Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Friday 19 December 1947, page 4


Out Among The People

PRO VOX

IT was fitting that there should be a large attendance yesterday at the State funeral of Mr. Craw-ford Vaughan, former Premier of

South Australia, for it is given to few men to reach the highest position that our democratic system can offer. With members of Parliament yesterday I discussed the oratorical gifts of the immediate past generation of members, being careful not to mention the abilities of any of the present members. It appeared to be a general concensus of opinion that there were four quite considerable orators in that tune. In order of power of platv form speaking and in set speeches they were Sir Henry Barwell. Crawford Vaughan, Angae Parsons (afterwards Sir Angas Parsons of the Supreme Court) and John Gunn; for debating power, Mr. A. H. Peake, Premier of South Australia for six years and 312 days. He died in harness in Aprils, 1920. Family Ministry Mr. Crawford Vaughan's minis-try from April 3, 1915, to July 14, 1917, was known at that time as the '^Family Ministry." The Attorney-General was bis brother, Mr. John Howard Vaughan, and his brother-in-law, Mr. Clarence Goode, was Commissioner of Crown lands and Minister of Agriculture. The present chairman of the South Australian fire Brigades Board (Mr. Harry Jackson) was commissioner of Public Works.- Alt were gifted speakers. Mr. Howard Vaughan has con-tinued to give public service in his active association with the SA branch of the League of Nations union and is now serving in an honorary capacity for the State Government as .Matrimonial Conciliation CommissionerMr. Mr. Clarence Goode, who held a record number of portfolios at that time, wul be recognised in the in-terest he takes in public affairs by the letters which appear in "Hie Advertiser" over his name. Mr. Fred Coneybeer, the "Speaker of that Parliament, was there yesterday He is still a pleasant personality to meet. He is the veteran of all former members of Parliament, being first elected in 1893 His recitation "Lucky Jim" is traditional with those who have been associated with him over that almost legendary period. Classic Rttort TT was Mr. Crawford Vaughan led the Labor Party tovictory to 1915 after Mr. Peake had been in office for over three years. The Labor Ministry previous to that was that of Mr. John Verran In 1910. In 1915 Mr Peake was defeated in his own district of Victoria.. A member for Alexandra resigned to enable Mr Peake to enter Parliament as Leader of the Opposition. In a burst of Cornish eloquence John Verran said. "The return of Mr. Peake reminds me of the return of the prodigal son." Looking up quickly at the more than portly figure of John Verran, Mr. Peake said:—"And you remind me of the fatted calf." "3luua Ric?lUetl>iu AMONG othev recollections told me yesterday was that of Mr. Horace Allen, of Falrford street, ttaley. "About 17 years ago I was in the train travelling between Killara

and MUson's Point in New South Wales," he said. "At one of the intervening stations a gentleman got into the same carriage. lat once recognised him as a boyhood friend Crawford (Sonny) Vaughan. "During the course of conversation, Mr. Vaughan remarked, ?You belonged to the old Rose Park Literary Society; it was there that I made my maiden speech.' I remarked that I bad a clear recollection of my father coming home and expressing to me his annoyance because a young chap had stolen all the thunder and held the older members up to ridicule My father did not realise that he had heard a future Premier of South Australia make his first speech. "While I was at Norwood School, one of Crawford Vaughah's brothers, Dick, now in Queensland, and I sat for years together at a two-seater desk." -In History On August 24. 1826, Mr. Will Smith, of Bagot avenue, Mile End, was the engine driver of the first big engine to bring a Melbourne express into the Adelaide railway atation. His engine was Pacific type, Ko. 602, and as he brought his train into the station, Mr. John Gunn, v Premier of South Australia, laid the foundation stone of the present railway station. Mr. Will Smith has now retired after 47 years and tslx months of unfaltering service for the railways. Joining the department on June 37. 1900, he started as a cleaner at Wrt Adelaide. In 1904 he went to Quara and, as a nreman, Was on the engines on the ftkr North line, then unfenced sad Be had on occasions to stop and clear the line AT stock before proceeding. From 1915 untfl the line was closed, he was a driver on the Adelaide to Glenelg line, piloting particularly the expresi trains whose times are not quite equalled by the modern tram service. "One of my recollections is taking an engine into Oodnadatta, nl? said. '"Hie black boys cam* to the shed and climbed all over oar pet. We stoked her up and the safety valve blew off. We could not see those black boys for thi dust they raised, nor was ever aa engine climbed over again.'' Family TradltUns ABOUT 19 years ago Dr. C. & AC. Wilson established a scholarship at St. Peter's College, to M known as the Cameron Wilson Scholarship. Yesterday be was proud to tell me that lan Cameron Wilson, the son or his nephew, Mr. K. C. Wilson, had this year won the scholarship. "I went to St. Peter's College In 1880 under a scholarship granted -in memory of my uncle, the B*v. T. p. Wilson, who. was the first headmaster of St. PeterV Dr. wll* son said. "I was 'plucked* in physics and then I made up my mind that if ever I had the meant I would give a scholarship for physics. It Ugood tohavett won by one of the family, our tradition has been there since the earliest days." ' . : Dr. Wilson said that the Ref F K. J. F, Btekersteth, a former head* master of St. Peter's, would toe tftflt^ ing Australia, including Allftlaliiffj next year in connection with tba Canterbury Cathedral appeal.