Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Monday 8 October 1945, page 3


HANLON PRAISES LATE MR. JONES

THE Acting Premier (Mr. Hanlon) last night praised Mr. A. J. Jones, former Lord Mayor, who died yesterday, as a Labour Dioneer.

'He helped the Labour

Paity grow in yueenslana from a handful of supporters to a great movement, providing a succession of Governments,' he said. 'He was in turn member of Parliament, leader of the Government in the old Legislative Council, a Minister of the Crown, and Loid Mayor of Brisbane. 'On behalf of the Cabinet and members of the Queensland Parliamentary Labour Party I extend my sincere sympathies to his wife and family, and on behalf of the Labour movement I honour his long- and devoted service in its cause. 'As Minister for Mines he devoled himself whole-heartedly to the task of creating a Queensland petroleum industry, based on the flow of Queensland oil. I-ack of success was not due to any lack of effort on his part. 'As leader of the Government in the old Legislative Council, he fought hard in the interests of Labour, and finally, as Lord Mayor of Brisbane, he gave loyal service to the citizens.'

'Radiant Optimist' Self-styled 'The Radiant Optimist,' and nick-named 'Optimistic Alf ,' Mr. Jones .never lost faith in his ideals, born in his foot-slogging days, for the Labour movement. He worked for better social conditions, development of Queensland's mineral resources (in which he saw solution .of the depression), and advancement of Australia. His gravitation from Parliament to the City Council was the reverse of the usual process, and he became Lord Mayor without the apprenticeship of alderman. Before becoming Lord Mayor In 1934, Mr. Jones had served in the State Parliament for a quarter of a century. When he entered the Legislative Assembly, in 1904, for Burnett, he was; at 34. the young

est memoer oi one House. Member for Burnett from 1904 to 1909, he was out of Parliament for six years preceding Labour's advent to power in 1915, then re

;urned as member for Maryborough. ' In 1917 he resigned from the Legislative Assembly to lead the Government in . the Legislative Council, the old Upper House of Queensland, as Minister for Mines.' Three years later «he resigned from the Council to contest Carnarvon electorate, was unsuccessful, re-entered the Council, and again resigned, to win Paddington seat in the Legislative Assembly after the late Mr. J. A. Fihelly went to England as Agent-General He held it until the fall of the Labour Government in 1929. Mr. Jones is survived by his wife and nine children — Messrs. A. S., E. J., and B. C. Jones, of Brisbane, and Mr. O. M. Jones, of Longreach, and Mesdames R. H. James, C. A. Byrne, Y. P. Smith, E. D. McGinley, and E. F. Moon.