All for Australia League: Difference between revisions
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The '''All for Australia League''' was a minor [[Australia]]n political party that operated in [[New South Wales]] in 1931. It represented an alternative to the existing [[conservative]] parties the [[United Australia Party]] and the [[Australian Country Party (1920)|Country Party]], and was generally seen as more [[right-wing]] than either.<ref>{{cite web |
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{{Infobox political party |
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| last = Ferrier |
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| name = All for Australia League |
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| first = Carole |
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| logo = All for Australia League logo.svg |
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| authorlink = |
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| colorcode = #5B8EBA |
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| caption = Emblem used on AFAL badges |
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| title = A red revolutionist and ranter |
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| president = [[Alexander James Gibson]] |
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| work = Jean Devanny in the early 1930s |
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| founded = 28 January 1931 |
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| publisher = [[Australian National University]] |
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| dissolved = early 1932 |
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| date = |
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| merged = [[United Australia Party]] |
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| url = http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/interventions/devanny.htm |
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| headquarters = [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]] |
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| doi = |
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| membership_year = June 1931 |
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| accessdate = 2008-07-15 | archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20080828195107/http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/interventions/devanny.htm| archivedate= 28 August 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> [[Gordon Bennett (Australian soldier)|Gordon Bennett]] was prominent in the League.<ref>{{Australian Dictionary of Biography|last=Lodge|first=A. B.|authorlink=|year=1993|id=A130195b.htm|title= Bennett, Henry Gordon (1887 - 1962) |accessdate=2008-07-15}}</ref> The party declined after 1931. |
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| membership = 130,000{{sfn|Matthews|1969|p=139}} |
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| ideology = [[Anti-establishment]] |
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| position = [[Right-wing politics|Right-wing]]<ref>{{cite web|author= Carole Ferrier|title=A red revolutionist and ranter|work=[[Australian National University]]|url=http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/interventions/devanny.htm|access-date=15 July 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080828195107/http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/interventions/devanny.htm| archive-date= 28 August 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> |
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| seats1_title = [[City of Brighton (Victoria)|Brighton City Council]] |
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| seats1 = {{Composition bar|1|12|hex=#5B8EBA}}<small>(1931–1932)</small> |
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| country = Australia |
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}} |
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The '''All for Australia League''' ('''AFAL''') was an Australian political movement during the [[Great Depression in Australia|Great Depression]]. It was founded in early 1931 and claimed to have amassed 130,000 members by June 1931. Right-wing and anti-establishment in nature, the league had the backing of a number of prominent businessmen and industrialists. It was critical both of the [[Australian Labor Party|Labor Party]] and the right-wing [[Nationalist Party (Australia)|Nationalist Party]]. It primarily operated in Sydney, but also had branches in country New South Wales and absorbed a similar organisation in Victoria. The league eventually chose to co-operate with the existing Nationalist organisation at the [[1931 Australian federal election|1931 federal election]], helping [[preselection|preselect]] candidates for the new [[United Australia Party]] (UAP). After the election victory the league was absorbed by the UAP's state organisation.{{sfn|Robinson|2008}} |
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==Objectives== |
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Five objectives were announced at the official launch of the league, held at [[Killara, New South Wales|Killara]] on 12 February 1931:{{sfn|Matthews|1969|p=139}} |
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# To create a unity of purpose amongst citizens and organisations to meet the economic and social crises. |
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# To exert constitutional pressure on Governments in support of the following or other necessary measures: (a) Restoration of National Credit, (b) Economy of Governmental administration and expenditure, (c) Balancing of Federal and State budgets. |
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# To set aside conflicting sectional interests for the sake of unity of purpose. |
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# To conjoin the interests of Country and City, that is, all producing and consuming interests. |
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# To bring about the whole hearted cooperation of employer and employee. |
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According to labour historian Geoffrey Robinson, the league "posed a major challenge to the established conservative parties",{{sfn|Robinson|2008|p=52}} but ultimately "failed because Australian conservatives regrouped and moved back towards the centre".{{sfn|Robinson|2008|p=51}} |
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==Membership== |
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The league undertook an extensive recruiting campaign, mostly in Sydney but also in some country areas. It claimed to have gained 30,000 members within three weeks after its launch, rising to 40,000 a week later. Up to 3,500 badges were being issued each day, bearing the distinctive emblem of a six-pointed star. By the end of March 1931, the league claimed 99 branches, including fifteen outside Sydney. The membership stood at 116,000 on 14 April and 130,000 by the end of June.{{sfn|Matthews|1969|p=139}} |
