian politician, activist, unionist and lawyer. He was the only member of a Communist Party
ever to be elected to a parliament
anywhere in the Commonwealth of Australia.
. He was educated at Brisbane Grammar School
and then studied classics at the University of Queensland
, before joining the military when the First World War
broke out. He subsequently saw action on the battlefields of France. While in France, he was involved in two food-related strikes, which were both successful.
In January, 1920, Paterson moved to Merton College, Oxford
to study theology, after becoming a Rhodes Scholar
. However, by the time he sat for his honours degree in 1922, his belief in Christianity
had changed. He had witnessed extreme poverty in Ireland and parts of London, and this concerned him. Not long after returning to Queensland
, Paterson joined the Communist Party of Australia
.
Paterson began studying law in 1923. By 1924, he was giving lectures on Marxism
. Then, in 1925, he began working for the Workers' Educational Association
. This saw him addressing unions, giving lectures on the history of the working-class, and trying to increase the association's membership.
, but later that year went to Townsville to defend two Italian
workers, who were charged with assaulting the Italian consul. As the Great Depression
set in, Paterson became involved in fighting racist employment policies in the sugar industry. At the time, the unions and employer associations had a policy of refusing employment to Italian workers in order to combat unemployment in the industry. Paterson led a campaign by both the Communist Party and the Italian community and was successful in ending the practice. In 1933, Paterson left Brisbane completely, and set up in Townsville. He spent his time juggling both a part-time legal career and his burgeoning role as a traveling activist for the Communist Party. By this time, he had gained a reputation as a fine public speaker.
During the late 1930s, the Communist Party continued to grow rapidly in North Queensland, with Paterson at the forefront. He played a significant role in the union movement in the sugar industry during a key strike over workplace conditions, and became involved in the anti-fascist movement.
In 1939, Paterson stood successfully as an alderman for the City of Townsville City Council, becoming the first member of the Communist Party to win such an office in Australia. He was then re-elected in 1943. The same year, he stood for the federal seat of Herbert
, but was defeated.
The next year, he again made history, when at his third attempt, he won the State electoral seat of Bowen
at the 1944 election. While Paterson had polled slightly behind his rival in Bowen itself, he was far in front in the mining and sugar-farming areas, which resulted in a significant victory.
On March 17, 1948, near Central station
in Brisbane
, Paterson intervened to stop a police officer who was assaulting a demonstrator. He was then struck from behind by another officer, and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance, unconscious. Paterson was unable to do any political activity for some months afterwards. An inquiry into the incident found that no wrongdoing had occurred and no police officer was ever arrested or charged with the assault.
Robert Menzies
was launching his anti-Communist campaign, and was introducing legislation which would have prevented Communists from holding public office. Paterson lost his seat at this election, which can perhaps be attributed to the political climate of the time.
His defeat at the 1950 election largely ended Paterson's political career. However, he was involved in the successful campaign against Menzies' anti-Communist measures, and he continued to be involved in the union movement and Communist Party right up until his death in 1977.
Paterson and fellow communist Gilbert Burns were constantly the subject of surveillance by the federal security service more correctly known as the Commonwealth Security Service (CSS). The Brisbane office of the CSS was run by Bob Wake. Bob Wake's role in maintaining a watch on the CPA in Queensland, especially during the state wide railway strike of 1948 is documented in his son's book No Ribbons or Medals,the story of 'Hereward' an Australian counter espionage officer.
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
ever to be elected to a parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
anywhere in the Commonwealth of Australia.
Early history
Paterson was born and raised in Gladstone, QueenslandGladstone, Queensland
- Education :Gladstone has several primary schools, three high schools, and one university campus, Central Queensland University. It is also home to CQIT Gladstone Campus.- Recreation :...
. He was educated at Brisbane Grammar School
Brisbane Grammar School
Brisbane Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for boys, located in Spring Hill, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
and then studied classics at the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
, before joining the military when the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out. He subsequently saw action on the battlefields of France. While in France, he was involved in two food-related strikes, which were both successful.
In January, 1920, Paterson moved to Merton College, Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
to study theology, after becoming a Rhodes Scholar
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
. However, by the time he sat for his honours degree in 1922, his belief in Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
had changed. He had witnessed extreme poverty in Ireland and parts of London, and this concerned him. Not long after returning to Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Paterson joined the Communist Party of Australia
Communist Party of Australia
The Communist Party of Australia was founded in 1920 and dissolved in 1991; it was succeeded by the Socialist Party of Australia, which then renamed itself, becoming the current Communist Party of Australia. The CPA achieved its greatest political strength in the 1940s and faced an attempted...
