Labour Australia

One of the outstanding characters in the Labor movement in Australia, Mr. George Carter, became suddenly ill at his home at Bardon early last night, and died soon afterwards. Mr. Carter was born in 1864 in Nelson, New Zealand, and after receiving his education there he acted as Court interpreter of the Maori tongue. He was of an adventurous disposition, and travelled to America, Chili, and France. At the age of 25 he came to Australia, and for many years was well known in Victoria, where he was interested in the pastoral and mining industries. While in Victoria Mr. Carter first associated himself with the Australian Workers' Union.

Mr. Carter left Victoria and resided in New South Wales and in 1894, during the big industrial upheaval, he became prominent in the workers movement. He successfully organised the A.W.U. movement in the Western districts after the big strike in the 90's. He came to Queensland about 1900, and then established the book stores. Later he established a hotel business. In 1907 he unsuccessfully contested the Brisbane seat, but in 1915 he won the Port Curtis seat with a narrow majority. From then, with only one exception, until 1929, he was a member of Parliament. At one time Mr. Carter was also a member of the Brisbane City Council, and he was always keenly interested in Federal politics.

Deceased was a man of very wide and deep reading, and a very interesting conversationalist. He married in 1906, and his wife was also well known in literary and art circles in Brisbane before her marriage. She was a strong helpmate in his political activities. Mrs. Carter herself has been in ill health for some time, and her friends have every sympathy for her.

Mr. Carter's funeral will leave K. Mr. Smith's funeral parlor, Wickham-street, Valley, this afternoon, at 4 o'clock, for the Toowong Cemetery.