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| c. Monday 11 February |
Perth |
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Probably attends a meeting of the Trustees of the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery of Western Australia.
[John Curtin was appointed a Trustee in July 1933 and attended six meetings of the twelve held between July 1934 and June 1935. His absence from the State during part of the year was noted.] 1 |
| Tuesday 26 February |
Perth |
| |
11.30 am onwards
Represents the Government of Western Australia at a hearing of Commonwealth Grants Commission. 2 |
| Wednesday 27 February |
Perth |
JCPML. Records of the J S Battye Library of West Australian History. Commonwealth Grants Commission, Perth 1935. JCPML00139/72
Courtesy J.S Battye Library. Photo 7558B.
|
10.30 am onwards
Represents the Government of Western Australia at a hearing of Commonwealth Grants Commission. 3 |
| Thursday 28 February |
Perth |
| |
10.30 am onwards
Represents the Government of Western Australia at a hearing of Commonwealth Grants Commission. 4 |
| Friday 1 March |
Perth |
| |
10.30 am onwards
Represents the Government of Western Australia at a hearing of Commonwealth Grants Commission. 5 |
| Monday 4 March |
Perth |
| |
10.00 am onwards
Represents the Government of Western Australia at a hearing of Commonwealth Grants Commission. 6 |
| c. Monday 11 March |
Perth |
| |
Probably attends a meeting of the Trustees of the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery of Western Australia. 7 |
| Wednesday 27 March |
Canberra |
| |
Attends and speaks at meeting of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party.
‘DEBT ADJUSTMENT TO THE RURAL INDUSTRY
Mr Scullin explained the Bill to deal with Rural Debt Adjustment and suggested that it was not the duty of the Opposition to constantly provide a policy, that being the definite responsibility of the Government. He suggested that no amendment be proposed to the 2nd reading but that the measure be severely criticized. Mr Curtin indicated that he felt that it would be advisable if possible to move an amendment.’ 8 |
| Thursday 28 March |
Canberra |
| |
Attends meeting of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party joins other speakers on ‘the efforts of a section in Western Australia to secure Secession from the Commonwealth’. |
| |
House of Representatives |
| |
Expresses concern about the general principles of Australia's trade and about aspects of the Ottawa Agreement during debate on the Customs Bill, 1935. In announcing the decision to vote against extending the United Kingdom preference to the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, he argues that the Bill could give additional provocation for reprisals to European countries. Also criticizes Australia's ‘piecemeal’ approach to negotiating trade agreements with other countries. 9 |
| Wednesday 3 April |
House of Representatives |
| |
Following a High Court decision declaring the Sales Tax Assessment Act invalid, the Government sought to make the tax legal up to the date of the judgment and then abolish it altogether. Curtin criticizes the fact that the tax has been paid by some people but avoided by others, and deplores the lack of any plans to impose penalties on defaulters. Calls for the passing of a new Act to retrospectively collect all taxes owed, or alternatively for the Crown to refund taxes paid. 10 |
| Thursday 4 April |
House of Representatives |
| |
Recognizes the importance of the Loan (Farmers Debt) Adjustment Bill, 1935, but concedes that it is the latest in a series of Bills which aim to assist debtors, rather than to increase the nation's asset producing elements. Expresses concern about the huge increase in the national debt that the Bill will incur in attempting to reduce the debt levels of individual farmers, and also argues that the money would be better spent on diversification and rationalisation of the primary producing industries. 11 |
| Monday 8 April |
House of Representatives |
| |
Speaks during the First Supply Bill debate, 1935-36, and in support of an Opposition amendment, argues that the scheduled Parliamentary recess of five months duration cannot be justified in the present climate of economic and political instability. Calls instead for a much shorter recess and the resumption of Parliament early in the new financial year. 12 |
| Tuesday 9 April |
Canberra |
| |
11 am? – 1.45 pm and 7 pm – 8 pm
Attends ‘Special Meeting’ of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party.
‘… the meeting had been called to consider the amendment to the Immigration Act brought down in the Senate in accordance with the recent High Court Judgment in respect of the Griffin appeal case.’
[The bill was designed to amend sections of the act which allowed the government to deal with prohibited immigrants who land illegally. A High Court decision the previous day in the Griffin v. Wilson case had made the changes necessary.]
