Alfred Jones

Background

Alfred James Jones was born at Gayndah, Queensland, the son of Joseph Jones and his wife Ann (née Stevens).

Career

He received a basic education at Burnett State School and became a stockman and miner. He spent a short time teaching, was a Cobb & Company driver and spent six years mining. Jones contested four Legislative Assembly of Queensland seats for the Australian Labor Party, and held three of them.

Jones resigned on 14 February 1917 to enter the upper house, the

Jones was appointed to the on 14 February 1917, where he was the representative of the Government and also Minister for Mines.

He resigned from the Legislative Council on 16 September 1920 in order to contest the lower house seat of Carnarvon in 1920 but was not elected, and was returned to the upper house on 21 October 1920. Jones was Secretary for Mines for most of the period from 1917 to 1929.

Jones was of Brisbane from 1934 to 1940. He attempted to solidify the Greater Brisbane vision of the 1925 amalgamation with a large system of civic loans.

1934 Election

Once again Brisbane was led by popularly elected Mayor.

1937 Election

Harry Massey the independent Alderman for Toowong was convinced by the conservative Citizens Municipal Organization (CMO) (which was formed on 23 June 1936) to run as their al candidate for the 1937 election. 1940 Election

Allegations that his administration was plagued by accusations of corruption and inefficiency lead to a complete Labor collapse in the 1940 election, when he lost the mayoralty to John Beals Chandler. Jones died in Brisbane General Hospital on 7 October 1945.

His funeral service was held on 8 October 1945 at Street John"s Cathedral, after which he was cremated at the Mountain Thompson Crematorium.

Achievements

• He won Burnett in 1904 with 68% of the vote, but lost the seat after one term and failed to regain it in the 1912 election. He won Maryborough in 1915 with about 56% of the vote. Jones won Paddington in 1922 and held the seat until 1932 when the district was abolished due to redistribution. With universal suffrage restored to Brisbane City Council elections, Alfred Jones and the Labor Party won easily, picking up 14 of the 20 wards. On 24 April 1937, Jones won easily, increasing his margin of victory. The CMO won two new wards to Labor"s one for a Netto gain of 1 ward.

Membership

He was one of the last members of the, as he led the vote to abolish the upper house in 1921, leading to its abolition on 3 March 1922.