PM Transcripts

) AUSTAI L&
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA TUESDAY AUGUST 17 1982
CONDOLENCE MOTION FOR CHARLES EDWARD GRIFFITHS
I move, " that this House expresses its deep regret at the death
on 17 may of Charles Edward Griffiths, a Member of this House
for the Division of Shortland from 1949 to 1972, places on
record its appreciation of his long and meritorious public
service and tenders its sympathy to his family in their
bereavement". All Members will be saddened to learn of the death of one
of our former colleagues, Charles Griffiths. Charles Griffiths
was born on 26 June 1903 at Jesmond in New South Wales.
He was educated at the Bribbaree Public School. Upon leaving
school, Charles Griffiths joined the New South Wales Railway.
He became actively involved in union affairs, and was in turn
an organiser and State councillor of the Australian Railways
Union and from 1940 1952, State Secretary of that union.
He was first elected to this House at the general election
of 1949 for the newly created seat of Shortland. In his
maiden speech to this House on 28 February 1950, he spoke
of the great sacrifices made by the working people of
Australia to aid the war effort and the evil influence of
communism which he believed could be defeated if people
could look to a secure economic future, free from poverty.
Charles Griffiths served as a member of the Printing Committee
from 1951 to 1954, and was a member of the Parliamentary
Standing Committee on Public Works from 1959 to 1966. He was
a member of the Australian delegation to the 9th Session of
the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1964 and in 1966
was a member of a Parliamentary delegation to South Asia.
In 1969, he was a member of the Parliamentary mission which
visited Hong Kong, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan.
At the general election of 1972, he retired from this Parliament.
On behalf of the Government and the people of Australia,
I extend my sympathy to his widow Jess and his family in
their bereavement.