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Most of the league's leadership had not previously been involved in politics. The executive was "strongly representative of managerial and professional men".{{sfn|Matthews|1969|p=139}} Former engineering professor [[Alexander James Gibson]] was elected president. Other members of the league's provisional executive included:{{sfn|Matthews|1969|p=138}} |
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*Major-General [[Gordon Bennett (general)|Gordon Bennett]], brother of Alfred Bennett |
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*Andrew Craig, treasurer of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce |
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*Albert Heath, president of the Sydney and Suburban Timber Merchants' Association |
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*[[Cecil Hoskins]], chairman and managing director of [[Australian Iron & Steel|Australian Iron and Steel]] |
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*Norman Keyser, managing director of General Industries |
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*Robert A. Malloch, managing director of Dangar, Gedye & Malloch, meat preservers |
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*[[Sydney Snow]], vice-president of the Retail Traders' Association |
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*Frederick Walker, managing director of F. J. Walker, meat exporters |
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Later members of the executive included:{{sfn|Matthews|1969|p=138}} |
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*[[Alfred Bennett (broadcaster)|Alfred Bennett]], manager of radio station [[2GB]], founder of the Who's for Australia? League, brother of Gordon Bennett |
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*[[Henry Braddon|Sir Henry Braddon]], member of the New South Wales Legislative Council{{sfn|Matthews|1969|p=144}} |
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*Charles M. McDonald, president of the New South Wales Employers' Federation |
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*[[Mildred Muscio]], feminist, representative of the women's committee{{sfn|Robinson|2008|p=49}} |
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*Olof Oberg, timber merchant and president of the anti-communist "Sane Democracy League" |
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Braddon, Craig, Heath, and Oberg resigned from the executive over the league's attacks on the state [[Nationalist Party (Australia)|Nationalist Party]].{{sfn|Matthews|1969|p=144}} |
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The league had a councillor on the [[City of Brighton (Victoria)|City of Brighton]] in Victoria – A.R. Horton, who joined in April 1931.<ref>{{cite web |title=ALL FOR AUSTRALIA LEAGUE. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4405361 |website=Trove |publisher=The Age}}</ref> The party also had local branch secretary H.P. Armitage as a candidate in the [[1931 Victorian local elections]], receiving 33.66% of the vote in the [[City of Oakleigh|City of Oakleigh's South Ward]].<ref name="age">{{cite web |title=MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/203034276/18963584 |website=Trove |publisher=The Age}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{ |
{{Reflist}} |
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==Further reading== |
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*{{cite book|first=Matthew|last=Cunningham|title=Mobilising the Masses: Populist Conservative Movements in Australia and New Zealand During the Great Depression|publisher=ANU Press|url=https://press-files.anu.edu.au//downloads/press/n9854/pdf/book.pdf|year=2022|isbn=9781760465100}} |
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*{{cite journal|title=The All for Australia League|first=Trevor|last=Matthews|year=1969|journal=Labour History|volume=17|issue=17 |pages=136–147|doi=10.2307/27507959 |jstor=27507959 }} |
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*{{cite journal|first=Geoffrey|last=Robinson|title=The All for Australia League in New South Wales: a study in political entrepreneurship and hegemony|journal=Australian Historical Studies|date=2008|volume=39|issue=1|pages=36–52|doi=10.1080/10314610701837227 |s2cid=145143667 }} |
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{{Defunct Australian political parties}} |
{{Defunct Australian political parties}} |
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{{New South Wales political parties}} |
{{New South Wales political parties}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category:1931 establishments in Australia]] |
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[[Category:Defunct political parties in New South Wales]] |
[[Category:Defunct political parties in New South Wales]] |
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[[Category:Political parties established in 1931]] |
[[Category:Political parties established in 1931]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Political parties disestablished in 1932]] |
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[[Category:1932 disestablishments in Australia]] |
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{{Australia-party-stub}} |
Latest revision as of 03:21, 5 February 2024
All for Australia League | |
---|---|
![]() Emblem used on AFAL badges | |
President | Alexander James Gibson |
Gegründet | 28 January 1931 |
Dissolved | early 1932 |
Merged into | United Australia Party |
Hauptsitz | Sydney, New South Wales |
Membership (June 1931) | 130,000[1] |
Ideology | Anti-establishment |
Political position | Right-wing[2] |
Brighton City Council | 1 / 12 (1931–1932)
|
The All for Australia League (AFAL) was an Australian political movement during the Great Depression. It was founded in early 1931 and claimed to have amassed 130,000 members by June 1931. Right-wing and anti-establishment in nature, the league had the backing of a number of prominent businessmen and industrialists. It was critical both of the Labor Party and the right-wing Nationalist Party. It primarily operated in Sydney, but also had branches in country New South Wales and absorbed a similar organisation in Victoria. The league eventually chose to co-operate with the existing Nationalist organisation at the 1931 federal election, helping preselect candidates for the new United Australia Party (UAP). After the election victory the league was absorbed by the UAP's state organisation.[3]
Objectives
[edit]Five objectives were announced at the official launch of the league, held at Killara on 12 February 1931:[1]
- To create a unity of purpose amongst citizens and organisations to meet the economic and social crises.
