He was born in Oystermouth, Glamorganshire, Wales in 1864. His family migrated to New Zealand when he was eight years old and grew up in the Auckland suburb of Newton. Upon completing his education, Rosser became a builder by trade. Whilst working as a carpenter he married Sarah Louisa Craig on 30 November 1886.[1]
Trade union careeredit
After he was blacklisted by conservative building contractors due to his links with the Liberal Party, Rosser took up a new career as a union organiser, the first in Auckland.[1] Within twelve years he was involved in the formation of nine new trade unions and was himself the secretary of many of them, demonstrating a skill for arbitration. Over time arbitration was overtaken by collective bargaining as most new unionists favoured method. As a result, Rosser's more moderate views were at increasing odds with the more militant forces in the labour movement. This came to a head in 1910, when he was replaced as the president of the Auckland Trades and Labour Council by the more radical Michael Joseph Savage.[1]
Political careeredit
Through his role as a union secretary Rosser openly participated in politics. In the early 1900s he played a key role in establishing the Independent Political Labour League in Auckland, the first New Zealand Labour Party and the United Labour Party. Throughout his career, Rosser was an advocate of the moderate wing of the labour movement, arguing that organised labour should improve rather than replace capitalism.[1]
Rosser was elected to the Auckland City Council in 1901 but lost his seat in 1903 and later failed to secure re-election in 1907, 1913 and 1931. He regained a seat in 1933, though in 1938 he lost his seat on the council, after standing as an independent. He was unexpectedly denied re-nomination by the Labour Party alongside sitting councillors Ted Phelan and George Gordon Grant.[5] The next year he was expelled from a Labour Party as he had stood against Labour's official municipal candidates.[1]
Later life and deathedit
Rosser died at Auckland on 15 February 1954. He was survived by three daughters.[1]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arthur Rosser.
^"The General Election". Auckland Star. Vol. XXVII, no. 305. 23 December 1896. p. 6. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
^"The General Election, 1899". Wellington: Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives. 19 June 1900. p. 1. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
^"The General Election, 1908". National Library. 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
^"Civic Elections – Labour Candidates". Vol. LXXV, no. 22949. The New Zealand Herald. 29 January 1938. p. 15.
April 11, 2024
arthur, rosser, april, 1864, february, 1954, notable, zealand, builder, local, body, politician, trade, unionist, auckland, city, councillorin, office, 1933, 1938in, office, 1901, 1903personal, detailsborn16, april, 1864oystermouth, walesdied15, february, 1954. Arthur Rosser JP 16 April 1864 15 February 1954 was a notable New Zealand builder local body politician and trade unionist Arthur RosserAuckland City CouncillorIn office 1933 1938In office 1901 1903Personal detailsBorn16 April 1864Oystermouth WalesDied15 February 1954Auckland New ZealandNationalityNew ZealandPolitical partyLabour 1916 1939 Other politicalaffiliationsLiberal 1895 02 IPLL 1904 10 Labour 1910 12 United Labour 1912 16 SpouseSarah Louisa CraigChildren5ProfessionTrade unionist Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Trade union career 1 3 Political career 1 4 Later life and death 2 ReferencesBiography editEarly life edit He was born in Oystermouth Glamorganshire Wales in 1864 His family migrated to New Zealand when he was eight years old and grew up in the Auckland suburb of Newton Upon completing his education Rosser became a builder by trade Whilst working as a carpenter he married Sarah Louisa Craig on 30 November 1886 1 Trade union career edit After he was blacklisted by conservative building contractors due to his links with the Liberal Party Rosser took up a new career as a union organiser the first in Auckland 1 Within twelve years he was involved in the formation of nine new trade unions and was himself the secretary of many of them demonstrating a skill for arbitration Over time arbitration was overtaken by collective bargaining as most new unionists favoured method As a result Rosser s more moderate views were at increasing odds with the more militant forces in the labour movement This came to a head in 1910 when he was replaced as the president of the Auckland Trades and Labour Council by the more radical Michael Joseph Savage 1 Political career edit Through his role as a union secretary Rosser openly participated in politics In the early 1900s he played a key role in establishing the Independent Political Labour League in Auckland the first New Zealand Labour Party and the United Labour Party Throughout his career Rosser was an advocate of the moderate wing of the labour movement arguing that organised labour should improve rather than replace capitalism 1 In the 1896 election he stood in the three member City of Auckland electorate and came fourth 2 At the next election in 1899 he came seventh 3 He was one of three candidates in the 1908 election in the Auckland Central electorate and stood for the Independent Political Labour League when he came last 4 Rosser was elected to the Auckland City Council in 1901 but lost his seat in 1903 and later failed to secure re election in 1907 1913 and 1931 He regained a seat in 1933 though in 1938 he lost his seat on the council after standing as an independent He was unexpectedly denied re nomination by the Labour Party alongside sitting councillors Ted Phelan and George Gordon Grant 5 The next year he was expelled from a Labour Party as he had stood against Labour s official municipal candidates 1 Later life and death edit Rosser died at Auckland on 15 February 1954 He was survived by three daughters 1 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arthur Rosser a b c d e f Husbands Paul Rosser Arthur Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Ministry for Culture and Heritage Retrieved 23 April 2017 The General Election Auckland Star Vol XXVII no 305 23 December 1896 p 6 Retrieved 8 January 2014 The General Election 1899 Wellington Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives 19 June 1900 p 1 Retrieved 1 November 2012 The General Election 1908 National Library 1909 p 3 Retrieved 14 April 2012 Civic Elections Labour Candidates Vol LXXV no 22949 The New Zealand Herald 29 January 1938 p 15 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arthur Rosser amp oldid 1159181468, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
