Obituaries Australia

May Matthews, 1926

Sun (Sydney), 15 August 1926, p 28

Miss Susan May Matthews, better known as Miss May Matthews, one of the most prominent and versatile women workers in the Australian Labour movement died in the Community Hospital, Moore Park, on Wednesday.

For more than 30 years Miss Matthews took a leading part in the Australian Labour movement.

Miss Matthews was an inspector of the Child Welfare Department for 21 years and was migration officer in Great Britain for a time. She was in charge of 80 girls sent to Australia under the migration scheme. In 1927 Miss Matthews visited America as an official of the Industrial Mission and investigated conditions in the manufacturing industries her special work being to inquire into women's conditions in those industries.

During her long association with the Labour Party she represented New South Wales at many conferences in Australia and also the women's conference in London in 1924.

Miss Matthews was a member of the National Council of Women for 20 years and was an associate of Dr Arthur in many charitable appeals including the clothing fund when 10,000 children were catered for. She was also a foundation member of the League of Nations Union and a member of its executive.

Miss Matthews stood for the State Parliament for the Ryde electorate in 1932 as a Federal Labour party candidate. She took a definite stand against the Lang party but was an ardent advocate of a constitutional Labour party. She was closely associated politically with the late Mr W A Holman. Other organisations with which Miss Matthews was connected included the Sunshine Club and the Parks and Playgrounds Movements.

The funeral took place at the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Botany, after a service at St Canice's Church, Roslyn street, Darlinghurst conducted by father Donovan, administrator at St Mary's Cathedral.

The chief mourners were Mrs Pat Matthews (sister-in-law), Miss Corry Matthews and Mrs Chris Sullivan (sisters) and Mr Pat Matthews, Mr Leo Matthews and Mr Tim Matthews (brothers).

Others present included Miss E. Collett, Miss Maude Rhodes, Mrs G. Morris, Miss N. Casey, Mrs H. Lawson, Miss B. Pillinger, Miss Florence Edgar, Sister O'Flynn, Miss K. O'Keefe (all of the Child Welfare Department), Professor Francis Anderson (president of the League of Nations Union), Miss Harley Matthews, Mr J. A. Wilson, Mrs R. J. Cassidy, Mr A. S. Clancy, Mrs McGrath, Mrs Carloh-Smith, Mr J Corcoran, Mr W. R. Colbourne (general secretary Federal A.L.P), Mrs Howie, Mr J. S. Hughes, Mr .Howie, Mr J. H Catts, ex-MP, Dr N. Du Maurier, and Mr N, J, Taylor (members of the State executive of the Federal ALP) Mr and Mrs R. T. Gunnell (Darlinghurst ALP), Mrs Lena and Miss Lynch (ALP executive), Mr A. Vernon, Miss May O'Carroll, Mrs Bernard Muscio (president of the National Council of women), Miss Rienits, (hon State secretary, National Council of Women), Miss E.P. Evans (executive member, National Council of Women) Mrs G. Johnston, Mr J. J. King (St Vincent de Paul Society), Mr J. J. Cranitch, Mrs A. M. Norton, Miss Le Breton, Miss P. Lillis, Mr R. Bramston, Mr J. Seerv and Mrs E. E. Seery, JP, (representing Lang Labour Party) Mrs J. H. Catts, Miss Portia Geach, president of the Housewives Association) Miss Glencross (president of the Good Film League) and Mr H. W. Golledge (representing Mr Wood, secretary of the Child Welfare Department), Mr J. H. Catts and Mrs Catts.