Oscar Oates

Edgar Alfred "Oscar" Oates (1 Nov 1889 – 2 September 1951[1]) was an Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1933 until his death.

He was born at Kangaroo Flat, 5 km north of Gawler, and was educated at the Gawler school, before working as a wharf labourer at Port Adelaide. He was a member of the Waterside Workers Federation from 1916 to the day he died, and served as president of its Port Adelaide branch and on its state executive. He was a fierce union rival of future independent MP Thomas Thompson, ousting Thompson as branch president and expelling him from the union.[2][3][4][5][6] He was also president of the SA Public Schools Committees' Association and president of the state executive of the Working Men's Association.[7][8][4]

He was elected for Labor in 1933 to the Legislative Council for the Central No. 1 district, with a substantial support from preferences.[9]

During his term of office he made three attempts to introduce a State lottery, and was about to make a fourth on the week he died. He also made considerable attempts to have a new hospital built in the Port Adelaide area. He was a member of the Parliamentary Land Settlement Committee, and Libraries and Printing Committees.[10]

He died suddenly at his Rosewater home in 1951 while still in office; he had been scheduled to be the main speaker at a Labor rally later that day.[10] He was buried at Cheltenham Cemetery, and the Waterside Workers' Federation donated a new pulpit for Dale Street Central Mission Church in his honour.[11][12]

He was married to Ada Grace; they had a son, Alfred J. G. Oates of Rosewater and a daughter Joan, Mrs. A McDonald of Rosewater Gardens. They lived at 38 Junction road. Rosewater.

References

  1. ↑ "Hon E. A. Oates". Parliament of South Australia. 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2011. This ref contradicts age 63 given in Death Notices.
  2. ↑ "Sudden Death Of Mr. E. A. Oates. M.L.C." The Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 3 September 1951. p. 3. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "WATERSIDE WORKERS". News. VII, (1, 001). South Australia. 28 September 1926. p. 8 (HOME EDITION). Retrieved 21 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. 1 2 "STATE ELECTIONS WHO'S WHO IN FIGHT FOR CENTRAL DISTRICT No. 1". News. XX, (3, 018). South Australia. 21 March 1933. p. 7. Retrieved 21 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "WATERSIDE WORKERS' PICNIC AT GAWLER". Bunyip (4, 071). South Australia. 11 February 1927. p. 9. Retrieved 21 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "EXPELLED FROM UNION". News. VIII, (1, 191). South Australia. 10 May 1927. p. 1 (HOME EDITION). Retrieved 21 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "Letters to Editor". The News. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 5 September 1951. p. 13. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  8. ↑ "OFFENDED HIS UNION". News. VIII, (1, 169). South Australia. 13 April 1927. p. 1 (HOME EDITION). Retrieved 21 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ "Majority of 12 on Re-count". The Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 14 April 1933. p. 9. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  10. 1 2 "Sudden Death Of Mr. E. A. Oates. M.L.C." The Advertiser (Adelaide). 94, (28, 984). South Australia. 3 September 1951. p. 3. Retrieved 21 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ↑ "Parliamentary Tribute To Mr. Oates". The Advertiser (Adelaide). 94, (28, 985). South Australia. 4 September 1951. p. 3. Retrieved 21 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ↑ "Watersiders' Gift Praised". The Advertiser (Adelaide). 94, (29, 048). South Australia. 16 November 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 21 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
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