Smyth was born in Maitland, New South Wales and attended the local Sacred Heart School and the government school on Thursday Island.[1] He started work at Burns Philp in Thursday Island and married Emily Richmond Brown in 1901, after which the couple moved to Bowen, Queensland and then Charters Towers. They had a daughter named Emmy.[2] After working for Burns Philp for 16 years, Smyth spent two years running his own business, before moving to Papua in 1910 to work for C.R. Baldwin.[1][2]
In 1914 Smyth moved to Levuka in Fiji to work for Morris Hedstrom, but left in 1918 to start work for H.J. Moors in Apia in Western Samoa. Later in the same year he relocated to Auckland to open a branch of O.F. Nelson & Co.[1] Returning to Samoa, he bought a business in Apia, which he sold to Morris Hedstrom in 1927.[1] He then worked for A.M. Brodziak in Fiji, before returning to Apia to take over as head of the local branch of Morris Hedstrom. In 1933 he rejoined O.F. Nelson to become General Manager and a director of the firm.[1] In 1937 he took over a general store and bakery, launching A.G. Smyth & Co.[3]
Political careeredit
Smyth was a member of the anti-colonial Mau movement. He contested the first elections to the Legislative Council in 1924, but finished fifth out of the eight candidates running for the three available seats.[4] As a result of his Mau activities, he was deported in January 1928 and exiled for two years.[5]
When Smyth was due to return to Western Samoa on 28 December 1929, the Mau movement planned a major reception for him. However, when the police attempted to arrest a member of the procession, a fight erupted and several Mau members were shot dead by the police firing into the crowd.[5] The event became known as Black Saturday. Smyth was then considered for deportation again; although Governor Stephen Allen described him as an "ass", he decided that another stint in exile was unjustified.[5]
Smyth planned to contest the 1932 elections. Although he was widely considered the favourite candidate, he was forced to withdraw his candidacy due to his employer's opposition.[6] Smyth did contest the 1935 elections, and was elected with by far the most votes.[1] He ran for re-election in the 1938 elections as a member of the United Progressive Party,[7] but was defeated by Olaf Frederick Nelson and Charles Dawson.[8] He contested the 1941 elections,[9] but lost to Nelson and Amando Stowers.[10]
In 1944 Smyth ran again for election to the Legislative Council, and was successful in regaining his seat.[11] He did not run in the 1948 elections due to poor health,[12] but unsuccessfully contested the 1951 elections.[13][14]
alfred, smyth, politician, alfred, george, smyth, june, 1879, october, 1959, south, wales, born, western, samoan, politician, alfred, smythmember, legislative, councilin, office, 1935, 1938, 1944, 1948personal, detailsborn17, june, 1879maitland, south, walesdi. Alfred George Smyth 17 June 1879 27 October 1959 was a New South Wales born Western Samoan politician Alfred SmythMember of the Legislative CouncilIn office 1935 1938 1944 1948Personal detailsBorn17 June 1879Maitland New South WalesDied27 October 1959 1959 10 27 aged 80 Sydney AustraliaProfessionBusinessman Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Political career 1 2 Later life 2 ReferencesBiography editSmyth was born in Maitland New South Wales and attended the local Sacred Heart School and the government school on Thursday Island 1 He started work at Burns Philp in Thursday Island and married Emily Richmond Brown in 1901 after which the couple moved to Bowen Queensland and then Charters Towers They had a daughter named Emmy 2 After working for Burns Philp for 16 years Smyth spent two years running his own business before moving to Papua in 1910 to work for C R Baldwin 1 2 In 1914 Smyth moved to Levuka in Fiji to work for Morris Hedstrom but left in 1918 to start work for H J Moors in Apia in Western Samoa Later in the same year he relocated to Auckland to open a branch of O F Nelson amp Co 1 Returning to Samoa he bought a business in Apia which he sold to Morris Hedstrom in 1927 1 He then worked for A M Brodziak in Fiji before returning to Apia to take over as head of the local branch of Morris Hedstrom In 1933 he rejoined O F Nelson to become General Manager and a director of the firm 1 In 1937 he took over a general store and bakery launching A G Smyth amp Co 3 Political career edit Smyth was a member of the anti colonial Mau movement He contested the first elections to the Legislative Council in 1924 but finished fifth out of the eight candidates running for the three available seats 4 As a result of his Mau activities he was deported in January 1928 and exiled for two years 5 When Smyth was due to return to Western Samoa on 28 December 1929 the Mau movement planned a major reception for him However when the police attempted to arrest a member of the procession a fight erupted and several Mau members were shot dead by the police firing into the crowd 5 The event became known as Black Saturday Smyth was then considered for deportation again although Governor Stephen Allen described him as an ass he decided that another stint in exile was unjustified 5 Smyth planned to contest the 1932 elections Although he was widely considered the favourite candidate he was forced to withdraw his candidacy due to his employer s opposition 6 Smyth did contest the 1935 elections and was elected with by far the most votes 1 He ran for re election in the 1938 elections as a member of the United Progressive Party 7 but was defeated by Olaf Frederick Nelson and Charles Dawson 8 He contested the 1941 elections 9 but lost to Nelson and Amando Stowers 10 In 1944 Smyth ran again for election to the Legislative Council and was successful in regaining his seat 11 He did not run in the 1948 elections due to poor health 12 but unsuccessfully contested the 1951 elections 13 14 Later life edit In September 1957 he moved to Australia 15 He died in Sydney in 1959 2 References edit a b c d e f Samoan Legislative Council Pacific Islands Monthly December 1935 p30 a b c Death of A G Smythe Pacific Islands Monthly November 1959 pp23 145 146 A G Smyth amp Co Pacific Islands Monthly June 1937 p7 Elected Members Of Samoa s Legislative Council Samoanische Zeitung 25 January 1924 a b c Kilifoti Sisilia Eteuati 1982 Evaevaga a Samoa Assertion of Samoan autonomy 1920 1936 Samoan News Pacific Islands Monthly November 1932 p39 Big increase Number on the roll Auckland Star 24 November 1938 Western Samoa Legislative Council The New Zealand Herald 21 December 1938 Election in Samoa Evening Post 30 October 1941 Western Samoa Legislative Council Press Association 8 November 1941 Lauofo Meti 2002 Samoa The Making of the Constitution National University of Samoa p22 The Hon A G Smyth Pacific Islands Monthly April 1948 p48 W Samoa Election Pacific Islands Monthly April 1951 p11 Meti p29 Mr amp Mrs Smyth farewelled Pacific Islands Monthly October 1957 p19 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alfred Smyth politician amp oldid 1087074400, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