.
Paterson began studying law in 1923. By 1924, he was giving lectures on Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
. Then, in 1925, he began working for the Workers' Educational Association
Workers' Educational Association
The Workers’ Educational Association seeks to provide access to education and lifelong learning for adults from all backgrounds, and in particular those who have previously missed out on education. The International Federation of Workers Education Associations has consultative status to UNESCO...
. This saw him addressing unions, giving lectures on the history of the working-class, and trying to increase the association's membership.
Politics and the Communist Party
In 1931, Paterson was finally admitted to the Bar. He based himself in BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, but later that year went to Townsville to defend two Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
workers, who were charged with assaulting the Italian consul. As the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
set in, Paterson became involved in fighting racist employment policies in the sugar industry. At the time, the unions and employer associations had a policy of refusing employment to Italian workers in order to combat unemployment in the industry. Paterson led a campaign by both the Communist Party and the Italian community and was successful in ending the practice. In 1933, Paterson left Brisbane completely, and set up in Townsville. He spent his time juggling both a part-time legal career and his burgeoning role as a traveling activist for the Communist Party. By this time, he had gained a reputation as a fine public speaker.
During the late 1930s, the Communist Party continued to grow rapidly in North Queensland, with Paterson at the forefront. He played a significant role in the union movement in the sugar industry during a key strike over workplace conditions, and became involved in the anti-fascist movement.
In 1939, Paterson stood successfully as an alderman for the City of Townsville City Council, becoming the first member of the Communist Party to win such an office in Australia. He was then re-elected in 1943. The same year, he stood for the federal seat of Herbert
Division of Herbert
The Division of Herbert is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. Eligible voters within the Division elect a single representative, known as the member for Herbert, to the Australian House of Representatives. The division was first contested at the 1901 election...
, but was defeated.
The next year, he again made history, when at his third attempt, he won the State electoral seat of Bowen
Electoral district of Bowen
Bowen was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland from 1873 to 1950 and at various times until 1992....
at the 1944 election. While Paterson had polled slightly behind his rival in Bowen itself, he was far in front in the mining and sugar-farming areas, which resulted in a significant victory.
Demonstrations
After being elected to Parliament, Paterson largely gave up the law, in order to concentrate on his political career. He continued being actively involved in public issues, particularly through the union movement, and was a vocal critic of the government of the time. He would often make speeches at the Domain in central Brisbane. Paterson was rewarded, retaining his seat at the 1947 state election. During the 1948 railway strike, he would regularly join the picket line in the mornings before going to sit in Parliament. He also gave the picketers legal advice. Paterson knew that the police had the power to order the picketers to move, but that they did not have the power to order them where exactly to move. He then devised a strategy where, as they were moved on by the police, the picketers would simply move around the block.On March 17, 1948, near Central station
Central railway station, Brisbane
Central railway station is, as the name suggests, the central railway station for the Queensland Rail City network in the Brisbane central business district, the state capital of Queensland, Australia...
in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Paterson intervened to stop a police officer who was assaulting a demonstrator. He was then struck from behind by another officer, and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance, unconscious. Paterson was unable to do any political activity for some months afterwards. An inquiry into the incident found that no wrongdoing had occurred and no police officer was ever arrested or charged with the assault.
End of political career
At the state election of 1950, Paterson's electorate was disbanded, and split amongst several others. At the time, Prime MinisterPrime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
was launching his anti-Communist campaign, and was introducing legislation which would have prevented Communists from holding public office. Paterson lost his seat at this election, which can perhaps be attributed to the political climate of the time.
His defeat at the 1950 election largely ended Paterson's political career. However, he was involved in the successful campaign against Menzies' anti-Communist measures, and he continued to be involved in the union movement and Communist Party right up until his death in 1977.
Paterson and fellow communist Gilbert Burns were constantly the subject of surveillance by the federal security service more correctly known as the Commonwealth Security Service (CSS). The Brisbane office of the CSS was run by Bob Wake. Bob Wake's role in maintaining a watch on the CPA in Queensland, especially during the state wide railway strike of 1948 is documented in his son's book No Ribbons or Medals,the story of 'Hereward' an Australian counter espionage officer.
Biography
- Ross Fitzgerald: The Peoples Champion: Fred Paterson- Australia's Only Communist Party Member of Parliament: St Lucia, Queensland: 1997: ISBN 0-7022-2959-8