Obituaries Australia

Maurice Salom, 1885

State Library of South Australia, B 25678/15

Mr. Maurice Salom died at his residence, Brougham-place, North Adelaide, on Saturday evening, after a short illness. The late Mr. Salom was a son of Mr. A. H. Salom, at one time a merchant and planter in the West Indies, who belonged to an old Sephardic Jewish family. He was a great grandson of the Venerable Dr. Selomah Salom, doctor of divinity of Adrianople, and a direct descendent of the learned rabbi, Abraham Salom, of Catalonia (1430). The deceased gentleman was born in 1832 in London, where he was educated. In 1846 he was articled to a London stockbroker, with whom he remained for three years. He then went to the Cape of Good Hope, where he entered the employ of a large firm of merchants. Subsequently he visited a number of places, and made a trip into the interior of Cape Colony. Mr. Salom arrived in South Australia in January, 1853, and soon afterwards joined the firm of Solomon & Co., auctioneers. After several changes in the personnel of the firm the business became his, and he carried it on successfully until 1882, when he sold the establishment in Hindley-street (now Messrs. Clutterbuck Bros.), and the goodwill to a syndicate of merchants, who for a few years carried on the business. He always took an interest in public matters and was for some time a prominent member of the committee of the Chamber of Commerce, and held the position of chairman for a number of years. His connection with educational and charitable institutions was of long standing, and he became a member of the first Council of Education in 1875. The council consisted of Mr. J. A. Hartley (chairman), Drs. Allan Campbell and W. Barlow, and Messrs. Salom, A. von Treuer, W. D. Glyde, and David Murray, and they continued in office until the new system was introduced. Mr. Salom then became chairman of a board of advice which had charge of several large schools. He was connected with the Adelaide Hospital Board for 17 years, and in that capacity he discovered that several donations to the institution had gone into the general revenue of the colony. He was instrumental in securing the refund of between £800 and £900 and in obtaining the passage in 1876 of the Public Charities Act, the first commissioners under it being Dr. Wyatt and Messrs. W. Kay and Salom. The money refunded by the Government formed a nucleus of a fund which subsequently obtained such large dimensions that the commissioners were enabled to pay for the erection of the beautiful new wing on the eastern side of the hospital, and also the bacteriological laboratory and isolation ward. The commissioners also acted for the Destitute and Lunatic asylums and the Port Augusta Hospital. After Mr. Salom sold his business he contested an election for six members of the Legislative Council, and he was returned second on the poll with 8,115 votes. There were 14 candidates. On the formation of the Downer Ministry he was offered, but refused, the position of Chief Secretary, as he wished to remain an independent member. Mr. Salom was a free-trader and somewhat conservative in politics, whilst he always advocated measures for the welfare and advancement of the country. In 1887 he introduced a Bill into the Legislative Council for the amendment of the criminal law, and succeeded in getting it passed. This measure is now known as the First Offenders Act. Mr. Salom was connected with several charitable institutions, and was one of the first members of the board of management of the Children's Hospital. He possessed an extensive knowledge of mercantile and insurance law, and acted on many occasions for the Government as an adjuster of fire claims. He was a Freemason, held high offices in the craft, and was connected with other orders. Mr. Salom served in the Legislative Council for nine years, and then retired from politics owing to ill-health. He made several voyages to England and the Continent. The deceased gentleman married a sister of the late Mr. Judah Moss Solomon, M.L.C., and she survives him. There are 11 children, Mrs. L. Judell, of Orroroo; Mrs. M. Harris, of Christchurch, New Zealand; Mrs. L. R. Davis, of London; Mrs. L. Saber, of North Adelaide; Mrs. M. Myers, of Wellington, New Zealand; Miss Salom, of North Adelaide; Messrs. Robert M. Salom, Henry Salom, of Adelaide; Horace Salom, of Perth; Walter Salom, of Durban, South Africa; and Bertie Salom, of Broome, Western Australia. The funeral will leave the deceased gentleman's residence at 3 p.m. today.