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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-02-12 Daily Xml
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CRIMES, MR E.H.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:40): I move:

That the Legislative Council expresses its deep regret at the death of Mr Ernest Henry Crimes, former member of the House of Assembly, and places on record its appreciation of his distinguished public service.

I was saddened to learn of the death of Ernest Crimes (or Ernie Crimes, as he was more widely known), who died on 17 January 2008 at the remarkable age of 100 years. Ernie served as the member for Spence in Don Dunstan's government from 1970 to 1975. He was also a stalwart of the trade union movement here in South Australia, and for 35 years was the managing editor of The Weekly Herald, South Australia's Labor Party newspaper. Ernie was never afraid to voice his opinion on issues and personalities on either side of politics. He was also a prolific correspondent, whether in his own publication or as a regular contributor on the Letters to the Editor pages of our daily newspapers.

Ernest Henry Crimes was born in the railway town of Crewe in the English county of Cheshire on 27 May 1907. His father Jimmy was a fitter and turner with the British railways and an active unionist within the amalgamated engineering union. An only child, young Ernie suffered severely from bronchitis that was aggravated by the long, damp English winters. In 1913 his family acted on medical advice and emigrated to Adelaide, and Ernie's father found work in the Islington railway workshops. Ernie attended Hindmarsh primary school, where he made his political leanings known early on by wearing a blue anti-conscription badge at the height of World War 1.

After gaining his qualifying certificate from Woodville High School, Ernie was employed as an office boy with a secretarial firm. When his father lost his job because he defended a young worker who had been victimised, Ernie became the sole breadwinner for his household. His family survived on Ernie's wage of £1 per week, plus the generosity of their friendly local butcher. It was that period that instilled in Ernie a strong commitment to help enact social change. Ernie rose through the ranks of the secretarial firm and was promoted to office manager, then paymaster, and even served as a proxy at board meetings. He was called up for service in World War II but, when he told the recruiting officer that he was the only male employee in an office that also served the fire brigades board, he was quietly advised to rip up his enlistment form.

It was during this time that Ernie became president of the commercial section of the Federated Clerks Union. He also began his association with the Workers' Weekly newspaper (later to become the Herald), where he took over writing a weekly column on foreign affairs. He joined the paper full time in 1949 and was soon appointed managing editor. Ernie was paid so little in his role as managing editor that the then ALP state secretary Jim Toohey (later to become an influential South Australian senator) took to passing a hat around among the Labor parliamentary members in order to supplement Ernie's wage. He also became involved in the Australian Workers Union, and in 1959 he stood as the ALP candidate in the state's toughest seat, the electorate of Gumeracha, which was held by the then premier Sir Thomas Playford. Even though he was unsuccessful, Ernie's dogged refusal to back away from the fight saw him contest the same seat at the state election poll in 1965—which was the election that brought about the end of the Playford era, although Sir Thomas retained his seat. For his efforts, Ernie Crimes was rewarded with preselection for the vastly different western suburbs seat of Spence in 1970. At his third attempt, Ernie Crimes made his way to the House of Assembly, albeit at age 63. At that election he polled more than 75 per cent of the vote—the most the ALP scored in any seat in 1970.

In his maiden speech in the House of Assembly, Ernie paid tribute to his Liberal Country League opponent of 1970, Mr F.W.C. Rieck. Ernie noted that Mr Rieck's chances of winning Spence 'were probably no better in that contest than were mine on two previous occasions when I contested Gumeracha against that almost legendary figure Sir Thomas Playford'.

Ernie served as acting deputy speaker for a time before he retired from parliament at the 1975 election at age 68. Because he was only halfway through his second term when the poll was called, Ernie was not entitled to a parliamentary pension but he continued to serve a role in public life. In 1975, he was appointed for a short time to the board of the Savings Bank of South Australia. He also attracted attention for his parliamentary fashion sense, even before Don Dunstan appeared in his now legendary pink shorts. Ernie and the former member for Salisbury Reg Groth claimed to have pioneered the wearing of coloured shirts in the House of Assembly. 'A lot of people objected to it', Ernie later recalled.

Throughout his tenure as the member for Spence, Ernie continued in his role as managing editor of the Herald. He worked closely with renowned journalist and author Bruce Muirden from 1960 through until Ernie's retirement in 1989 at age 82. 'Muirden wrote it, but I was behind the scenes' Ernie recalled of being at the Herald during those years. Even though deteriorating eyesight forced him to give up driving his car at the age of 88, Ernie remained active and continued to harbour his passion for politics.