- To exert constitutional pressure on Governments in support of the following or other necessary measures: (a) Restoration of National Credit, (b) Economy of Governmental administration and expenditure, (c) Balancing of Federal and State budgets.
- To set aside conflicting sectional interests for the sake of unity of purpose.
- To conjoin the interests of Country and City, that is, all producing and consuming interests.
- To bring about the whole hearted cooperation of employer and employee.
According to labour historian Geoffrey Robinson, the league "posed a major challenge to the established conservative parties",[4] but ultimately "failed because Australian conservatives regrouped and moved back towards the centre".[5]
Membership
[edit]The league undertook an extensive recruiting campaign, mostly in Sydney but also in some country areas. It claimed to have gained 30,000 members within three weeks after its launch, rising to 40,000 a week later. Up to 3,500 badges were being issued each day, bearing the distinctive emblem of a six-pointed star. By the end of March 1931, the league claimed 99 branches, including fifteen outside Sydney. The membership stood at 116,000 on 14 April and 130,000 by the end of June.[1]
Most of the league's leadership had not previously been involved in politics. The executive was "strongly representative of managerial and professional men".[1] Former engineering professor Alexander James Gibson was elected president. Other members of the league's provisional executive included:[6]
- Major-General Gordon Bennett, brother of Alfred Bennett
- Andrew Craig, treasurer of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce
- Albert Heath, president of the Sydney and Suburban Timber Merchants' Association
- Cecil Hoskins, chairman and managing director of Australian Iron and Steel
- Norman Keyser, managing director of General Industries
- Robert A. Malloch, managing director of Dangar, Gedye & Malloch, meat preservers
- Sydney Snow, vice-president of the Retail Traders' Association
- Frederick Walker, managing director of F. J. Walker, meat exporters
Later members of the executive included:[6]
- Alfred Bennett, manager of radio station 2GB, founder of the Who's for Australia? League, brother of Gordon Bennett
- Sir Henry Braddon, member of the New South Wales Legislative Council[7]
- Charles M. McDonald, president of the New South Wales Employers' Federation
- Mildred Muscio, feminist, representative of the women's committee[8]
- Olof Oberg, timber merchant and president of the anti-communist "Sane Democracy League"
Braddon, Craig, Heath, and Oberg resigned from the executive over the league's attacks on the state Nationalist Party.[7]
The league had a councillor on the City of Brighton in Victoria – A.R. Horton, who joined in April 1931.[9] The party also had local branch secretary H.P. Armitage as a candidate in the 1931 Victorian local elections, receiving 33.66% of the vote in the City of Oakleigh's South Ward.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Matthews 1969, p. 139.
- ^ Carole Ferrier. "A red revolutionist and ranter". Australian National University. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
- ^ Robinson 2008.
- ^ Robinson 2008, p. 52.
- ^ Robinson 2008, p. 51.
- ^ a b Matthews 1969, p. 138.
- ^ a b Matthews 1969, p. 144.
- ^ Robinson 2008, p. 49.
- ^ "ALL FOR AUSTRALIA LEAGUE". Trove. The Age.
- ^ "MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS". Trove. The Age.
Further reading
[edit]- Cunningham, Matthew (2022). Mobilising the Masses: Populist Conservative Movements in Australia and New Zealand During the Great Depression (PDF). ANU Press. ISBN 9781760465100.
- Matthews, Trevor (1969). "The All for Australia League". Labour History. 17 (17): 136–147. doi:10.2307/27507959. JSTOR 27507959.
- Robinson, Geoffrey (2008). "The All for Australia League in New South Wales: a study in political entrepreneurship and hegemony". Australian Historical Studies. 39 (1): 36–52. doi:10.1080/10314610701837227. S2CID 145143667.