Collins, Charles
Personal
Birth Date:
25 September 1867 (Willey, Warwickshire)
Death Date:
28 March 1936 (Brisbane, Queensland)
Parents:
Henry Collins and Lizabeth Collins (nee Smith)
Family:
(2) Annie Gierke in 1914, 1 son, 1 daughter, (1) Sarah Jane McTaggart (nee Browne) on 10 December 1892, 1 son, 3 daughters
Education:
Willey Church of England Village School
Religion:
Church of England
Career
Organiser, Australian Workers Union, North Queensland, 1912 to 1915; General organiser, Australian Labor Federation, 1908; Organiser, Political and Amalgamated Miners Association, Gympie; Labourer, Victoria, 1890 to 1891; Miner, Kimberley goldfield, 1886; Miner and prospector, Gympie, 1884 to 1886; Plantation worker, Antigua and Pialba; Farm labourer and brickyard worker, 1880
Parliamentary Representation
| House | Party | Electorate | From | To | Elected/Departure Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assembly | ALP | Burke | 2 Oct 1909 | 27 Apr 1912 | |
| Assembly | ALP | Bowen | 22 May 1915 | 28 Mar 1936 | Died in Office |
Parliamentary Service
| Description | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Member, Public Works Committee |
Additional Information
Notes:
Mr Collins migrated to Maryborough in 1883 and moved to Gympie in 1887. In 1924, Collins became a 'party room' Premier for only three hours. During a caucus meeting, members demanded Premier Theodore not only reverse his decision to reduce basic wages by five shillings but also that the working week be shortened to 44 hours. Theodore argued that the state's economy would not allow these measures. The majority insisted on immediate action. After consultation with his cabinet colleagues, Theodore announced that he and his cabinet would resign their positions. The caucus then had to elect a new leader and, to his surprise, Collins was voted `Premier elect'. After three hours of deliberation, caucus decided to ask Theordore to return to office
Sources:
Lack, Clem, Three Decades of Queensland Political History, 1929-1960 (Brisbane: Government Printer, 1962); Queensland Parliamentary Debates, Motion of Condolence, Second session of the 27th Parliament, Vol. CLXIX, 11 Aug 1936, pp. 7-8 (Brisbane, Qld: Government Printer); Courier-Mail, 'Mr C Collins, M.L.A. dead', 30 Mar 1936; Courier-Mail, 'Tributes to late Mr. Collins. A doughty fighter in politics', 30 Mar 1936; Brisbane Courier, 'Bluff called. Premier's humiliation, The caucus sensation', 28 Jul 1924; Family history research. http://sellwood.info/ and http://sellwood.info/data/f_21.htm#3
[Last Modified: Wednesday, 14 June 2017]