Ernie wrote countless letters to the newspaper, many of them appearing under his alias 'L.F. Hutchinson of Henley Beach'. An avowed socialist until his death, Ernie once revealed that during his adolescence his fondness for motion pictures had led him to briefly admire American capitalism. 'I saw the propaganda of their films...the glitter, the glamour and the beautiful women,' Ernie once recalled; 'I thought, "What a wonderful society". Then I saw behind the facade.'

While his political philosophy changed dramatically once he entered the workforce, his interest in the film industry scarcely waned. However, he did become disillusioned with the subject matter of modern movies. 'Even when the Depression was at its worst, we could go to a dance very cheaply or see a bright, happy film for a shilling,' he said. 'These days, if you can afford to see a picture, it is all horror. No wonder everyone is depressed.'

Even after he celebrated his 100th birthday last May, Ernie, with the support of his family, was still able to look after himself and Lucy, his beloved wife of 70 years. Although he suffered increasingly from deafness, Ernie hated to miss a word of the federal parliamentary debates being broadcast on the radio. He remained a devoted student and an outspoken participant of the political process until his passing last month.

On behalf of all members on this side of the Legislative Council, I extend my condolences to Ernie's wife Lucy, their children Paul and Dennis, and all Ernie's family and friends.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:47): Ernie Crimes (Ern as he was affectionately known) was born in Crewe, Cheshire, and moved to Adelaide in 1913 when he was only five years old. He has been described as an irreplaceable socialist icon and he remained sharp as a tack and fervent in his socialist beliefs until the end of his very long life. As the Leader of the Government mentioned, while at Hindmarsh Primary School he once wore an ALP 'No' badge in opposition to conscription for World War I, and he refused to take part in any conservative demonstrations.

As a teen, Ernie admired American capitalism. As the Leader of the Government said, he saw the propaganda of their films and thought, 'What a wonderful society.' But his direction changed under the influence of writers such as Karl Marx, who helped him see behind the facade. Through his first job, after leaving Woodville High School for a secretarial firm, Ernie Crimes became involved with the federal clerks union and became president of the commercial section of the federal clerks union. He also began a long association with the Workers Weekly, which later became the Herald. Notably unimpressed by the then editor, he assumed responsibility for a weekly column on foreign affairs.

As the Leader of the Government said, when he was working full-time for the paper as managing director he was poorly paid and the state ALP state secretary Mr Jim Toohey would often do a collection from state Labor MPs to supplement Mr Crimes' low income. What the Leader of the Government did not say was that the collection was often unsuccessful, but Crimes laughed it off, commenting that they would rather rely on The Advertiser. When the Herald went into limbo, Ernie became involved with the Australian Workers Union as an industrial officer. In a sense, Mr Crimes was at times responsible for the largest union in South Australia, preparing all reports presented by the secretary of the time.

As mentioned previously, he stood twice as the Labor candidate against Sir Thomas Playford in the seat of Gumeracha. It is interesting to note that, through an interesting period of Labor expulsions and suspensions, Ernie Crimes escaped relatively unscathed and won preselection for the seat of Spence in 1970. He lived in the electorate for 30 years at his home in Croydon. In his interview with Phil Robins of the Labor Herald, Crimes proudly stated that it was his idea to introduce coloured shirts into parliament, and recalled with much enjoyment the commotion caused when a fellow member wore a hat into the chamber and set off some fireworks under the speaker's chair.

After a snap election in 1975, Mr Crimes was appointed a trustee of the Savings Bank of South Australia. In May 2007, Ernest Crimes turned 100, and with his wife Lucy still lived in their modest home in Croydon. Ernie Crimes described himself as having a good and hectic life, musing on trips to the South Seas, New Zealand, Fiji and his favourite place, the once Soviet Union. He said that the life he had shared with his Lucy had been adventurous and wonderful. He is survived by his wife Lucy, son Paul and daughter Denise, and on behalf of members on this side I extend our condolences to the family.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:50): I had the pleasure of knowing Ernie Crimes for a number of years as he was past secretary of the Federated Gas Employees Industrial Union back in the 1960s, a union with which I had a proud association for over 30 years. Ernie used to pop into our office on occasions and talk about the history and industrial tactics he used during his term as secretary. He was a very warm man, a very kind man, a man of great honesty and integrity, and he had a strong conviction to the working people. I join the Leader of the Government and the opposition leader in sending my condolences to the family of Mr Ernie Crimes.

Motion carried by members standing in their places in silence.

[Sitting suspended from 14:51 to 15:10]

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