‘Moved by J Curtin, seconded by F M Baker, that a committee consisting of Messrs F M Forde, M Blackburn, F Brennan and J Holloway be appointed to go into the bill and report back to the Party at 7 pm tonight.
…
Meeting resumed at 7 pm when the Deputy Leader, Mr F M Forde fully explained the Committee’s decision on the Senate’s amendment to the Immigration Bill, after which the Party decided to allow the amendment to go through on the voices, but reserve the right to criticize the Bill and fight clause 3 in Committee.’ 13 |
| Monday 15 April |
Perth |
| |
Returns to Perth from Canberra. 14 |
| Tuesday 7 May |
Canberra |
| |
Attends a garden party given by Their Excellencies the Governor-General, and Lady Isaacs to commemorate the silver jubilee of Their Majesties, the King and Queen. |
| c. Monday 13 May |
Perth |
| |
Probably attends a meeting of the Trustees of the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery of Western Australia. 15 |
| c. Monday 10 June |
Perth |
| |
Probably attends a meeting of the Trustees of the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery of Western Australia. 16 |
| Monday 8 July |
Perth |
| |
Probably attends a meeting of the Trustees of the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery of Western Australia. 17 |
| Tuesday 30 July |
Clubrooms of the Young Labor League, Perth. |
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Attends official opening of the clubrooms by Premier Collier and makes a ‘stirring appeal to all present’.
‘He said that never before was the opportunity for youth as great as it was at the present day. His advice to every young man and woman was to equip themselves with all the knowledge they could possibly acquire; prepare themselves for the time when their turn would come. He said that life was only worth living when every minute of every day was occupied; to help mankind was the only real thing that mattered. … Mr Curtin concluded by saying that the man or woman who could look back with satisfaction over their life’s work had truly lived that life.’ 18 |
| Monday 12 August |
Perth |
| |
Probably attends a meeting of the Trustees of the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery of Western Australia. 19 |
| Friday 30 August |
Fremantle Town Hall |
| |
Evening
Delivers ‘a highly interesting address packed with information with regard to Commonwealth affairs and finances.' 20 |
| Monday 23 September |
Canberra |
| |
11 am? – 1.15 pm
Attends meeting of Federal Parliamentary Labor Party meeting which discussed the Italian invasion of Abyssinia, and the Government’s attitude to it.
‘…The attitude of the Australian Labor Party is clear and unequivocal. It wants no war on foreign fields for economic treasure. It wants Australia to be kept free of the entanglements leading to a repetition of the horrors of 1914-18. Therefore the Australian Labor Party, for which I [Acting Leader F M Forde] speak today, says ‘non-participation’.
After a lengthy discussion on the foregoing statement by Messrs Dr W Maloney, F Brennan, C Barnard, F M Baker, J Holloway, J Curtin and D Riordan, the Statement was submitted and carried adopted unanimously.’ 21 |
| Wednesday 25 September |
House of Representatives |
| |
Speaks during debate on a Motion of Want of Confidence in the Lyons Government and questions the validity of the premises on which the Government's defence has been based. Critically examines the Government's performance on issues such as employment; financial management; trade and tariffs; Commonwealth-State relations; the ongoing problems in the rural industries; and the displacement of labour due to mechanization. 22 |
| Thursday 26 September |
House of Representatives |
| |
In debate on the Second Supply Bill, 1935-36, supports an amendment moved by the Acting Leader of the Opposition, that the time has come to restore old age and invalid pensions to their full rates. Criticizes the Government's reluctance on this issue, and questions whether it has other plans for the money formerly paid to the pensioners. Asks about the Government's plans for dealing with the increasingly large numbers of people who are facing unemployment due to the mechanization of industry. 23 |
| Tuesday 1 October |
Canberra |
JCPML. Records of the Curtin Family. Telegram from John Curtin to Elsie Curtin, 1 October 1935. JCPML00402/31.
|
Curtin becomes Leader of the Labour Party.
Telegram from Canberra Parliament House
‘Mrs Curtin
Jarrad St Cottesloe WA
I HAVE BEEN ELECTED LEADER OF THE LABOUR PARTY
ALL MY LOVE
JOHN’ 24 |
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