Background
Riley was born at Stirling in South Australia to blacksmith Frederick Riley, an early Labor Party activist and local councillor, and Susannah, née Williams.
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Frederick Riley
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Career
He left school at twelve and worked as a labourer. He was imprisoned for a week at Wollongong in 1914 after ignoring a policeman"s demand to stop addressing a free speech public meeting. He became secretary of the Australian Peace Alliance"s Victorian council in 1916, and was often fined over involvement in brawls at anti-conscription demonstrations.
On one occasion he received a fine after protecting female speakers, including Vida Goldstein, from off-duty soldiers.
In 1922 he was appointed secretary of the Manufacturing Grocers" Employees" Federation of Australia and became a highly successful union leader. From 1931 to 1932 he was President of the Trades Hall Council, and he served as president of the Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party from 1941 to 1942.
In 1942 he became an adviser to the Commonwealth prices commissioner. He died in 1970 at Reservoir.
Politics
During a period in Sydney he was involved in socialist circles with Harry Holland. A founding member and later secretary of the Y Club socialist discussion group, he participated in the 1919 Melbourne waterfront strike and helped negotiate a settlement.
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Born
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Died
April 2, 1970 (aged 84) -
Nationality
Australia -
Political Party
The Australian Labor Party